Disclaimer: All recognizable Twilight characters belong to S. Meyer. I however own 'White Carpets and Wall Sconces.'

A/N: Thanks to my beta/editor Adrena for doing an awesome job. And to Blynn, my FF wife for all her help and inspiration. I need to keep her from kidnapping my Edward though, I need him for the story.


Bella's Point of View

Edward turned the heater on high and rubbed his hands together before putting the car in gear. Neither of us had said anything since our tense exchange on the street and I knew I had to be the one to break the silence.

I couldn't believe how angry he'd gotten. I'd gone for a walk to give him some privacy with the gorgeous blonde that was practically clinging to his arm. I wondered who she was. She was beautiful, that was for sure, but she seemed a little on the dim side. I wondered if it was a dumb blonde act or if she really was as stupid as she appeared. I had some strange feeling that it was all an act to appear helpless. Guys seemed to be attracted to helpless.

I felt a surge of hot jealousy take over my body. I didn't want her to look at him the way she had. I didn't want her to touch him or to smile at him, or to make him smile. I needed to sweep those feelings under the rug though. He would never be more than he already was. I couldn't expect him to give up other women for me. That wasn't his nature. Edward Cullen hopped from woman to woman without any concern for the consequences. I had no right to feel the way I did. That was the risk of being with Edward Cullen; you had to know that you weren't the only one and you had to be accepting of that.

He slammed his foot on the break, causing the car to lurch to a stop. My body flew forward, caught on the seat belt and slammed back into the seat. His eyes were blazing as he looked at me, fingers tapping impatiently on the steering wheel.

"What?" I snapped. He growled menacingly.

"Where are we?" His voice was cold and hard.

I rolled my eyes. "The car," I said dramatically.

"Right," was his cold response as the light turned green and he stepped on the gas, managing to avoid sliding but taking a sharp breath none the less.

"What do you want me to say?" I warmed my fingers in front of the heat vent. I saw him roll his eyes even in the part darkness. "I'm sorry. I left so you and your friend could have some privacy?"

He snorted. "What did you mean by not wanting to intrude on my life?" His voice was slightly gentler now, though his eyes were still angry.

I shrugged. I could feel the hot sting of tears again and willed them away. I didn't want to appear weak in front of him. "You're Edward Cullen."

He barked out a laugh. "What does that have to do with anything?" The car swung into a parking spot near the board walk and he threw the shift into neutral.

"I didn't want to intrude. I mean you and that blonde girl obviously have something going on. I figured privacy was the one thing I could give you. I didn't actually expect you to come find me and take me to the harbour."

I finally stole a look in his direction to see that his face was completely blank, still looking straight out the windshield. "There is nothing going on," he whispered. "She's a friend of Rosalie's."

"Oh." It was all I could think of to say. "I didn't know."

"You really thought I'd do that? Hook up with you and then hook up with her? In the same night?"

I shrugged. "Rumour has it you've done it before."

He took a deep breath, and pinched the bridge of his nose between two fingers. "I wouldn't do that to you," he said quietly. "I could hardly avoid her."

"She practically threw herself at you," I agreed. I was trying to decode whatever it was he was trying to say. He chuckled that irresistible chuckle and reached for my hand.

"Are we staying in here where it's warm?" He squeezed my fingers gently. I nodded. "What did you mean by not intruding on my life, Bella?" Couldn't he drop it? I shook my head. "Bella" he warned.

I took a deep breath and placed my hand on the door handle, ready to run if it became too much. He needed to know. He deserved to know. Maybe if he understood, he could make things easier, or if not easier, perhaps quicker. He could rip the band-aid off instead of me slowly curling the edges, hoping that it wouldn't hurt, and really making it hurt more. "You're Edward Cullen," I said again, taking my time, building up. "You're Edward Cullen and everyone knows about Edward Cullen. If you sleep with someone you don't call back. And so I slept with Edward Cullen, and then Edward Cullen brought coffee to my house, and then Edward Cullen asked me to take the ferry with him, and then I slept with Edward Cullen again. I figured my time was up. I got more than I expected. Last Friday was great. Probably the best stress relief I've ever had, and that was fine, but then everything else happened and I'll admit it, I'm confused. Why were you spending time with me? And then today was great, but then that girl was there, and your brother mentioned her, and I just figured…I was one of many?" I felt myself blush and I reached for the door handle, not even bothering to look at him. I'd embarrassed myself beyond my wildest dreams.

