Author Note: Again, you guys all ROCK with the reviews!! And please remember to vote at the Twilight Awards (link on my profile)-- this story is nominated for BEST ROMANCE and BEST EDWARD CHARACTERIZATION

Thanks to my betas: tameleine (we have something exciting in the works for you guys--a new co-written story!--don't worry, I will still update TDIG), Theresa, CallistoLexx and Madeleine.

BPOV

I gaped at the three intruders, so bloody fucking furious and at the same time, so turned on that my eyes felt like they were crossing. I tried to hold onto the anger, but I felt it slipping away as my eyes sized up Edward, who had the cutest, most sheepish expression on his face.

There was pretty much no sight on earth that could compare to the way he looked right now. Parts of his gorgeous bronze hair stood completely up on end, as if he'd just finished running those long fingers through it, and his eyes were fully-lidded and still a bit sleepy--then my eyes drifted lower and heard the hallelujah chorus begin as I took in the impressive erection he was unsuccessfully trying to hide in those tasty shorts. At that moment, I didn't care so much that he was in my house, as long as he was in my house, but of course, there was no way we could let them get away with this without making them sweat it a little.

I glanced over at Rose, and her face was set in several hard lines. Her lips were compressed together and I was surprised to find that Emmett hadn't turned into a big Carrie-like conflagration, considering how evilly she glaring at him.

Jasper and Alice were just gaping at each other. I had to smother a laugh when I remembered that Alice was wearing one of her many little silk negligees and that it revealed more than it covered. We were all used to it, but Jasper looked like someone had hit him hard over the head with a frying pan.

Frying pan. . .there was some thought I was missing. . .something that had to do with that burning smell that was beginning to seep into the air . . .

"SHIT," I screamed, as all of a sudden remembering the pancakes and how long they'd been on the hot griddle. I jumped back to the stove and tried lifting the griddle off the burners with just a towel but immediately burned my hand and dropped the smoking pan back onto the stove.

Edward was by my side within a second, flat. I felt dizzy, not from the searing pain of the burn on my hand, but from his nearness.

"Whoa," Edward cautioned, as I went to reach for the griddle again, "let me do that. It's heavy and you'll burn yourself again."

I wondered if he really thought that playing the gallant knight would forgive the fact that he was clearly an opportunistic pervert.

Carefully, he found a nearby potholder and grasped the griddle and moved it over to the cool burners on the other side of the stove. I breathed a quick sigh of relief and examined the crusty, burned-on pancakes.

"Damn," I muttered. I had really been looking forward to that chocolate, and now I didn't just want it, I needed it with Edward standing next to me in the kitchen, his bedroom eyes looking at me worriedly.

"You need some ice," Edward murmured in my ear, and if Rosalie hadn't been so obviously listening to our little exchange, I would have asked him where he wanted to put it.

Even without saying it, he seemed to know what I was thinking, as those gorgeous green eyes gleamed mischievously with the unspoken thought.

Glancing over at Rose, I wondered how much she'd picked up in the last few moments, but she was still busy glaring at Emmett, who looked more terrified than anyone of his size deserved to look.

Alice danced over to the fridge and opened up the bottom freezer compartment. Handing me the pack of peas, she turned her attention to the remains of the burnt pancakes on the griddle. As she moved, I noticed Jasper's stunned expression as he took in the way her short silk hem trembled with her steps.

Alice's nose scrunched at the griddle and quickly nicking the potholder from Edward's hand, she lifted the heavy pan like it was made of paper and took it over to the sink. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jasper continue to gape.

I moved toward the sink, thinking that I should probably help her clean it, since forgetting the pancakes in the first place was my fault, but Alice waved me away.

"I'm fine," she insisted, "you're hurt. Ice your hand."

All I could do was turn my attention back to Edward, who I hadn't yet interrogated about his presence in my apartment.

I crossed my arms across my chest and turned to face him. "So," I began casually, "is there a reason you've decided to grace us with your presence this fine morning?"

Edward grinned hugely in response and Emmett yelled out, "Jasper wants Alice!" followed by a number of large shrieking catcalls. Jasper blushed a deep red, and I saw Alice's hand stall momentarily as she scrubbed on the griddle surface, yet Edward's grin said it all, and I knew without a doubt that it hadn't been Jasper who'd gotten all three of them here today.

