Disclaimer: The characters represented in this story are the original property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement intended

More fluff, more suspense, and quite a bit more smut in the original version of this chapter. By popular demand, I am going to work to pare down the smut to TOS standards and repost the remainder of this story here. For the full octane version please read my profile and follow it to TWCSlibrary or Twilighted to read the remainder of the story.

FYI…have I ever mentioned that my Mama D is modeled after Kathy Bates?

Thanks to my betas SassenachWench (my twilighted V beta) and Sihaya9. You girls rock!

The Unexpected

EPOV

As the girls disappeared into Alice's bedroom, I couldn't help but laugh at the desperate look on Bella's face. She wanted to go out and enjoy the town one last time before house arrest, as they are so melodramatically referring to it. After they disappeared behind the door, I spent a few more minutes with Jasper and Emmett before running back to my apartment. I had to change and pick up something I wanted to give Bella tonight, if the opportunity presented itself.

I greeted Jensen on my way in to the building, only to find Lauren waiting outside the elevator doors when they opened. I tasted bitter bile in my mouth as she smiled sweetly at me, leaning toward me as I stepped out of the elevator.

"I see you finally ditched the dead weight." She crooned, dragging her hideously long acrylic nails covered in a blood red polish across my chest. "Are you ready for that fashion show yet? I saw my little gift for you was left carelessly tossed in the hallway. I assume your little mouse did that."

I growled, not only at how completely disgusting this woman was, but at the disrespectful way that she kept referring to woman I loved. How was it that I ever even considered fucking this chick? She's completely disgusting and ridiculous!

I reached up and grabbed her claw that was continuing to descend down my chest, squeezing hard as I glared into her face. "Lauren, I'm going to say this once and only once. There will NEVER be anything between us. If you refer to the woman I love in any way that is less than respectful again, you will find yourself kicked out of this building so fast that your head will spin. Are we understood?"

She smirked at me, blinking through her eyelashes, still attempting to look seductive. "Like you could do that…you don't have that kind of influence."

I snorted, shook my head, and leaned in close so that we were nose to nose. Her eyes widened and a smile spread across her face thinking she was gaining ground.

I reached my hands up to grab her shoulders hard. "You have no clue what kind of influence I have. The fact that I OWN this building gives me plenty of influence."

Her mouth dropped open in shock, at not only my confession, but also the venom in my eyes and the tightness of my grip.

"I'm serious, Lauren. I don't want any more gifts or to hear anything more from you at all or you're out."

I let go, turning toward my apartment, and laughing to myself at the look on Lauren's face. Hopefully I finally shook the bitch for good. I was sick to death of her and I couldn't guarantee her safety if she pulled another one of her little stunts with Bella around. I smiled as I thought of Bella's intensity. She really was such a little spitfire.

I quickly showered, changing into a pair of dark washed jeans and a dark green button up shirt, the one that Bella had commented on once before. I reached into the top dresser drawer to pull out the metal container that housed some of my most prized possessions. I snatched out the little black velvet pouch, tucking it into my shirt pocket before returning the lid to the container and replacing it within the drawer for safe keeping.

I looked at my watch, panicking a bit as I saw the time. I rushed out of the apartment after packing up my toiletries. Snatching both Bella's duffel and my suitcase so I could stay with her at Alice's, I headed down to hail a cab to go back to Hancock.

When I arrived back at the building, I was pleased to see that they had already started the increased security protocol agreed upon. The guards made me show my ID, checking my bags before allowing me to go upstairs to the apartment Bella would be staying in for the next two weeks.

I tried to feel positive about what we had set up, but part of me still felt leery. I didn't like depending on total strangers to protect the one thing I loved most in the world. I definitely liked even less that Jacob Black was among the list of protectors.

I knocked at the door, entering to find Jasper, Emmett, and Rose ready to go. Rose was hanging all over Emmett in an extremely tight, sexy red dress. The woman was without a doubt gorgeous, but interestingly enough, I never really felt that drawn to her. That was probably mostly because she and Emmett were destined to be together. From the moment they met, they just meshed…kind of like Bella and I.

Sometimes I wonder if I had met Bella a little later in life, when she was a bit older and I wasn't thrust into the big brother role with her being underage, if things would have been different. Part of me wants to believe that it would have, but a bigger part of me knows that I probably would have run away. I would have never gotten the chance to let her steal my heart like she did if I hadn't been around to know her so well.

Rose kissed Emmett one more time, before getting off of his lap, sauntering into Alice's bedroom to check on Alice and Bella. Jasper emerged just then from the kitchen with three beers in hand. He popped the top off each one, handing them out and plopping onto the couch like it were his nasty tan hand me down, as opposed to the five hundred thousand dollar velvet lined antique settee that it in fact was. I couldn't help but chuckle at how laid back Jasper was even in this setting, wondering what on earth the stuffy Brandons must think of him.

