A/N: Ok. I want to make it clear here that planning things around the 4th of July is coincidental, and I'm not plagiarising "Black and White". Edward can only sit the Washington bar in late July (or so the internet tells me!!!!) so that's where my timeframe has taken me. Again, being Australian I don't get how big the 4th is, hopefully I end up doing it justice! (That's still a couple of chapters away though.) This time round you get a big chunk of Edward again…part of this is not for the faint of heart!

Happy reading!

Chapter 22

EPOV

I was just getting out of my car in the garage when I heard my mother's voice coming from my answering machine inside the house.

"Edward, it's your mother. We're heading to Seattle for the weekend of the fourth and would love to see all of you in one place. I've left messages with Alice and Emmett, hopefully we can sort something out. We love you."

I placed my briefcase next to my armchair and replayed her message. Smiling, I thought how nice it would be to have my whole family together. A family that included Rosalie, Jasper and now Bella. My smile grew wider at the thought of having a weekend with her.

As if she was reading my thoughts, my phone rang again.

"Hello?" I answered before it had even rung once.

"Geez, were you sitting next to the phone or something?" she teased.

"Nope, still standing," I joked back. "How was your day?"

"It was actually really great." I could hear the happiness in her voice. "I ended up spending the whole day with Alice and Rosalie…"

I listened as Bella told me about Alice's plans to start her own business soon and how excited they all were.

"…and she's got her first range ready to go and it's inspired by…oops!" she giggled.

"It's inspired by what?" I asked, guessing where she had been going. "Us?"

"No, her and Jasper," Bella blurted quickly. I could almost feel her blushing through the phone. What are those two up to? I thought. I decided to let it go for now.

"Ok," I told her. "Hey, I just missed a call from mum and she wants me to come to Seattle the weekend of the fourth 'cause they'll be in town. How does that sit with you?"

"Rosalie and I were just discussing that actually," she said. "I have days that whole weekend so I'm free in the evenings, we were thinking maybe we could organise a dinner or something. We just need to find the space."

"I know it's lame, but how about the park?" I suggested. "We could all go down there on the Friday night for a picnic dinner and watch the fireworks?"

"Oh Edward, that's brilliant!" she gushed. "I was going to cook for everyone and a picnic makes things easier. And our park is the best place to see the fireworks from – Alice and I went there last year."

"Our park?" I liked the sound of that.

"Well, it's where we went." She sounded flustered. "It's silly, forget I said it."

In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to be able to wrap my arms around her and tell her it was ok. "I'm not forgetting anything. I love that you're thinking of something as ours. I might be in a different state to you right now but if you can go there and think of me then that makes me happy."

"I miss you," she sighed.

"I miss you too," I replied. "But since I'm coming for the fourth…"

"You're coming? You only just found out about it!" She sounded shocked.

"Of course I'm coming! Like I'd pass up an opportunity to see you…or my family," I added as an afterthought. "Now, as I was saying, since I'm coming for the fourth, that's only two weeks away!"

She muttered something under her breath that I didn't catch then. "What was that?"

"Nothing!" she exclaimed. "Didn't say a word.

I didn't believe her for a second and told her so. She denied it again so I let it pass.

"Are you going back to work tomorrow?" I asked.

"I still haven't heard anything. The last I heard from the hospital was that people wouldn't be going in or coming out until noon tomorrow at the earliest. I've got the graveyard shift tomorrow so I'm not due in till eight tomorrow night…" she trailed off.

"So you still don't know what it is?" I was worried about her going back in if it wasn't safe.

"There's been nothing on the news about the contaminant, all I've heard is some patient had it and it got into the ventilation system when they were operated on," she told me, sounding all clinical.

Even though we were talking about something so serious, hearing Bella using her doctor voice was turning me on. "Bella, I love it when you use your doctor voice," I told her, my voice much deeper than usual.

I heard her catch her breath on the other end of the line. "And why is that?" she asked, still all professional.

She's playing along, I thought with a grin. I decided to just go for it. "Doctor Swan, I seem to have a slight problem. I was hoping for your advice."

"Oh dear, a problem? Can you describe the symptoms to me? Are they similar to the symptoms you were exhibiting last time we spoke?" I knew she was referring to the morning she rode me in her bed. Just the thought of her doing that again made me harder than I already was.