I felt a swarm of warmth sweep through me and all I could do was beam at Edward.

"Bella!" Rosalie shrieked, finally finding her voice after the shock of turning around to see Emmett and his brothers gawking, "why are you smiling?"

Good question. I rapidly re-arranged my facial features into a half-smile, half-frown, which was the best I could do at the moment.

"So you snuck into our apartment, uninvited, so that Jasper could see Alice" I asked skeptically, trying to sound annoyed but failing almost completely.

"That's it, Bella," Rosalie sneered, her patience ending, "you're not allowed to conduct this investigation because you clearly don't have the balls for it."

I gaped as she marched right over to Emmett and got right in his face. "How dare you show your face here, especially when I made it perfectly clear I wanted nothing to do with you?"

Emmett spluttered, obviously surprised that she was suddenly so close to him and was nearly taking his head off.

"Uh, uh. . ." he stammered, his eyes sending a SOS in Edward's direction. I had to smother a chuckle because, despite my initial reaction, I couldn't possibly work up any genuine anger. They all looked so sheepish, and in the case of Emmett, absolutely terrified, that it was impossible to be anything more than surprised, and really just thrilled that Edward was standing in the kitchen next to me.

Rosalie smashed right over Emmett's confusion and her voice rose. Uh oh, I thought, she's gaining momentum. I took a step forward, intending to intervene before things grew too far out of hand, but Edward's hand shot out and grabbed me around my wrist, drawing me back.

He leaned down, his breath tickling my ear. "Don't," Edward whispered, "they need to get all the anger out."

I tried to turn my attention back to the blossoming fight in front of us, but it was hard to concentrate on anything with Edward so close to me. All I wanted was to drag him to the floor and slam that rock hard cock deep inside of me.

Jasper had drifted toward Alice, theoretically to help her with the griddle, but it lay forgotten in the sink as they stood together and gaped at escalating voices.

"It's not like it's my choice to be here!" Emmett bellowed, clearly phasing into his louder voice.

"Then why did you fucking come?" Rosalie shrieked back.

Watching the two of them yell at each other helped me kind of begin to understand the fierce fiery relationship they'd shared six years ago and why it was so hard to forget.

I'd never seen anyone stand up to Rose as well as Emmett. She was typically fearless, but there was an edge of vulnerability in her voice as she confronted him. They were like two halves of a puzzle—incomplete apart, but perfectly matched together.

"I love my brothers!" Emmett yelled, face growing redder by the second.

"Love them so much that you don't have a voice of your own?" Rose sneered back.

"Of course I do," he exploded, "you just want to think that this has something to do with you. Can't you focus on someone other than yourself for five seconds?"

I knew I couldn't have been the only one that felt the knife edge of Emmett's words and saw the corresponding pain etched all over Rosalie's face. Edward tensed behind me, and everyone knew this was headed into dangerous personal territory, but I did nothing to stop it and neither did anybody else. We were all struck dumb and still as the fight raged out of control.

"Me?" Rose asked, with a high-pitched innocent voice that was often the forbearer of the Apocalypse, "me self-centered? Let's look at you for a second. Someone who can't even keep it in his fucking pants!"

I had to admit that was a solid shot at Emmett, and he even winced a little as he took the direct hit. Unfortunately, he was not very smooth in his recovery and he chose entirely the wrong track.

"Rosie, baby, listen, I know that was wrong, I didn't want to be there. . ." his voice had dropped to a seductive cajoling, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw the edges of Alice's mouth twist into a smirk. There was nothing Rosalie hated more on earth than men who called her "baby." The fury she was about to unleash on Emmett would make him think he'd merely enjoyed a rainstorm before. He'd have to make it through a hurricane now.

Her voice was dark, low, and so dangerous I couldn't believe it belonged to a girl who looked like she was chock full of sunshine and rainbows. "What did you call me?" Rose took a step towards him, eyes menacing, hands clenching into fists.

Emmett almost fell over backwards backing up, forcing an almost full-blown chuckle out of Alice. I had to admit that despite my reservations about this knockdown, drag-out fight, it was pretty amusing seeing Emmett scared to death of Rosalie.