I walked around the room looking out the windows at the surrounding buildings and checking the locks on the doors to see exactly how burglar proof they were. Buildings like these are notorious for being cocky about their security and not taking the proper precautions when it came to actual security hardware. I was pleased to see that wasn't the case in this building; the door was thick, reinforced hardwood core, with a very sturdy deadbolt, handle, and dual chain locks.

I heard female voices float down the hallway, encouraging me to return to the living room just as Rose sashayed back to resume her role as Emmett's lap blanket. Right behind her, Alice pranced in with an excited bounce in her step; her sparkly pink dress caught the light and glimmered brightly. I watched the hallway expectantly for my Bella to appear. When she did, I thought I had literally died and gone to heaven.

She was looking shyly down at the floor with a blush. As sure as I knew my own mind at that moment, I also knew hers. She was feeling inferior, although I couldn't begin to know why. She glanced up at me through her lashes. I had to fight the lump in my throat as I struggled to swallow the saliva that had pooled on my tongue the moment I saw her.

She shifted her weight anxiously from her left shapely heel clad leg to the right, while my eyes swallowed her whole, slowly traveling up her long creamy legs to where they disappeared under the soft blue material of her skirt. My eyes continued up to find the inviting curves of her hips that sloped in to her tiny waist and then expanded again to accommodate her luscious looking chest that peeked out at me through the low cut neckline of the halter dress. The top of the dress tied behind her neck, leaving her beautiful alabaster shoulders calling for me to kiss them as they hid behind the curtain of her softly curled auburn streaked hair.

Between her collarbones rested a pretty diamond necklace that accented her long beautiful neck. I longed to bury my nose in her neck, losing myself in her essence. Her face was as beautiful as ever, with a thin coat of makeup that really was rather unnecessary, but I had to admit, did make her beautiful mocha colored eyes stand out and shine a bit more than usual.

I could tell she was feeling a mixture of uncomfortable and also a tad smug while I stood there gaping at her in awe. She was an absolute vision. After what was probably the longest minute of my life, I finally managed to regain control of my motor functions, willing my feet to cross the floor and bring my hand up to cup her cheek.

I shook my head, stared into her eyes, swallowing again forcefully. "Wow, there are honestly no words, my love. You are beyond ravishing."

She blushed and scoffed, looking down again. I instantly wrapped my fingers under her chin, forcing her to look back up at me again.

"I mean it, Bella. I've never, in my entire life, seen a woman look more beautiful." I leaned in slowly, placing a long soft kiss on her lips. I wrapped my free arm around her waist to pull her closer. She melted into me with a soft sigh.

I extended the kiss, unable to break it until a loud sound broke our trance. Emmett cleared his throat from across the room. We broke away still looking at each other, smiling as a light blush graced both of our faces.

"We need to get a move on guys. We're eating at TGI Fridays before we go over to Dooley's so we better go."

Bella and I continued to look at each other, laughing when Alice spit out TGI Fridays like it was a dirty word. Alice was not a great fan of the typical chain restaurants.

I held Bella's jacket for her, then offered her my arm. She smiled up at me brightly and slid her hand into the crook, resting her other hand on top. We went down to the elevator bank and then out the front doors to slide into the stretch Hummer waiting for us. As we walked toward the large car, Bella's eyes grew large. I smiled, tucking her arm tighter into my own.

Alice and Jasper climbed in first, with Emmett and Rose following after. As we watched Emmett help Rose into the car, Bella whispered in my ear.

"That thing is massive! I think I'm going to need your help getting in. Where in the world will the driver ever be able to park that thing in Chicago?"

I chuckled and led her forward to the door, wrapping my hands around her waist, and lifting her effortlessly into the doorway. I climbed in behind her, closing the door once I was inside. Thankfully, each couple had our own seats, so we weren't crammed into the space.

When I was settled, Bella leaned against me. She wrapped her arm around my waist, resting her head on my shoulder. I pulled her closer, burying my nose in her hair, soaking up the sweetness that I was going to be missing for the next two weeks. Damn Training Camp!

We made it to Friday's, getting funny looks as we all clamored out of the large vehicle. Bella and I both found Alice quite amusing; she sat at the table with her hands up as though it were covered in disgusting filth. She handled everything with her thumb and forefinger, touching the surface of what she was holding as little as possible.

I had grown up well off, but thankfully my parents, and later my Aunt and Uncle, were all very down to earth. I was always encouraged not to be snobby or elitist and was taught that all peoples and walks of life held merit. Alice was good with people and didn't seem to look down on her boyfriend or friend for their living arrangements, even willing to step down from her marble clad tower to live among the masses, but when it came to dining and clothing, she was definitely a product of her upbringing. According to Bella, it had taken three months for her to finally eat in the hospital cafeteria without having a conniption.