"Yes doctor, they're similar," I told her. "There's the same level of swelling, and my hands are all fidgety again, like they're looking for something to…grope." I let my voice drop even lower on the last word.

"Well Mr Cullen, it seems you may have a recurring condition. Am I correct in recalling that my alternative treatment was successful in relieving the tension last time?" She stressed the 'suck' part of the word successful and I moaned aloud.

"Oh dear, you do sound as though you're experiencing some extreme discomfort," she analysed. "May I ask what clothing you're wearing?"

Oh fuck I like where this going. I almost said it aloud but kept it in. "I'm still in my suit from work doctor. I removed my jacket and tie when I arrived home but my pants, belt and shirt are still on."

"My initial recommendation would be to remove your belt and loosen your trousers, Mr Cullen," Bella directed. "Could you do that and let me know how you feel?"

I quickly undid my belt with one hand and undid the button and zip on my tailored pants, letting them drop to the ground. I quickly kicked off my shoes and pulled of my socks. It was my turn to tease now. "Should I also remove my underwear, doctor?" I asked, trying to sound innocent.

"Has the swelling subsided?" she enquired.

"No doctor, in fact, the swelling is still there and I'm feeling a throbbing sensation," I replied, starting to feel short of breath.

"The throbbing could be a result of your shirt being too tight, restricting blood flow to your lower…limbs." She came close to losing her demeanour on that one. "You should probably remove it before your underwear."

I worked on the buttons on my shirt, sliding it off my shoulders and letting it fall on top of my discard pants. I couldn't believe I was now standing in my living room in nothing but my boxers. "My shirt is gone now," I informed her, "but the swelling and the throbbing aren't getting any better."

"Perhaps you should remove your underwear as well," she suggested.

I moaned aloud as I removed my boxers, the material grazing my erection on the way down.

"Are you all right, Mr Cullen? Is the pain increasing?" I could hear her struggling to stay in character.

"The swelling is making the area incredibly sensitive, is there anything you can suggest?" I pleaded, trying to make her crack.

"There is one solution I can think of…" she trailed off suggestively.

I decided to beg. "Anything, doctor, I'll do anything!"

I heard her snort on the other end of the phone. I wasn't in any fit state to tease her now. I needed real relief and I was hoping she was going to talk me through it. I'd never done anything like this but it just felt so right with Bella.

"Edward?" she asked, the doctor façade gone.

"Bella?" I replied.

"Are we about to have phone sex?" She sounded so meek.

"Well, lil' Eddie is certainly hoping so. I am naked in my living room with a raging hard on, after all…" Wow, smooth, I berated myself.

"Hmmm…there's a pleasant picture. Would I make things harder if I told you I was home alone and naked on my bed?" she teased.

That was where I lost it. "Holy fuck! Are you serious?" Lil' Eddie twitched at the mere thought of Bella, naked and sprawled out on her bed.

"Mmm hmm…" she purred down the phone. "Just the thought of you being naked and hard was making me wet, so I thought I'd get naked too."

Where was this confidence coming from? I decided I didn't care. "Talk to me Bella," I demanded. "I'm sitting here in my recliner, slowly stroking myself while I think of you naked on your bed…tell me what you're doing."

Her moan made me twitch again as I really did start stroking myself in my recliner. I closed my eyes and laid my head back as I imagined Bella's skilled hands in place of my own.

"I…I'm not sure I can do this," she stammered suddenly. "I mean, I want to, but I…I…I just don't think I can."

I heard the rustling of sheets on the other end of the phone and kept my eyes closed, still picturing her in the bed. I was feeling so good at that point but I also didn't want to upset her.

"Bella, it's ok," I told her, releasing my grip on myself and grabbing my shirt off the floor, laying it across my lap. "You were just turning me on so much, I kind of lost it for a minute. I've never done anything like this before...God I can't wait till we're together again!"

"Me either," she said softly. "It's only two weeks, surely we can last till then."

I was about to reply when my doorbell sounded.

"Are you expecting someone?" Bella asked.

"No, I'm not…can I call you back?" I felt rotten to be doing this to her.