"Uh. . .uh. . .baby?" Emmett's voice was devoid of the confidence it had held earlier. She'd clearly gained the upper hand.

"Nobody," she announced, "calls me that and lives."

Emmett's eyes went wide and this time my laugh joined Alice's. Edward squeezed the hand he'd yet to let go of, and that was clearly my signal to shut up. I compressed my lips and tried to think of dying babies or Britney Spears shaving her head. Anything to keep from breaking into hysterical giggles.

Rose was nearly stalking him now, shoving a pointy fingertip into his chest as she advanced on him.

"I'm sorry. Really. It's a bad habit."

"Terrible," she agreed, not backing down one bit.

"What can I do to make it up to you?" Emmett made a lunge for the forgotten box of chocolate croissants that Jasper had left on a side table. "Croissant?" he offered, opening the box and letting us three rabid girls smell the chocolaty pastry.

"Do you really think, Emmett, that some sort of peace offering would really compensate me for all the things you've ever done to me?" Her voice was a patronizing sneer.

Lowering the box, Emmett sighed. "Rosalie, I made a mistake. One freaking mistake. What else have I ever done to you?"

Crossing her arms over her chest, she looked at him like he was a miniscule insect she'd like to crush, instead of a huge 6'4" man who dripped muscle.

"Everything," she spat.

"Then I give up," Emmett roared. "You don't ever want to talk to me again, fine. But clearly this is about more than just me and you."

"Oh yes," Rosalie agreed, and all of our jaws dropped. Never in a million years had I expected her to agree with anything Emmett said.

"This is definitely about more than just me and you," she offered slyly, "I'd say it's more about . . . trespassing." She flung the last word at him like a javelin and Emmett went pale.

Calmly, she walked over to the phone, and all any of us could do was gape at her.

Edward was the first to regain his voice. "Rose," he pleaded, turning on the charm full-blast, "you really don't need to do that. I know we barged in a bit uninvited, shall we say, but we're friends. There's no need to involve the cops."

Rose shot him an incredulous look, not swallowing any of his dazzling charm. "He," she said, pointing, but refusing to look, at Emmett, "is not invited, nor is he my friend. You may all think I'm stupid, but Jasper clearly isn't going to leave unless Alice asks him, and despite what she may say, that's not going to happen anytime soon."

Another giggle escaped me at the outraged expression that dawned on Alice's face at Rosalie's pronouncement. I should have done what Edward wanted and kept my mouth shut because next, she rounded on me, blue eyes flashing lightning flame.

"And you!" she nearly shrieked, "don't get me started on you, Bella. You may pretend to be little Miss Innocent here, but your goo-goo ga-ga eyes at Mr. Charming don't go as far over my head as you might think." With that closing statement, Rose turned her attention back to the phone and kept dialing. Part of me was skeptical that she even knew the number for the police. Surely she wouldn't call 911?

God I hoped not.

I thought about flashing a frantic look in Alice's direction, but face set with determination, she'd already started toward Rose.

"Rose, sweetheart," she cooed, all sweetness and light, attempting to make us forget the evil pixie that lurked inside, "you need to take a deep breath and put the phone down."

"No," Rosalie replied, but I could see her hands stall on the buttons. Either she'd forgotten the number or Alice was a greater miracle-worker than even I'd given her credit for.

"You know you don't want to do this." Alice was all emotionless logic, and it was hard to deny that it was the truth. Maybe a little more unvarnished than we typically gave Rose, but honest truth all the same. She didn't really want to turn Emmett into the cops. We all knew that—except maybe for Emmett, who didn't look like he'd taken an easy breath in the last minute or so.

Rosalie sighed and placed the phone back in its holder. Like most of Rose's temper tantrums, we'd just had to ride her out until she calmed down. I'd seen a few of them in my time, and the only one who seemed truly capable at luring her out of the zone was Alice, though I'd managed a few instances on my own. But even those times, with Alice, Rose had never looked as peaceful and relaxed as she did in this particular moment.

I wondered if maybe Edward had been right to let them go at it. Maybe this was a fight that had been six long years in the making, and now that it was finally over with, they could both calm down and spew a little less angst in our general direction.

"Let's make more pancakes," Alice suggested, clearly changing the subject and trying to move on while the going was good.