"Where are you going?" He pulled my hand and I let go of the door handle. His voice sounded…sad? Was that even possible?

"Well, I was…um…" Why wouldn't he let go of my hand?

"I don't want you to leave," he whispered. "God Damn it, Bella! Are you seriously that blind?" Why was he angry again? And I wasn't blind. I rolled my eyes at him. "So that's it then? I was just some easy fuck? Because you were stressed out?" He rubbed his forehead with the hand that wasn't still clutching mine.

"That was hardly the initial intention." I wanted to scream. He was infuriating.

"You're confusing."

I shrugged. "So are you. Spit it out Cullen. What do you need to say?" I was getting impatient.

His face was drawn and tight. He turned to face me and reached for my other hand so that we were face to face. "I suppose it never occurred to you that I might actually like you?" I giggled. I couldn't help it. It seemed like such a fifteen year old crush thing to say. He groaned and rolled his head back on his shoulders. "You think this is funny? I practically bared my soul to you." I laughed harder. I couldn't stop. This wasn't the time or the place to be laughing hysterically, but I couldn't help it.

"Don't be such a drama queen, you hardly bared your soul," I managed between fits of laughter. I looked at him and he was smiling that crooked smile.

"Okay, I didn't bare my soul, but you're laughing at me. That's not very nice."

"Fine," I said, managing to pull myself together. "Do you mean it? That you like me?" I felt the fire light behind my cheeks and I was sure he could hear my heartbeat speed up. I felt like I was twelve again and he'd given me a dandelion he'd picked on the school yard or something equally as stupid.

"Usually, when you're not freaking out for no reason." He let my hands go and cupped my cheeks. "But you're even kind of cute when you're pissed." I was watching his lips, his perfect lips forming his not so perfect words.

"And the blonde?" I couldn't help it.

"Bella Swan has a jealous side" he teased, laying his forehead against mine. "Like I said, Rosalie's friend. I hardly wanted to cause a scene."

"She's gorgeous" I whispered, knowing that physically I'd never be able to match up to the goddess.

He shook his head. "She's a ditz. It hurts to talk to her. And you're not so hard to look at yourself." I felt one of my hands go to the back of his neck. My fingers tangled in his coppery hair.

"Sorry I left. I didn't mean to piss you off." I pressed closer to him, feeling one of his hands slide to my shoulder, the other one drawing thumb circles on my temple.

"Honest mistake," he whispered against my lips. "After all, I am Edward Cullen." His lips met mine and I melted. I could taste him, sweet, spicy and smoky again. It was a soft kiss, his lips were gentle against mine, his tongue lazily explored my mouth, and mine his. I buried my hands in his hair and leaned in closer, savouring his taste, his smell, the feel of his body against mine. For the first time I let myself go. I let myself just feel. I didn't think about what was going to happen afterward.

He pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me and leaning back, pulling me on top of him. I made sure he didn't hit his head on the cold window. I felt like I didn't need to breathe. He was my oxygen and I never wanted to let go. If I let go I was going to suffocate. "Bella," he mumbled against my lips. He pulled me closer still and it felt like he was going to break my ribs, and I didn't care. I wanted to be part of him, I didn't want him to let go.

And then we both felt it. The car was rolling. He jumped and twisted his hand under me to pull the emergency brake. "Oops," he said, and I laughed. "Are we going to freeze our asses off and look at boats?"

"Sure" I agreed, untangling myself from him completely and reaching again for the door handle.

"Remember what happened this morning? It's still icy." His eyes were alive again, dancing and sparkling and laughing at me. I waited for him to come over and open the door. He offered me his hand and I stepped out, nearly falling when I hit the ice. He caught me, chuckling again. "How do you do it?"

"What?" He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me toward the board walk.

"How are you so clumsy doing everyday things and then so graceful in bed?" He kissed my head.

"Nice, Edward," I pretended to be offended.

"What do you like so much about the harbour?"

I shrugged. "It's peaceful, and I can think here. I like to watch the water lap against the side of the basin. I like the sounds it makes." I looked up at him and he was staring off into the distance. His arm was tight around my waist and I felt safe and comfortable. I felt like the only person in the whole world. I wondered if it was some sort of Edward Cullen special talent, making you feel like you're the only person in the whole world.