Throughout our meal, I couldn't help but notice that each couple continually held onto their loved one, just as Bella and I were doing. We ate quietly with our free hands, keeping the ones between us clasped under the table, occasionally rubbing our thumbs on the back of the other's hand. We were all dreading having to leave.

The restaurant was fairly close to Dooley's, so after we finished our meals, we walked the few short blocks. The guys had to fight hard to slow our paces though so the girls, who were tottering on their heels, could keep up. I didn't mind though. Every second next to Bella was great, even if it was just walking down the street.

Soon we reached the door of Dooley's. We could see through the large plate glass windows that it was a packed house tonight. Jasper opened the door for Alice and Rose followed shortly after with Emmett glued to her back. I stepped forward to go inside, but I felt resistance against my arm. I turned my head to look at Bella, the expression on her face instantly concerning me.

I turned to stand in front of her, cupping her face. She kept shifting her gaze from the glass windows to my eyes.

"Bella, what's wrong love?"

Her warm chocolate eyes darted back and forth between mine, still looking for lack of a better term…terrified. "I…I don't know if I can go in there, Edward."

I stroked her cheeks with my thumbs. "Why not, my love? What's wrong?"

She blushed, trying to look away, but I pressed forward to kiss her lips comfortingly, before pulling back again. Finally, she sighed and glanced behind me to the glass, then into my eyes again.

"Standing right here, I can see four different women that you have taken home in recent months. I…I feel like I'm a lamb stepping into the lion's den or something. I don't think I can go in there."

I sighed and closed my eyes a second, feeling like a world class shit. Why hadn't I considered she would feel this way? Not that it mattered, she was the only thing I wanted. That wasn't going to stop this from being a strong reminder of my past, not to mention the looks she's going to be certain to get from any jealous past conquests. I felt the weight of the velvet pouch in my pocket, realizing that now was the time.

I leaned in again to kiss her lips gently, but still with as much love as I could manage to convey through a kiss. I pulled my lips away, while pulling her body into a tight hug, as I stroked her hair.

"I know that I've explained to you that you are the only one I want, but I also know that it's going to take some time for you to really believe that. I just need you to trust me. I only have eyes for you, Bella. You are beautiful, smart, amazing, and down right perfect. I am yours…totally and completely."

She looked up at me with a dazed expression as I continued.

"I have something with me that I've wanted to give you, but I wasn't sure when …and now I know that this is the right time. It'll help you remember one absolute truth."

She shook her head. "Edward, you know I don't want you to buy me things. I don't need…"

I put my finger over her lips to stop her. "I know, love, I didn't buy this. It's actually a family heirloom that I would be honored if you would keep this safe for me."

I pulled the velvet pouch out of my pocket, lifting her hand to lay it in her palm.

"Bella, I've told you before that my mother's side of the family is Irish right?"

She nodded and smiled.

"My maternal great-grandparents were first generation immigrants. They came to America with next to nothing and a dream; they ended up being some of the lucky few where the American dream managed to pay off in a big way. Within ten years they went from having nothing to having a fortune. For their fifteenth wedding anniversary, my great grandfather replaced my great grandmother's thin, bent, tin wedding band with a very special ring that means several things depending on how it's worn."

I pulled the small silver band from the velvet bag, placing it in the palm of Bella's hand; she gasped.

"This Bella is known as a Claddagh ring."

She rotated the band on her hand to observe the design with the two hands holding the crown topped diamond heart cast in eighteen carat white gold as I explained.

"In Ireland, this type of ring is very common and tells a lot about a person's life. If the band is worn on the right hand with the heart facing away from the person's body, it means that they are unattached and open to finding love. If it's on their left hand and facing out, it means they are engaged. If it's on their left hand facing toward their body, then it means they are married."

I took it out of her hand and placed it on her right hand with the heart facing toward her body, "But if it's on the right hand and the bottom of the heart points toward the wearer, it means that their heart has been captured and they are in love. When someone gives this ring, they are basically saying 'With my two hands I give you my heart, and crown it with my love.'"

I looked up into Bella's eyes as they glazed with misty tears.

"Bella, would you wear my heart on your hand?" I lifted her hand and kissed the ring.

She nodded her head slowly, staring at it with a stunned expression.

After a few moments of stunned silence, she surprised me by flinging herself forward again, jumping into my arms. She grasped my face between her hands, assaulting my mouth with a warm enthusiastic kiss.

"Thank you, Edward," she gasped when she finally pulled away. "Thank you…this is...I would say amazing or wonderful or even the sweetest thing I've ever heard of, but none of those seem to be enough."

I set her back on her feet with a chuckle, pushing a long lock of hair that had blown across her face back behind her shoulder.

"No…thank you. Now, I know I'm getting cold, so you must be freezing. Can we please go inside and enjoy our evening now?"