I nodded, and both Edward and Emmett chimed in their agreement. Jasper stayed silent, but then I was beginning to realize that he was much quieter than anyone else. I found it strange that Alice, who was one of the most talkative people I knew, and the most hyperactive to boot, would desire someone who seemed resolutely calm and collected. I chalked it up to the mysteries of life and love.

Edward bent over my palm solicitously, checking the burn I'd incurred earlier.

"Looks good," he pronounced, "I'm glad we got ice on it right away."

"What are you, a doctor?" I teased, smiling up at him.

"No," he laughed, sending my heart into stutters, "my father is, though. Dr. Carlisle Cullen. And I'm glad it's fine. You scared me there for a minute."

"So did you," I said, and knew triumph and glee when he grinned sheepishly.

"I'm sorry about that, by the way. Really. . .it was unbearably rude of us to just come walking in."

"No," I replied, in what I hoped was a low enough voice that Alice and Jasper, starting a new batch of pancakes, couldn't hear, "that wasn't what surprised me."

"Me standing in your apartment, uninvited, didn't surprise you?"

I laughed inwardly at the loop I was about to throw him for. "Well, maybe a little. But that wasn't the real surprise."

I glanced backwards, quickly, hoping that Emmett and Rosalie weren't paying any attention either. Thankfully, they had fallen into some sort of discussion over a magazine on the coffee table. I was surprised to see them talking again, and not just screaming at each other, but at that moment I didn't care. I wanted to rock Edward Cullen's world and I knew exactly how to do it.

"So what was the real surprise?"

I reached out and up under his t-shirt and snagged a finger on the waistband of his shorts, reveling in the look of shock on his face, and the way the simple brush of my skin on his had sent shivers down my spine. I pulled him a little closer to me and smiled conspiratorially.

"This," I nearly whispered, "was the big surprise."

The green of his eyes darkened and the pupils expanded. I swore I thought I heard a rustling sound right under my finger, and heat whooshed through me.

"Tell me," he murmured, "that you have to get something in your room right now."

"I do?" I asked almost innocently.

"You do," he replied, his eyes making me all sorts of promises of what I might get if I complied with his demand.

I turned to the rest of the group, who were still not paying any attention to us at all, and announced, "I'll be right back."

Alice looked up distractedly from the griddle and didn't even say anything. I figured it was probably because Jasper was so close to her that they were nearly touching. The air crackled between them, and I wondered how long it would take for them both to stop fighting the inevitable.

Rose and Emmett were still deep in whatever subject they'd started before, and didn't respond either. It was just as well. I didn't really want anyone putting two and two together.

I quickly walked down the hallway, waiting for the sound of the footsteps behind me. I heard them almost immediately.

Turning, I grabbed Edward's hand and pulled him into my room, and shut the door behind us. We were alone, really alone, I thought, giddy with the possibilities. Edward clearly thought the same way because the second I leaned my back on the door behind me, laughing and trying to catch my breath, he swooped down and grabbed me.

"You are an evil, evil tease," he mumbled into my ear, "and you need to be taught some manners."

"Oh?" I asked coquettishly, looking up at him from under my lashes.

"Yes," Edward replied, right before his mouth descended on mine and I stopped thinking completely. The kiss was wild and hot, his lips slanting over mine hungrily, like he couldn't get enough of the me.

"God," he stammered, briefly coming up for air, "you taste like fucking chocolate."

I managed to get one incoherent giggle in, before he slammed me back against the door and proceeded to devour me all over again. I hitched a leg over his hip and he must have liked that idea because he grabbed my other leg and held me there, against the door, as he completely and totally ravished my mouth.

"Bella, you are amazing," Edward whispered fiercely, cradling my head in his hands, before they skimmed down my body and slid under my shirt. He pulled me close to him, his palms flat on the sides of my torso and I felt the immediate sizzle through my body at the feeling of his hands on my body. It felt amazing and I wanted more.

"Um, thanks?" I offered a bit dizzily, not exactly sure what to say, and really, at this moment, not sure which way was even up. "You're pretty awesome yourself," I added lamely, but his face broke out into a huge, genuine smile. As if he didn't already know he was spectacular, I grumbled.

