Thanks so much to booklover484 for her amazing beta skills and to Nati for pre-reading!

Early update...enjoy :)

Chapter 15: All Good Things Must End

"Before I say anything else," Edward paused and his eyes locked with mine. "I want to first apologize for kissing you without your permission. I regret it deeply."

Edward's words gave me mixed feelings; it brought the distinct memory of our brief kiss to the forefront of my mind. I could still feel the warm pressure of his lips on mine and the thought of his face so close sent a shudder through my spine. But the memory was tarnished. Of course he would regret kissing me. I wasn't exactly anything special. A pang shot through my chest and I suddenly wanted to cry.

"I don't want or need your apologies, Edward. Can you please just leave?" I whispered, my voice cracking and betraying me. I crossed my arms defensively. Edward's eyes held mine, seeming to try and understand the hurt that was so clearly heard in my voice. Heat crawled up my skin from his intense gaze and I pulled my arms tighter around me, protecting myself.

Edward frowned, his eyes showing his desperation. "You said you'd hear me out," he insisted. I very much wanted to remind him that I didn't have to listen to anything he had to say, but I didn't want to speak, for fear that my voice would betray me even more.

Edward took my silence as his cue to continue. "I'm also sorry I pried into your personal life. I wouldn't have pushed so hard if I'd known it was going to bother you so much," he admitted. He ran his free hand through his already hectic hair and then pinched the bridge of his nose. I felt my resolve wavering as I studied Edward leaning against the taping table that I had dubbed as his, looking so repentant.

"Do you ever get tired of apologizing?" I asked him abruptly.

"What?"

"Apologizing. You seem to have to do it a lot. You've apologized to me for major things at least five times in the few weeks that you've known me." I patronized. Edward's expression turned thoughtful. He didn't say anything and I thought he wasn't going to answer. Had he decided that I wasn't worth the time or the apology and had decided to just let it go?

Edward who had been clutching a heating pad in his hand set it down on the table. I thought he was done talking for sure and was going to continue with his stretches, but he didn't head for the middle of the room; instead, I watched him apprehensively when he turned in my direction. He headed straight for me and I hugged myself tighter feeling very vulnerable sitting there alone without anything to protect myself, however at the same time, I knew Edward's wasn't going to hurt me.

Edward stopped right in front of the taping table; right in front of me. His face was close to mine causing our noses to be only a foot apart. Memories from our previous kiss began flashing through my mind, but I forced myself to focus on the moment at hand.

"I don't apologize a lot. In fact, I'm pretty sure the only people I've ever said 'I'm sorry' to are you. And my mother." Edward's cool breath hit my face, smelling like a mixture of mint and man.

"Oh," I breathed. My heart started accelerating. My eyes flickered to Edward's lips and I felt all my remaining anger at him began to fade. I couldn't be angry with him so close. And his scent made me dizzy with want. I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted to feel him pressed against me, and I never wanted him to let go.

Who was this man that could make me feel this way without even trying? Who could pull at my heart strings and make me tend to his need every time no matter how many times he hurt me. I wanted to help the guy in front of me, because as I gazed into his eyes I saw the hurt he'd experienced, I saw how lost he was, stronger than I had ever seen it before. I wanted it to go away. I needed to make it go away.

Just once, I wanted to feel what it was like to kiss him, to really kiss him. To not have rules prevent me from doing what I wanted. Just this once. This might've been my only chance and I didn't want to pass it up. This might've been the only chance for both of us to forget and just feel. I kept my eyes fixed on Edward's as I let my hands fall from around me.

"Kiss me." I breathed.

Edward started in surprise, but he didn't hesitate for long. He brought his hands to my face, cupped my cheeks gently and pressed his lips against mine. I sighed feeling his mouth against mine, warm and supple as I pressed harder against him with more pressure. I tangled my fingers in his hair, securing his face to mine.

Edward responded hungrily, his tongue seeking entrance to which I readily gave. His tongue worked mine and I sighed at the sensation. Our tongues danced and I felt myself shiver as Edwards hands moved from my face down my shoulders and down to my waist. His hands slipped under the hem of my exercise top and ran across the bare skin of my hip. I moaned. Edward pulled his lips away from mine. His heavy breaths mixed with my gasps, but I didn't want it to stop. Clearly, Edward had no intentions of stopping either.

His lips moved to my neck and I fisted his hair tighter, tilting my head upwards. His lips traveled up to my ear, making me shudder.

"When I apologized before," Edward paused, placing another kiss under my ear, causing goose bumps to form on my overheated skin. "I think you misunderstood my words." Another kiss. "I apologized for kissing you without permission." Another kiss. "But I'd never apologize for kissing you."

I gasped at his words, more sensations running through my body. He brought my lips back to his and crushed me to him. I never wanted this to stop. I never wanted to stop feeling this. Edward pulled me closer to him, so he was situated between my legs. His hands resting and dancing over my skin like flickers of fire. My body felt hot, too hot and I felt like I would internally combust at any moment. I felt like a foolish person playing with fire, ignoring the fact that I would inevitably get burned.

Edward's hands were still underneath my shirt teasing my skin. His hands slid to my back pushing me even closer to him. I clutched him desperately, but I knew we had to stop soon. Edward began slowing the kiss down, less frantic and more languid. Softer and lighter and sweeter kisses passed between us until Edward broke the kiss.