She smiled and nodded, grabbing my hand and curling herself around my arm. I kissed the top of her head, opened the door, and led her into the bar. As we walked in, Mama D looked up from the counter. She smiled brightly at us with a wink. I looked down to see Bella wave, she appeared to glow in the dim light of the bar.

We slowly made our way through the crowd of bleach blonde, spray tans, barely there outfits, and impossibly high heels, until we finally reached our regular table. Alice, Jasper, Rose, Emmett, Andy, and his new girlfriend Andrea were all there sipping drinks. They all looked up with worried expressions for a second before their eyes fell on my beaming Bella, and then they all relaxed, smiling back with matching glows.

I helped her slide her coat off, hanging it on the back of her chair, before leading her back toward the bar to order our drinks. I positioned her in front of the bar. I stood behind her with my hands on either side of her body on the bar, leaning forward to kiss her neck lightly while we waited. Within seconds of reaching the bar, Mama D was standing in front of us with twinkling eyes and a knowing smirk.

"About damn time you two! I thought I was going to be dead and buried before you guys managed to sort your shit! It does my heart good to see you both so happy." She reached her hand out and grabbed Bella's, only to freeze and flip her hand over to reveal Bella's new accessory.

"My, my, my!" She exclaimed, beaming even brighter. "He really has turned from the dark side. Breaking out a Claddagh…very romantic, Edward. I'm proud of you."

My cheeks were actually starting to hurt from how long I had been smiling from ear to ear. "Thanks, Mama D. It was my great grandmother's and I wanted Bella to wear it."

Mama smiled and then turned to tell a guy next to us, who was waiting when we arrived, to stow it a minute when he started complaining. Then she returned to us with a smile.

"What can I get my favorite love birds before I have to go tame the masses?"

Bella asked for a Long Island Iced Tea and I asked for an Amstel, which Mama handed us with a flourish, reaching out to squeeze Bella's ring adorned hand before turning to the next patron.

We settled into our seats, immediately intertwining our fingers again. Bella reached out with her right hand to lift her drink to her mouth when we heard Alice gasp.

"Isabella Marie Swan? What is that on your finger?...and if it's what it looks like, why is it on the wrong hand?"

Bella blushed and looked at me.

I smiled, pulling her hand up to kiss it again, as I explained to the table what the ring meant and where I got it. The girls all looked at us with mushy expressions, while the guys stared at me like I had totally lost my mind.

I looked over at Bella with a wink. I smirked with a shrugged. "I guess I took Beyonce's advice and put a ring on it."

Bella began to giggle and shake her head and was joined a few seconds later by the rest of the table. She finally leaned forward and grabbed my shirt collar, bringing me closer to kiss her once more.

We all sat talking. I kept checking Bella to make sure she was okay, knowing how she had been feeling just before we walked inside. To my pleasure, her smile never seemed to falter. She continued to glow radiantly, reaching down every few minutes to look at the ring on her hand, grazing her thumb across the band.

After a couple of drinks, the girls decided it was time to christen the dance floor when a song they liked began. Bella looked at me concerned for a second, before Alice and Rose pulled her and Andrea onto the floor where they danced in a circle, shutting out several guys who immediately began to gravitate toward them.

I was completely enamored with my angel as she danced on the floor with her friends…so much so, that I didn't hear a word the guys were saying. This was definitely better than the last time I sat here watching her dance. That night, I was jealous of how happy she appeared, laughing, so carefree and full of joy. That night I knew I had screwed up so badly, it felt like she was a million miles away.

Tonight it was all very different. She looked over her shoulder at me. I smiled and winked at her. I continued to watch her sway from side to side with the beat as she lifted her hands through her hair, before leaning over to listen to something Alice was trying to tell her. I saw her shoulders shake with laughter in reaction to whatever Alice had said. She looked over, blushing, and then blew me a kiss.

I pretended to catch it again and put it on my cheek. It was only then that my attention finally returned to the table I was sitting at when the guys all broke out into coughing laughter.

"Holy Fucking Shit! I can't believe I just saw that! I never ever in a million years thought I'd see Edward Panty-Dropper Masen get so fucking bowled over by a female, ever! Where's the Guinness Book of World Records people when you need them!" Andy bellowed from the far side of the table with a glowing grin.

Emmett and Jasper continued to laugh, shaking their heads in agreement.

"They've been like this all week, Andy. Between your physical therapy and Bella working night shift, you haven't been around them enough to see it, but he's like this all the fucking time now. I swear, I would be worried about alien invasion if I hadn't found my own angel and kind of understand how it could happen." Jasper yelled in reply.

Emmett shook his head, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, well it's been a lot harder for me to come to grips with. I know they've been in love for fucking ever, but it's still hard to sit back and let your sister fall into a relationship with a guy whose nickname is, among other things, "panty dropper"; even if he is your best fucking friend. It's against the laws of nature or some shit, but I'm trying because, well, you see it yourself. He's definitely not the same when it comes to her. He never has been."