His hands, with those incredibly long fingers, were stroking my skin, and I wanted to purr like a cat. Suddenly, without warning, he stopped mid-stroke.

"What?" I asked self-consciously, wondering if he'd found something he didn't like. Then, before he could even open his mouth to answer, I realized what he'd felt on my skin, and I had to school myself not to blush. Maybe it was better that we were going to have this conversation now.

"Is this what I think it is?" he inquired with wonder in his voice.

I nodded. I didn't trust myself to talk right now. We hadn't had any time to talk about what this was between us, but before we could even do that, we were going to talk about having sex. My whole body burned for it, but my mind fluttered with butterflies.

I was completely unprepared for his reaction.

He grabbed me hard, and pressed me to the door with his body, and started kissing me like he could never get enough.

"Wait," I said, barely managing to crane my neck so he couldn't reach my lips with his. He simply changed tactics and trailed kisses down the column of my neck. I frowned, despite that whatever it was he was doing felt amazing.

"Wait!" I said again, this time with a lot louder and firmer voice. He looked up at me, green eyes questioning.

"That . .. turned you on? That I'm wearing a birth control patch?" My voice was unsure and a bit shaky. I might talk a lot about freedom and self-expression, but I rarely practiced what I preached.

"Bella," he breathed out, "I like you. A lot. And if we ever make it into bed, I'm going to thank my lucky stars that I don't have to worry about getting you pregnant, because I'm already sure that any self-control I have dissolves around you." And then he bent in and kissed me again, while I was still weak-kneed at that incredible declaration.

If Edward kissed that well, I didn't even want to know what he was like with everything else.

We finally broke apart, gasping, when I heard Alice call me from the kitchen. Damn it. She knew exactly what was going on, and she'd obviously decided to call in part of what I owed her from interrupting her Jasper dream. Apparently if she wasn't getting any, none of us could.

"We need," he said, holding me close, "to continue this. But we need to see what Alice wants, since she seems determined to ruin our fun. I'll go first, and you can follow in a few moments."

I nodded, and felt an instantaneous loss when he released me, gave me a last quick peck on the lips and taking a few deep breaths, opened the door. He was clearly trying to calm down, and I couldn't help myself—I stole another look in his shorts and felt my eyebrows raise. He couldn't go back out there like this.

"Do you want to use the bathroom first?" I asked, trying to keep the laughter out of my voice.

Completely unselfconscious, he nodded. "That would be good. Where is it?"

"Next door, to the left," I said, leaning out the doorway a little and pointing in the general direction.

"Good," he said, and walked towards it.

Taking a deep sigh of my own, I squared my shoulders back and went to face the Grand Inquisitor that was Alice.

APOV

I didn't need to be psychic to know why Edward and Bella had decided to sneak out. The issue he'd been having with his shorts earlier coupled with the shit-eating grin on her transparent face as she waltzed out of the kitchen said it all. I still had no reason to trust Edward, but I felt unable to really get a clear handle on the situation when Jasper was standing practically on top of me, apparently supervising.

I tried to tell myself that having Jasper as a supervisor wasn't nearly setting the soles of my feet on fire, but I was sick of lying to myself. I wanted him, and it pissed me off that, though he clearly felt the same, he refused to do anything about it. Apparently the last six years were meaningless in that regard. He still couldn't come up with the balls to make a move. Luckily, I'd managed to grow a pair since our first encounters, and this time around, I was determined to make a move on him if he continued playing hands-off.

Clumsily, I turned a pancake, the batter splattering in droplets over the griddle. I could feel, but not see, Jasper's frown. I wasn't great in the kitchen on the best day. With Jasper overseeing my every movement, and my hands shaky as a result, I was mostly, if not completely, incompetent.

The thick sickly-sweet smell of chocolate filled the air around us and I swore I felt Jasper move even closer behind me, the fabric of my slip so thin that I could distinctly feel his body heat grow hotter.

Then I felt what could only have been his granite cock nestle right up against my silk-covered ass, and my immediately-weak knees threatened to give out on me.

"Jasper," I hissed helplessly, panic streaking through me that he was going to draw Emmett and Rosalie's attention over here.

