A/N:

This is my new favorite story bels. FYI.

Lol. I couldn't tell Kella... but can you keep a secret? (no pun intended)

Sure, what's the haps?

Mine too... but there is one person who wouldn't like it. Can you guess who?

The pope? I'm pretty sure he's against pre-marital sex, birth control, adultury and fic cliffys

Well, okay... maybe him, too. But I was thinking Smeyer... who owns these guys

Oh right, yeah... I get the feeling she's against everything that the Pope is aside from maybe the cliff. But you know who loves all of the above, like us?

(Points to you--Yes you!) THEM!

DING! DING! DING! And you know how we KNOW they love it?

REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God, I TOLD YOU you were the brains of this op. Duh.

uh, no... tots you :P

Whatevs, lies... let's let them get to the love and reviewin, eh?

yup yup :)

BPOV

I woke up to James' snoring and groaned. Ugh, another day. Fantastic. I rolled out of bed and pulled out my blackberry to check my work email to get a feel for what kind of day I was going to have. A smile spread across my lips as I saw a text from Edward from... last night? Weird, I thought he was with Tanya last night? I opened the message folder and read it.

I miss you.

My heart melted a little and I deleted the message before getting ready for my day. With the added pep in my step thanks to the text I managed to be ready to go a lot sooner than normal. I smirked as an idea popped into my head and I grabbed my purse & keys, dashing out the door.

It was nearing 9am and I knew I'd be cutting it close for my 10am meeting, but this was far more important. I tapped my foot waiting impatiently as the elevator came to a screech and finally stopped. I gripped onto the carrying tray more securely as the doors opened and I walked out, knocking on the door to Edward's studio.

"Coming!" I heard him yell after a beat. He swung open the door quickly, his head snapping back in surprise. "Bella?"

I grinned from ear to ear and held up the tray. "Breakfast!"

"Oh... thanks" he replied, fairly monotone as he opened the door wider and ushered me inside.

My face fell, and for a minute my heart stopped. Was this not OK? Did this not fall under the guidelines that people having affairs were expected to follow? I walked through his door, trying my best to hold up the smile as I placed the tray on the bar-counter top that separated his kitchen from his live/work area.

"Blueberry or cranberry apple?" I asked holding up 2 individual bags holding muffins.

"Uh, blueberry's fine." He said reaching for the paper bag with the pastry.

I furrowed my brows, placing my bag down and taking a step towards him. I brushed the hair away from his forehead gently. "Hey? You okay?" I asked softly, looking up into his eyes.

He shrugged out of my reach, taking a step back. "I'm fine. How are you?"

"I- I'm... fine?" Was I? He was visibly upset and it was making me hurt too. "Edward, would you like me to leave? I didn't mean to intrude, I just... I got your text message this morning and I felt the same so I thought... but apparently it wasn't..." I trailed off shaking my head and looking down. I took a deep breath, looking directly at him. "Do you want me to go?"

"If I didn't want you here I wouldn't have let you in." He sighed, tugging at his hair. He clenched and unclenched his jaw before continuing. "Look, I just... I have a lot on my mind. It's a lot to handle, you know?"

I nodded. I knew exactlywhat he meant. "Yeah, I know." I didn't know if it would help in the slightest or cause more shit to pile in his head, but I closed the gap between us and reached up to cup his jaw. "I just wanted to say good morning and that I missed you too." I whispered.

"Did you?"

"Like you wouldn't believe."

He shrugged aloofly and looked towards the window. "You don't answer to me; you aren't expected to."

I laughed a little, leaning my forehead against his. "Guess what? I don't answer to anyone. And yet, funny thing... I still missed you."

"Where were you last night? I got a little worried after I didn't hear from you?"

I tensed up and bit my lip. Why did I feel like I was about to confess that I'd cheated on Edward with... my boyfriend. "Do you really want me to answer that?" I asked hesitantly.

He pulled away from me and tossed the muffin onto his couch carelessly. "Therapy went well then?"

"Not really, but it wasn't like I could have run to you afterward; you were with Tanya."

"Was I? Good to know."

"Weren't you?"

"Doesn't matter."