Andy just nodded, grabbing the next server to come by, requesting a round of shots. When she came back, he threw a large bill on her tray, telling her to keep the change.

"To the reformed Man-Whore who finally figured out he had a heart and where it belonged. If you hurt her, we're all going to beat you into a bloody pulp!"

I cringed as they all yelled, "Here, here!" and then laughed along with them.

"Look! He's turning a little pale. We better down this shit already!"

We reached our glasses to the middle of the table, tapping them and downing the shot. The clear liquid burned as it slid down my throat. I grabbed my beer to help chase it down.

The guys continued to tease me, so I once again tuned them out. When the slowly increasing sound of a guitar began to grow in the speakers, I sucked in a breath. Feeling my pants tighten, I looked over to meet the gaze from the warm brown eyes of the girl I needed in my arms.

The first line of the Foo Fighter's song "Everlong" had just begun to fill the room. I instantly found myself behind Bella, pulling her close to my body. I wrapped my arms around her waist, leaning down to whisper reassurances of my love in her ear.

I fought to catch my breath, as memories of Bella's apartment earlier that day flooded my mind. I sat on her bed, watching her fill her suitcase. While I was waiting, I decided to check out her iPod to see what kind of music she had listened to lately. I scrolled through a few pages of songs before deciding that it might be more informative to check out her personal playlists. I scrolled down through lists titled: study, peaceful, annoyed, work out, sleep, and then there was one that made my heart stop…EAM.

I knew immediately what it probably was; still, I couldn't help but ask. The second the question was out, she dropped what she was holding. When she turned back toward me, she wouldn't look at me; her face was bright red. I immediately clicked on the list, my heart swelling as I read through the songs on the screen.

I found myself wondering how long she had thought about me in quite this capacity, so I asked how long she had this list on her player. Her reply was to ask me how long she had the player.

I swallowed hard, remembering when I bought it for her twentieth birthday, just three years ago. For three years, she had been listening to these songs and thinking of me. I scrolled down, reading name after name of songs that ranged from ballads of sad longing to songs full of nothing but pure lustful desire.

She had begun to work again, quickly throwing random items in her suitcase.

I reacted on instinct. I stepped between her and the bed, tossing the items in her hands to the open suitcase, before pulling her up against me. She wrapped herself around me like a warm cocoon. We were nothing but arms and hands and mouths. I swear on everything I own, if Emmett hadn't come home when he did, I would have taken her right there against her bedroom wall.

I had totally lost all control and couldn't even find it within myself to feel sorry for it. That playlist answered every worry in the back of my mind because, little did she know, I had my own iPod playlist with many of the same songs on it. Among those songs, was the one that was playing now as I held her close to me on Dooley's dance floor.

As soon as I pulled her close to me, she melted into my chest; her left hand sliding across her waist to rest on top of mine. She intertwined our fingers while her right hand slid blindly up my chest and shoulder to bury itself in my hair. We swayed together with no space between us. She grabbed my hair in a fist and pulled my lips down to meet hers as she strained to look over her shoulder at me. A flame flashed between us as our tongues met.

I was so aroused that I'm sure half of the bar knew my issues, not that I gave a shit. Neither did Bella apparently, because instead of pulling away, she shifted her weight back, pressing her ass into my hip. She shifted back and forth with intentional pressure against me, eliciting a groan that rumbled from deep in my chest.

We finally parted at the lips, as our bodies continued to be glued to one another. I pulled my arms tighter around her waist, resting my chin on her shoulder as I sang the chorus of the song in her ear.

"If everything could ever be this real forever…If anything could ever be this good again…The only thing I'll ever ask of you…You've gotta promise not to stop when I say when….she sang."

Bella's breathing picked up throughout the chorus. When the next verse started, I began to run my nose up and down the column of her neck, before nibbling on her earlobe during the pauses, resulting in heavenly gasps from her beautiful lips.

"Breathe out, so I can breath you in…Hold you in...And now I know you always do...out of your head, out of my head I sang."

"And I wonder…when I sing along with you."

She shifted her head to expose her neck to me and I began to kiss it gently as I sang into her skin, feeling her vocal cords vibrating in her neck as she sang along.

"If everything could ever be this real forever…If anything could ever be this good again…The only thing I'll ever ask of you…You've gotta promise not to stop when I say when…she sang."

As the musical break began, she grabbed my arms, loosening my grip on her. She spun around to face me, kissing my lips, and caressing my jaw with her soft hands. We stayed in that moment on the dance floor, forgetting that there was anybody else in existence, rubbing together in a haze of lust and hormones. There were no sweaty men gawking at my angel, no plastic floozies trying to get my attention, no brothers or friends watching us, some amused and others disgusted…it was just Edward and Bella. How in the hell was I going to walk away from her tomorrow morning?