"Hush," he whispered, his voice caressing me, and I had a sudden, steaming hot flashback of my dream from last night, "they are so absorbed in each other they wouldn't notice if a bomb went off."

"And is that what you're going to do, Mr. Unibomber?" I replied weakly, my usually snotty attitude shrinking in the face of his undeniable lust for me.

He chuckled, clearly amused until I, unable to help myself one second longer, arched my back and rubbed every so slightly against him. Letting out the most painfully adorable squeal, he jumped back from me, and I felt disappointment swell in my chest. Why had he pulled away? I nearly groaned in frustration.

As if none of this had just happened, he reverted back into professional mode and pointed out the rapidly burning pancakes. "Pay attention, Alice," he chastised, "there's only so much batter left."

I wanted to pout and beat my small fists against his deliciously broad chest. I swear the man played hot and cold better than any girl I'd ever met. But I feigned complete disinterest and carefully flipped the pancakes, proud that the trembling in my hands had completely subsided.

"Bella!" I yelled, determined that if I wasn't going to get any, nobody was going to get any.

Bella appeared in the kitchen, looking suitably ashamed of her swollen lips and overly bright eyes. The look that she exchanged when Edward walked in was pure sex. I wondered how much they'd managed to get done before I'd interrupted them.

All six of us sat down at the dining room table, and though I'd initially been apprehensive, considering all the conflicting emotional baggage, but this gathering was night and day from our dinner the evening before.

Who would have known that letting Rosalie hatchet into Emmett would have relaxed her so completely? It was almost, I sniffed, as if she'd managed to get laid in the ten minutes I'd been completely distracted by Jasper. I would have noticed if she'd left, right?

"Pancake?" Edward asked me solicitously, handing me the steaming platter.

"Yes, thanks," I answered distractedly, trying not to watch as Jasper turned all that incredible focus onto his plate. Whatever needed his attention got the full dose. I never thought that would ever send a wave of lust through me, but I so desperately wanted to be the one in his crosshairs.

"So how long have you guys been planning this business?" Rosalie asked, jerking me out of my fantasy of being on Jasper's plate instead of the pancakes. She was talking? Without anyone prodding her? And if I wasn't mistaken she'd directed that question right at Emmett, despite the general pronoun she'd used.

Emmett, clearly picking up that particular signal, answered for the Cullen brothers.

"Since high school really. We make an awesome team—each of us really has a different talent, and they all work so well together."

"Let me guess, yours is the cars," Bella teased.

"Yep," Emmett beamed and if I wasn't mistaken, he exchanged some sort of look with Rose, who, holy shit, smiled back.

I sat back limply in my chair, pancakes and even chocolate, forgotten.

"And what about Edward?" Bella asked, sending him a sly little smirk of her own.

"Edward? He sits in front of the computer and wanks off a lot."

Bella snorted with laughter. "Oh, I bet he does," she knowingly gloated.

"And how would you know that, Bella Swan?" I asked sternly, eliciting giggles from my prey.

She shrugged, but her face was so full and happy, I felt another slight twinge. The last thing I wanted to happen to her was what had happened with Jas and I. Speaking of Jasper, he was being his typically quiet self. Obviously I'd have to change that.

"And Jasper?" I asked, my eyebrows raised, "does he wank off too?"

The expression in his eyes as they met mine was pure scorching amber. He'd probably never get over that comment, but I hadn't been able to help myself.

"I," he ground out, clearly not happy in the least, "work up all the engineering plans. Emmett experiments, which let me tell you, isn't pretty, and I have to make sense of it all."

"And that's hard?" I asked innocently, even though I had a good idea of how tough it must be. Emmett was neither the neatest or the most consistent guy on the earth.

Jasper glared at Emmett. "It's hell, most of the time. Besides, if anyone has time to wank off, it's Emmett."

Rosalie laughed, knowledge rife through the sound. I was still flabbergasted at the amazing turnaround her attitude had taken, but I certainly wasn't going to oppose such a welcome change.

"It's true," Edward smoothly cut in, "he's had most of this stuff figured out since high school. We're just really refining concepts at this point."

"What's the name?" Bella asked, and I saw the remnants of a serious blush on her cheeks. Bella, the little prude that wanted so desperately to ditch her innocent exterior. However, from the looks that Edward kept giving her, he seemed to like her exactly as she was.