I wasn't playing games with him. I played enough fucking games with James and the last thing I needed was another relationship like that. I turned, walking back to grab one of the coffees in the holder and readjusted my bag on my shoulder. "Edward, I don't want to play games. I came here to surprise you with caffeine, pastries and an 'I miss you' because I did, and I do. That was it."

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm glad you came. I did miss you."

"What are the chances I can get a good morning kiss then?" I asked, smirking.

EPOV

I leaned in and kissed her lightly. I knew she was with him last night, which made her being here with me that much harder. She could have texted me back last night; she could have called me after she got out of her appointment. But she didn't. She went home with him. I sighed against her lips and pulled away. She didn't answer to me, I said to myself, she wasn't mine. I didn't have the right to know how she spent her evening, nor with whom. And yet, it got to me. I didn't want her to be with him.

"What?" Bella asked, looking up at me and smiling.

Shit, I'd been talking out loud. I sighed and pulled away from her, leaning back over the counter top. "You don't have to worry about me, Bella. Okay?"

"I know I don't have to, but I do."

"But..." Shit, she wasn't getting it. "But, you shouldn't. It... complicates things."

"I know it does." She said, looking down at her feet. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, just... God, I don't even know anymore." I put my head down on the cool counter top and tried to make it clear up my head.

"I'm just going to go. I think that may help. I'm sorry for coming by, it was... inappropriate; I see that now." She turned away from me and walk to the door.

So I let her go. It was getting to intense for me, and obviously for her, too. Not gonna lie, her lack of communication last night struck a chord at a very inopportune moment. I got a taste for what my life would be like once I had neither Bella nor Tanya. I'd be alone in a bed at a hotel with no one to call and no one to hold me. Perhaps solitude was what I deserved, after all of this.

I quit trying to work around lunch time, and I turned off my phone because I didn't really want to hear from either one of them. Not that either would be looking for me anyway. I walked back to the hotel and took out my room for another night. I couldn't go home and sleep with Tanya. It would be more of a lie than it already was, and the studio... it literally reeked of Bella. I couldn't be around that if I couldn't have her. The sterile bed in the generic room was what I needed to numb my mind into complacency. I turned my phone back on, and plugged it into the charger, before getting into the shower and ordering room service. This wasn't what I wanted, I realized as soon as I was alone in my room, with some random cable movie blasting in the background. I wanted someone with me, I wanted... love.

I was shaken out of my delusion when I heard my phone clanging noisily against the night stand. I reached for it and answered.

"Hello?"

"Edward?"

BELLA.

I seriously didn't think that I'd be hearing her voice again. "H-hey."

"Am I... Am I bothering you?"

"No," I breathed, clutching the phone as tightly as I could to my ear because I didn't want to miss a single breath. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just... I really missed you."

I sighed with relief, and sank down on the bed. "I miss you."

"Are you busy tonight? Can I see you?"

"Are you okay?" If he'd hurt her, I'd cut his dick off. With a piece of glass.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She laughed. "I just... I'd rather have something complicated with you than simple with anyone else."

But I didn't want it to be complicated. I wanted it to be effortless. "I'm at the Republic. Downtown. How soon can you be here?"

"Give me five minutes; I'm just driving around downtown now. What room are you?"

"334."

"OK." she paused. "And Edward?"

"Yeah?"

"I've decided I'm going to continue to worry about you and care about you. So you'll just have to deal with it." I could feel her smile threw the phone, and I couldn't help but feel even guiltier about what I was doing.

"I wish you wouldn't," I lamented.

"Turkey or chicken?"

"Chicken, why?" I was so lost.

She laughed again, "Subject change."

"Oh." I said, not enjoying her joke as much as she probably hoped I would.

"Talk to me on the phone, or kiss me."

Too Easy. "Kiss you."

She laughed lightly into the phone. "Then open the door."

I dropped my phone and flung the door open, pulling her into my arms and kissing her. I missed her, really I did, but I just didn't know how I was supposed to work our relationship (which is what it was now) in tandem with my other. I hated that Bella was a secret and that we were stuck in this weird limbo, but that was the way it had to be. Bella could never be mine forever, but she could certainly be mine now.