All too soon, the song faded. We pulled away, both panting with hooded eyes. I hoped she would be ready for more soon, because at this rate, I wasn't going to be able to control myself much longer.

She slowly tipped up on her toes, running her hands through the hair on top of my head with a smile, before burying them in the nape of my neck.

Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours"began to play. I tightened my arms around her waist, pulling her closer as we swayed playfully from side to side.

"Did they steal your iPod, or what?" I playfully asked in her ear.

She chuckled, blushing, knowing I was referring to her playlist again.

Instead of answering, she just snuggled herself closer, tucking her nose into the crook of my neck with a sigh.

I lifted a hand to run through her long hair with a sigh of my own. We continued to sway until the song ended, at which point we agreed to get a drink refill and take some time to cool off.

By the time we returned to the table, Rosalie was sitting in Emmett's lap with her mouth suctioned to his face. I glanced over to see Jasper roll his eyes. I mouthed the question 'distraction technique?'

Jasper nodded with a chuckle as he leaned over and whispered, "We thought he was going to go tear your throat out and carry her away caveman-style for a bit there. Lucky for you, Rose is good at making him see reason…or forget all reason…I'm not sure which."

"Remind me to thank her later," I whispered with a pat on his back. He smiled and nodded.

The rest of the night continued on in the same way. Occasionally, the girls would go dance, sometimes we joined them, and sometimes we simply sat back and acted as cockblockers for the assholes trying to land our girls. I was pleasantly surprised to find I didn't have to shoo away nearly as many barflies attempting to grab my attention as I had feared.

We were nearing the end of the night, the girls, who had all been drinking much stronger drinks than us, were having a grand time. It was actually kind of fun to watch buzzed Bella. She was so cute, and giggly, and unfortunately, clumsier than usual.

Or maybe the should be fortunately, since it resulted in her dragging me with her to dance every time she went back out so I could keep her from falling. This also resulted in more glorious grinding on the dance floor. Have mercy, that woman could move! I had no doubt in mind that her fears about being good in bed were completely unfounded.

We were up at the bar, ordering Bella's fifth Long Island of the night. She was leaning with her back against the bar facing me while we waited for the bartender to get her drink, when she looked over my shoulder and froze. I leaned down to ask her what was wrong when she began to shake a bit and pointed.

Just outside of the plate glass window stood a hooded figure, glaring in at our friends. Just seconds before his hood had been replaced, I saw what had frozen Bella mid caress.

Under the hood was Trager. His eyes were full of venom as he looked over at our table, taking in the scene. Rose was still draped around Emmett, her mouth now attached to his neck. Meanwhile, Alice and Jasper were practically dry humping next to them.

We pushed away from the bar and Bella stumbled toward the table. I took off, shoving past the crowd of wasted college kids on my way to the door, but by the time I opened the door and stepped onto the street, he was gone. I took a few steps down the block just in time to see a black Corolla with tinted windows dart out of a parking space, cutting off a car and nearly causing a collision, as it sped past me down the darkened street.

A moment later, all our friends and Bella were standing next to me, coats in hand. Emmett was pacing the sidewalk screaming obscenities to the sky with Rosalie at his side, trying to calm him. Jasper pulled a tearful Alice close, stroking her head in an attempt to comfort her. I felt Bella wrap her arms around my waist, burying her head in my chest.

"I'm sorry I didn't believe this was a big deal. Thank you for taking care of me, Edward. I love you."

I ran my hand down her head, kissing the top as I wrapped my arms around her shoulders protectively.

We called for the car and all climbed in together, sobering up on our way to Hancock; our buzzes were completely killed. Once we arrived at Alice's apartment, the decision was immediately made that Rose needed to move in for the duration of our absence as well. Emmett took her to her home to pack a bag.

Jasper and I sat in the living room with our girls on our laps, until Andy and Andrea left for Andy's place. Andy still wasn't released for active duty, so he was going to be in town while we were gone. He had already made plans to move Andrea in with him for the time being to be safe, also promising to check in on the girls often. We thanked him, shaking his hand. He hugged Bella and Alice before taking Andrea back to his apartment. After he left, we decided to turn in since we didn't know if Emmett would return now or wait until morning to bring Rosalie back to Alice's apartment.

One nice thing about the timing of the whole situation was that we didn't have to explain any of this to Alice's parents. They were vacationing in the South of France for the next month, blissfully unaware.

With my arm around Bella, I walked down the hallway to the guest rooms on the opposite side of the apartment from Alice's room. We decided that we were better off being as far away as possible from Alice and Jasper.

I opened the door for Bella, closing it behind me. The second the latch clicked shut, I felt myself being slammed into the door as Bella pushed against me. She grabbed my collar in both of her fists, pulling me down into a hot tongue probing kiss.