"Of course." I could hear her smiling down the phone.

We quickly said goodbye and I yanked my pants on without my underwear and threw my shirt on without doing up the buttons. The bell rang again and I shouted, "I'll be there in a sec!" as I stuffed my underwear in one of my shoes.

I ran to the door and wrenched it open. "Tanya? What are you doing here?" Why the fuck is my assistant standing on my doorstep? I thought to myself.

"You left some papers on your desk, Mr Cullen, about the Washington bar exam…I thought they might be important so I decided to drop them off on my way home," she told me.

It all sounded innocent enough but I knew she was renting a dumpy little place on the other side of town. I couldn't help smiling at the thought of getting out of here sooner rather than later. I suddenly realised she was staring at my open shirt with parted lips and a slight smirk on her face.

"Well, thank you for dropping those papers off, Tanya, I really appreciate it since I'm so far out of your way," I said, reaching for the papers in her hand.

"No problem," she replied blankly.

I don't normally like being a bastard but she needed to get the point. "Thanks again Tanya, I'll see you at the office in the morning." I stepped back and closed the door, making sure it locked. I held my laughter in until I got back to the living room and then roared until my sides hurt. I grabbed up the phone and called Embry, relaying the latest adventure with his replacement.

After we hung up, I quickly showered. No need for a cold shower, I thought as the warm water ran down my body. Tanya made sure I wasn't excited anymore.

I dressed in sweats and a t-shirt and threw a frozen pizza in the oven for dinner. While it was cooking I called Bella back and told her about Tanya's visit.

"You're kidding right?" she almost yelled when I got to the part about her staring at my body. "I'm going to fly over there tonight and kick her skanky head in!"

"It's ok Bella," I said calmly, "she works for me and thought she was doing the right thing. The bar exam is being held the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday after the fourth so you'll have me from the Friday until the Wednesday."

"Really? You'll be here for that long?" Her anger at Tanya was completely gone.

"Yep. And I'm going to look for somewhere to live while I'm there. I don't care if I don't get the hospital job, Bella. I want to move to Seattle to be with you." Open mouth, insert foot, I berated myself. I was crazy about her and wanted to be with her, but now I was scared she'd think I was just crazy.

"You're going to move here even if you don't have a job?" I wasn't sure if she was excited or not. "Are you sure?"

I'd already blurted out that I wanted to be with her, might as well go the whole hog. "I've had enough of Chicago. I need a change and I need to be closer to you. I know that sounds crazy since we barely know each other but it just doesn't feel right, being this far apart."

"It's hard being away from you," she admitted, "and I'd love to have you in Seattle…but are you sure?"

"Are you always so hesitant about things Bella, or is it just me?" I wanted to be sure.

"I'm always cautious," she corrected. "I know we barely know each other but I also know that our relationship isn't going to be anything spectacular with us so far apart. The thought of seeing you every day instead of just speaking to you makes me want to jump around like a little kid. You make me happy."

I smiled at the evident enthusiasm in her voice. "You make me happy too," I told her. "What are you having for dinner?"

"Dinner? That's a slightly different conversation to the one we had before!" she teased.

"Just a little," I conceded. "I'm waiting for a frozen pizza to heat up and thought about how awesome your cooking is…"

She giggled at that. "Well, I had a fairly big lunch so I'm just having some soup – it's simmering now. Alice is out with Jasper so I'm all on my onesies."

"Onesies?" I mocked her.

"Bite me," she shot back. "It's something my dad says. Hang on, you're only just having dinner now? It's almost 9 o'clock there!"

"The life of a lawyer," I intoned seriously. "It's late, but I'm trying to get a lot of stuff tied up so it doesn't take as long when the move starts to happen. It's not that uncommon for me to get home this late."

"Just make sure you look after yourself, ok?" she said, just as my oven timer went off. "Is that your pizza?"

"Yep." I walked into the kitchen and turned off the timer. "I guess I better go eat."

"Ok. I'll call you tomorrow when I find out about the hospital?" Bella offered.

"Sounds good to me. Be safe," I replied softly.

"You too. Bye."

We hung up and I sat down to my uninteresting pizza, looking forward more than ever to being with Bella. Even frozen pizza would be interesting if I had her to eat it with.