I kept my eyes closed relishing the moment as I tried to calm my labored breathing. Edward placed a kiss on my nose and then my cheek. The tenderness of his kisses took my breath away and I felt tears once again forming behind my closed lids.

"Tell me that you'll go out with me," Edward whispered against my cheek.

I wished that I could say yes. Even though he was rude, annoying and prying, I wanted to be there for him.

"I can't," I breathed, regret evident even in my hushed tone. I corrected myself. "We can't."

"Why?" Edward brushed his lips against my nose. Back and forth, back and forth. I cherished the feeling, knowing that this would be the only chance I'd get to be like this with him.

"It's against training policy. I can't date anyone on the team." I sighed, tears spilling from my eyes. "Conflict of interest. I'd be a distraction to you...I'd be overly concerned with treating your injuries."

"We don't have to tell anyone." Edward assured me. "And I'm pretty sure even friends would do that, so what does it really matter?" I dropped my head into the crook of his neck, his strong hand gliding from my head to my back.

"No. If anyone found out.." I managed to choke out. "You could be in trouble and...and I'd lose my internship. There's too much at stake for the both of us."

"I still don't give a damn. I think...," Edward stumbled. "I think I need you."

"Don't say that," I mumbled, clutching his shirt tighter.

"And I think...you need me, too."

"It doesn't matter." I sighed, exasperated. I lifted my head and untangled myself from his warm and safe embrace. "This." I waved between us." This can't happen again. We can't happen. No matter how much we want it."

He gazed into my eyes, searching for any signs of me changing my mind. My resolve wavered a bit.

"It doesn't have to be this way." He pressed.

"You know that's not true," I said, shaking my head. I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his once more, one last time. "But at least we'll have this. That's all we can do."

I sat back on the table, suddenly cold, my body protesting from the loss of heat from Edward. The loss of Edward. Edward didn't move, but continued to watch me.

"I think...I think you should do your stretches now." I whispered. I tried to get a handle on my emotions, but I wasn't having much luck. Tears slid down my cheeks.

Edward's hands clasped my cheeks and he brushed away my tears, frantically. "Please don't cry," he pleaded. I'd never seen Edward so soft and caring. It made my heart ache.

"I'll be okay. Just go do your stretches. I'll be fine." I placed my hand on top of his for a moment before removing it. Edward wiped at my face again until he seemed satisfied that I wasn't going to have a total breakdown. He reluctantly moved to the other side of the room to hop up on his favorite table. He started with his leg lifts. His knee was definitely almost completely healed. Pretty soon, he wasn't going to need to see me so often. He never took his eyes of me, nor I him. I barely made it through five of the papers Billy had entrusted to me.

By the time the rest of the team rolled in with their usual treatments, I was a hot and bothered mess. Nobody really said anything, but I knew they could see the red rings and puffiness around my eyes. Emmett came in first, but stopped in his tracks. He'd glanced between Edward and I, eyebrows raised seemingly debating whether to inquire or just pretend that he didn't notice anything. But before he could even ask, I decided to tell him some sob story about getting a bad grade in a class.

"So you got a 'C' in French History?" Emmett repeated. I nodded. He didn't believe it, I could tell, but he didn't push. I did catch him throwing glares in Edward's direction every so often as if he knew it was Edward's fault I was upset. If only he knew the half of it.

"Hey, Bella." Seth called, entering the training room, a smile on his face.

"Hey, Seth. How's that rib of yours?" A few days ago, Seth had really gotten the wind knocked out of him and had bruised his ribs when he'd fallen on top of the football.

"Not too bad. It's easier to move my side now." Seth stepped over to where I was seated which was a swivel stool I sat on when I had numerous athletes on the floor.

"Let me see."

Seth removed his shirt revealing lean hard muscle. A few months ago, I would have been attracted to Seth. He was cute, fit and funny. What wasn't there to like? But Seth had no draw for me. I suddenly found that Seth was lacking next to my vision of Edward. I prodded his side with my fingertips, and I couldn't help but glance up at Edward. I was surprised by the anger I saw in his gaze, his jaw was clenched and he was frowning.

I wondered if he was angry with me now that I had rejected him?

The thought made me sad as I finished checking Seth's ribs. I glanced back at Edward and saw he was watching me as well. His gaze was normal again and I wondered what had made him so angry before. I sighed before breaking contact and moved to begin getting all the gear ready to take down on the field.

"Do you need any help carrying your gear down?" Edward asked, appearing beside me.

"No, I've got it." I assured him slinging my bag across my shoulder. I didn't turn around to look at him.

Edward let out a sigh.

"You better head down to the field, practice will be starting soon and I need to lock up." I said screwing the top back onto a cooler filled with injury ice. Edward didn't move and I opened my mouth to say something else when I felt him lean in close to my ear.

"Please. Don't make this any harder than it has to be." He begged.

I whirled around to reply but somehow he was already gone.

Hello there! Early update as promised :) thank you for the lovely reviews. Do you think we could hit 20 for this chapter? Let me know what you guys think of their kiss!

Do you agree with Bella? Or do you think she's a goody two shoes? Do you think she should stay away?

Love you guys!

-Marie