I moaned while she rubbed her body close to mine, our tongues continued to do battle before I pulled her away gasping.

"Bella, you've gotta cool down. You're still drunk, sweetie. Not like this."

She looked up at me through her eyelashes.

My cock twitched at the glint in her eye, she just smirked up at me. She was sexy as fucking hell.

"Edward, after all that stuff with Trager, I'm pretty sure I'm stone cold sober. Can't we just do a little bit and stop before going all the way? I mean, you can't run a marathon without a little training and warm up."

She tipped up on her toes, tracing my mouth with her tongue. My eyes rolled up behind my eyelids and my mouth fell open. Her tongue darted in immediately, delving deeply. I could taste the sweetness of her five alcoholic drinks mixed with the essence of Bella.

I moaned, grabbing her and lifting her up. She wrapped her legs around my waist as I spun us around, pushing her into the door.

Her hands snaked into my hair. She threw her head back with a gasp when her back hit the door.

My mouth moved from her lips to her ear where I suckled her earlobe, before sucking on the bit of flesh behind her ear, and then trailing my nose down her neck and back up again.

Her hands were demanding, pulling me tighter into her neck. I sucked greedily at the tender flesh where her neck and her shoulders met. She moaned and arched her back, bucking her hips into me as I felt my control waver. If I wasn't careful, I was going to fuck her right here against the door, and that wasn't how I wanted our first time to be. I willed myself back into control, softening my kisses on my way back up to her mouth.

I stepped back and set her carefully on her feet, feeling guilty for causing the disappointment on her face. I tucked her hair behind her ears and kissed her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, love, but I don't want our first time to happen like this. I'm losing my control and I don't want to do that with you. I don't want to just fuck you."

She leaned forward and ran her hand up to my face, where she gently traced the outlines of my eyes and cheeks with her fingers as I closed my eyes. When I opened them, the look on her face made my cock twitch again in my jeans, which were now extremely, painfully tight.

"I want to try something…"

I gulped as she pushed me toward the bed, pushing me down and crawling on top to straddle me, all the while eagerly kissing me. She slowly made her way down my neck and began to unbutton my shirt, trailing kisses down the exposed flesh of my chest as she went.

"Bella…Bella, this isn't helping love." I panted.

Her soft warm lips and tongue traced along my abs and her hands drifted lower toward the button of my jeans. She crawled backwards down my body.

I jumped, grabbing her hands and sitting up, just as she settled on her knees beside the bed between my legs.

"No, Love, you don't need to do that."

She smiled up at me with such a sexy damned grin that I thought I'd cum right there.

"Edward," she crooned in a husky voice that made my insides vibrate just at the sound, "I know I don't have to do it, but I really wantto. You've been a very good boy who deserves a little relief. Not to brag, but this is the one thing I happen to know I'm quite good at."

My eyes bugged out at her in shock, unable to process the fact that my Bella was saying she was confident at her fellatio skills. I began to wonder for the briefest of moments if I wasn't entrenched in yet another deliciously hot dream.

Bella smiled again with confidence burning in her eyes as she stretched up, grabbing my face between her hands and pulling me down for a fierce kiss. My lungs burned and my loins twitched longing to feel that hot insistent tongue where I wanted it most.

The absolutely hottest fucking kiss of my entire life left me breathless. My sweet Bella pulled away in full sex kitten mode, fucking licking her way back down my chest staring into my eyes the whole way. Forget badass Bella, confident sex kitten Bella was now the absolute sexiest thing I would ever see in my entire life, even if I lived a hundred more years.

She lapped her way down to the button of my jeans, popping the snap instantly. She gazed at me as she slowly and torturously pulled down my zipper, letting her pinky finger graze over me as she went.

After it was open, she ran explored me slowly behind the firm material. She grabbed the top of my jeans, yanking them down; I lifted up my hips to make it a bit easier. As I lifted, she leaned forward to place a kiss through the cotton of my briefs.

It was like a dream as she gave me the hottest blow job of my whole life, swallowing me whole before swallowing everything I had to give her. I came harder than I ever have before, screaming her name the whole fucking time. I moaned her name over and over again as she continued to focus on my body as I came down from my high.

When she was done, she climbed up on the bed next to me.

I wanted so badly to flip her under me and kiss the living shit out of her before returning the favor, but I couldn't move. I laid there gasping for air.

She leaned over me, kissing my cheek. Well, I wasn't having any of that. With what energy I had left, I reached my hands out to grab her neck, pulling her down to ravish her mouth with mine. I ran my tongue back and forth within her mouth, causing us both to moan.

We pulled away, panting.

I looked into her eyes. "You are the most amazing creature ever created. Holy hell, Bella, I have never cum that hard, and I mean never. You are unbelievable!"