"Cullen Brothers Automotive," Jasper chimed in. Trust him to answer the most boring question that was asked. I rolled my eyes and reminded myself that lust was just lust. I could quench that particular thirst with anybody. It didn't have to be Jasper. He was such a damn stick in the mud.

Still, it was almost as if in the last ten minutes, we'd ceased to be a group of six individuals lugging too much emotional baggage, and we'd forged ourselves into a group.

The pancakes had disappeared and I got up and started to collect the empty plates and used silverware.

Bella started drifting in the direction of the hallway and so did Edward. Big surprise there, I nearly snorted. They were as transparent as a plate glass window. I just hoped they could keep their leg-humping quiet enough.

What was really astonishing, however, was the conversation that Emmett and Rose had launched into again. I caught part of it as I walked between table and kitchen, clearing the dishes, and it sounded like they were talking about her car. I grimaced. I found nothing interesting at all about cars, except that they had to go fast and be nice, with leather and shiny paint. Rosalie was the one who lived for diving under the dirty hood and figuring out how it all worked together.

I had to work to get my jaw up off the floor when they walked out the front door together, clearly going to the garage space where Rosalie's car was parked.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Jasper asked me. I whirled around and he was way too close for my comfort level.

"Uh, yeah," I answered noncommittally, skirting around him with the last of the dishes. I was still kind of pissed that he'd pulled away earlier. What if he was even more of a prude than Bella? If he was, I told myself, I'm going to stop this obsession at once. No point in lusting after someone who couldn't deliver.

"Do you need any help with the dishes?"

I turned around and, setting the dishes on the counter next to the sink, placed my hands on my hips and sneered. "You don't have to be so nice, Jasper."

He was definitely taken aback by the bitterness in my tone. "Of course I do," he argued, "I couldn't bear to be anything else."

"Oh really?" I said, marching right up to him, despite the warning bells that were going off in my head. I poked my finger right into his chest, and continued. "You can't seem to bear me, so I figure I should just let you off the hook, and you can act however you want."

Jasper smiled, a little too knowingly for my peace of mind, and I backed up a little, suddenly uncomfortable and not entirely sure of what I'd just accused him of.

"Nope," he said, wrapping his arms around my shoulders, and persistently dragging me back to him.

I looked up at him murderously, annoyed that he was so much bigger and stronger than me and that really, I had no choice here. Though, who was I kidding? I'd been dreaming about being in Jasper Cullen's arms for six freaking long years, so I resisted my natural urge to pull away. For ten seconds, neither of us said a word, just warily met each other's eyes, and I knew what was about to happen, and I wanted it and dreaded it all in the same instant, because how could reality live up to my many fantasies?

Instead, I decided to say something entirely stupid in a ridiculous attempt to break this tension. "You're so. . .tall," I observed lamely. I was a very verbal person. How could I have dropped the ball so completely? All I could come up with some expository sentence about his height, like he didn't know just how tall he was? Jesus fucking Christ.

"I'm glad," he murmured, and I felt a sudden roaring in my ears, "because it's a lot easier to do this, if I am." He leaned down slightly, and finally, after six long long years of waiting, brushed his lips with mine.

I'd always envisioned our first kiss as some wild thing, fraught with passion and heat. This was entirely different, but oh so much better. He kissed me delicately, simply, honestly, like he'd put a lot of thought into this, and kissing me any other way was a travesty.

My arms went around his neck, to pull him closer to me, to try to somehow ignite the passion I'd always imagined. This gentle kiss scared me even more than I'd thought a simple kiss could. There were feelings here, and anything to do with Jasper and emotions tended to make me a little crazy, since he was so infernally inconsistent.

He deepened the kiss slowly, taking time to explore my lips and mouth, and figure out exactly what made me squirm with impatience.

When the kiss finally ended, I felt completely disarmed, and totally terrified. His expression was happy, I thought, but he said nothing.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I mumbled, "I guess you're right." I looked up into his eyes and felt my smile wobble a little. Why couldn't he say something?

"Alice," he began, with a sigh, and my heart tensed up, waiting for the inevitable, "you're so irresistible."

I was irresistible? Okay, I could live with that. At least for now.