"How come you come here?" I played with the gloved hand around my waist, waiting for an answer. He looked down at me, eyes serious.

"Same reasons," he said quietly. "It's the most peaceful place in the city. Sometimes I feel like I'm stuck, but when I come here everything just sort of falls away. It's just me and the grey water." We made it to the railing and looked out. He stood behind me, arms around me, trying to keep me warm. I was doing my best not to shiver.

"Do you think about what you were thinking about before, when you come here?" I felt his body stiffen against me but he didn't pull away.

"I try not to," was his forced reply. "Sometimes I can't help it though."

"You can tell me, if you need to get it off your chest."

He kissed the top of my head sweetly. "Maybe someday," he replied passively.

Someday. Someday was in the future. I knew there was slim chance that he'd ever tell me, but someday had some meaning. Someday meant that someday we might still be here. Someday Edward and I may be we. The idea scared me. He was Edward Cullen, after all. I was still nervous to get attached to Edward Cullen, I was still worried about getting hurt, but in his defense he had turned down some gorgeous blonde to come and chase me through the freezing streets. He was like a puzzle, and I couldn't quite make the pieces fit together. Nothing quite matched. On one hand he was a callous man-whore with no regard for other people's feelings. That's what everyone said. He was bad. He was always in trouble, be it with the dean or with the police. I bet that in high school he was the guy that lived in the principal's office. But on the other hand, he was caring, and sweet, and willing to freeze his ass off at the harbour with me.

"What are you thinking?" He leaned his head on mine and sighed.

"I'm thinking about you," I said honestly, leaning against him, inhaling everything that was Edward.

"Mmhmm, what about?"

"Rumours."

He chuckled. "Some of them are true."

"But not all of them?"

"Well, no. I really was a slutty asshole who had his car impounded last semester." He laughed. "And I swear, I did help steal that canoe, but I didn't almost get expelled for dealing drugs or anything. I did spend a lot of time in the dean's office last year though. Academic probation is what they called it."

"Was?"

"Was what?"

"You said you were, not you are, a slutty asshole I mean."

He chuckled again. "Well I'm still an asshole, but I'm hoping I won't have to be slutty anymore. I mean if you're interested in helping me achieve that goal." I could practically hear him smirk.

I turned to lean against the railing, looking up at him. His arms were back around my waist before I could plant my second foot. "What?"

"Well Miss. Bella, I'm quite sure, if I can sleep with you, I'd be content not to sleep with anyone else." He was smirking. Cocky bastard. Very cute cocky bastard.

"Mr. Cullen, are you asking me to be exclusive?" Were we seriously having this conversation? It felt like high school.

"Do I not fulfill your needs?" I was going to slap that smirk off his face. I couldn't help smiling, but whether it was at his words or my own thoughts, I wasn't sure. "What?" He looked slightly worried.

"Oh no, my needs are…fulfilled." I blushed furiously. I was glad it was dark.

He chuckled again and brushed one hand down my face. "You're blushing," he teased. "I can feel it." I brought my hands up to cover my cheeks. "Can I flaunt you in front of the blonde chick?"

I laughed lightly. "She might claw my eyes out with those nails," I joked.

"I promise to protect you, unless she gets my eyes first." He pulled me closer and kissed my lips sweetly. "So Mademoiselle Bella, what are your plans for tomorrow, today, whenever? Sunday." He checked his watch. "Today apparently."

I sighed and leaned my head against his chest. "Sleep, then I need to do homework."

"Yuck," he laughed. "I suppose I should do homework too. Want to grab your books and come to my place? I doubt you'll be able to focus with Tweedle- Dee and Tweedle-Dum making noise in the other room."

"And I'll be able to focus with you beside me?" I kissed his chest. I was sure I was dreaming and if I was, I wanted to make the most of it.

"We'll work at the kitchen table. No funny business. Scout's honour." He made the Boy Scout symbol with his right hand and I laughed.

"Fine, let's go get my stuff, if luck is with me, they'll be sleeping." I grimaced at the thought of Jessica and Josh in the throes of passion. "And we are sleeping, and then doing homework. That's it." He pouted and I smacked him playfully on the shoulder.