She smiled, blushing, the vixen disappearing with my orgasm and my beautiful shy girl next door re-inhabiting her beautiful chocolate eyes.

"Well, you see, by dating the easy girls, you missed out a little bit I guess. Girls who take things more slowly learn a few more tricks along the way out of necessity. After all, if the cow's going to go give all the milk away for free then why would the farmer bother with grooming it?"

I laughed as she blushed, looking away abashedly. I reached up, tipping her face back toward me to kiss her.

"Oh Bella, I love you so much." I chuckled again, shaking my head. "You are like every teenage boy's wet dream all rolled into one tiny body. You're perfect."

She rolled her eyes, but couldn't contain the blush that once again flooded her cheeks.

I reached down to pull my underwear back on, leaving my jeans somewhere on the floor, pullng myself under the covers next to Bella. She curled up to my side for a while before climbing out of bed to change into her pajamas and returning to curl into my side.

I slept better than I ever had in my entire life that night. After having been satisfied by my beautiful angel, I decided I could manage enough control to try to return the favor. I awoke her to the sensation of my tongue teasing her bare nipples, which were most definitely far more amazing than anything my weak little imagination could create. Oh man, her moans were nearly climax inducing in and of themselves.

Her sounds were so unbelievable that I had to hear more, I needed to hear her when she came. While I still lavished love on her beautiful breasts, my hand slid its way slowly down her stomach, hovering at the top of her underwear.

She squeaked when she felt my finger slip past the band and drift toward her core.

I could feel the heat before I ever reached the promised land. The tip of my finger had just brushed past her intimate flesh when a loud knock on the door made us both jump.

"Hate to break up the love fest you two, but security just called up; Emmett and Rose have just been let through and are on their way up. If he heard one tenth of what we can hear in the kitchen, Edward would be dead now, and you'd be shipped to a convent, Bells. I suggest you two wrap it up and get out here before they reach the door."

Bella grabbed her pillow, throwing it over her face, screaming in frustration as I groaned next to her. So close yet so far away…ugh!

We rolled out of bed, rushed to get dressed, and left the room, during which time I had made one decision that we would definitely have to stick to. There would never be any lovin' with Emmett around because judging by the sounds she made just by me sucking on her tits, she had the potential to shatter glass with her screams when I finally get to make her cum…and the second I get home that's exactly what I plan to do.

We joined Alice and Jasper in the kitchen for breakfast. We were just settling in our seats when Emmett and Rose stalked into the apartment, hauling three suitcases full of clothes for Rose. Rose was definitely going to end up with the shit end of the deal with our arrangement since she worked far less than Alice and Bella and would be stuck here alone most of the time. Apparently that didn't matter, since it seemed she came prepared to go out every night in spite of the lockdown. I began to worry that they might try to slip out anyway.

The security detail arrived, now three strong from our late night phone call to the company's manager after our encounter with Trager. We all begrudgingly said goodbye to our significant others.

I can say with all certainty that leaving my Bella in that apartment was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.

She walked me to the apartment door, kissing me one last time and watched with Alice and Rose when we walked to the elevator. I passed Jacob Black on my way to the door. I glared at him, sending him a two part mental warning. One, let anything happen to her and you're dead meat, and two, touch her and I will tear you limb from limb and dump you in the lake never to be heard from again.

He nodded in understanding, looking down at the floor as the elevator doors opened.

We stepped in and turned around to watch our girls, each with tears dripping down their faces. We had to leave them vulnerable and in danger. The doors closed and I gasped as the panic took over my brain.

By the time we reached the bottom floor, both Emmett and Jasper were trying to calm me down and convince me not to walk into the chief's office and quit on the spot. I didn't need the damn job or the damn money, the only thing I needed in the whole world was Bella and I was leaving her in peril. There was no fucking way I could do this.

Andy arrived to check on the girls at the same time Emmett and Jasper were about to lose their side of the argument. Andy walked up, wrapping his arm around my shoulder tightly and pulling me to face him. With his hands tight on my shoulders, he shook me.

"Listen to me, Masen; I owe that girl my fucking life. She has armed building security, three fucking body guards watching her 24/7, and me, all ready to risk our lives to keep her safe. Don't worry. She's going to be fine. Go get this fucking training over with and get home to her. The sooner you leave, the sooner you return."

I took a deep breath, looking in Andy's determined eyes. He was right. My being here wouldn't be any better than the protocols we had set up for all the girls. She would be okay. She had to be okay. I took a deep breath, feeling like I would puke any minute and sighed.

"Fine, but let's get this fucking over with so I can get back home."

They all smiled. Emmett picked up my suitcase, carrying it to the door. Jasper tapped me on the back a couple of times, directing me to follow Emmett. We climbed into the van we had been assigned for the road trip where the rest of our team, minus medical leave Andy, were waiting. My heart clenched once more painfully, as we pulled out to make our way toward Minnesota.