BPOV

His arms wrapped around my waist and bunched up my sweater in his hands. I sighed into him as his tongue slipped past my lips and slid along my own. This was what I'd been missing, just... this. The way his lips moved perfectly against mine and the way his skin both cooled and heated my own. I kicked my leg back and slammed the door shut, as his hands moved back around my body to my sides and slowly dragged my sweater up and over my head. His hands roamed all over the front of my body as our lips reconnected. My hands moved from his sides to my back, so I could undo my bra. I let it drop between us and one of his hands shot up, beginning to massage one of my breasts. His hand alternated to the other, rolling my nipple between his fingers. I moaned into his mouth and he in returned, groaned and pulled my body closer to his. My hands slid down his chest, tugging his shirt up as we momentarily separated our mouths so he could lose the shirt. He lips searched mine out hungrily. My body was reacting to his touch, unlike anything I'd ever experienced. It was like his skin, his lips, his... everything, called to my body. Like a flute to a cobra it awakened me and made me feel alive. I was beginning to realize that there was no part of me he couldn't have if he asked, and that was petrifying. But here, now, in this moment it only set fuel to the fire and made me even more sensitive to his every caress, whisper, and kiss.

We blindly stumbled over to the bed, unzipping each others' pants and stepping out of them as we made our way to the mattress. The back of my knees bumped against the edge of the bed and he leaned over guiding my down so he was hovering above me. His lips slowly released mine as we both panted and looked at each other.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" He whispered. I nodded and he moved off me to grab the condom from his pants pocket. He stood in front of the bed, his raging hard on standing at full attention. He ran one hand nervously through his hair as his other hand slid the condom on.

There would never be a sexier image than him in that moment.

He knelt down on the bed, moving over me. He positioned himself at my entrance and I bent my knees up, spreading them apart as far as I could. He leaned forward, moving his lips against mine as he pushed himself deep inside me. I let out a whimper as I felt him stretch me. He was perfect; he felt perfect inside me. After a brief pause, I arched my hips up grinding against him and he began moving in and out with slow, deliberate strokes. His lips moved from mine as he trailed kisses down my cheek, jaw and down my neck.

"Edward. Edward. Edward." I breathed his name like a prayer as his pace began to pick up. My hands moved down his back to his ass, pushing him into me even deeper. He grunted into my neck and bit down. God, that felt good. I moaned and arched my back in response which only drove him to slam into me harder. "God Edward... Edward, Edward... I'm so close."

He murmured something I couldn't decipher into my skin. I felt his slick forehead push against my shoulder as one of his hands slid from my hips down to my swollen clit. His index and middle finger began rubbing frantic circles on it and I squeaked out in pleasure.

I felt him laugh a little into my neck and place a few kisses against the corner where my neck and shoulder met. "Bella please, I need to feel you squeeze around me. Please I need you; please baby, just let go."

"Edward. Edward. Ungh! Edward.. oh god.. I'm .... EDWARD!" I screamed as I felt myself let go and grip his dick as I exploded around him. I leaned my head back into the pillow and felt him thrust into me a couple more times before stilling inside me as my name fell from his lips repeatedly.

He gulped audibly and kissed along my collarbone. My hands slid into his hair, teasing it with my fingers. I moved my head down and felt his lips press to mine reverently. "You're amazing." He mumbled against my lips as he slid out of me and moved to my side, pulling me against him. His lips pressed into my hair and his nose nuzzled against the top of my head. We laid there in comfortable silence for awhile until we began shivering and moved to crawl under the covers.

His arms pulled me to him immediately and I wrapped my arms around him, draping a leg across his lower torso. He adjusted so he could hold me as close as possible and I felt him breathe me in as I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

This wasn't love, of that I was sure.

But that didn't mean it wasn't something great.

EPOV

I woke up the next morning, not completely better but close enough so that I was able to smile into Bella's hair. I kissed the top of her head, and realized how close i came to losing her yesterday. Why should it matter? After all, sleeping with Bella had begun as a game. It was revenge. Screw the girl who's boyfriend was fucking my girl. But what if... what if somehow in the last week Bella and Tanya had switched places? That scared the shit out of me. I never thought of myself as the guy who cheats, because that was my father. I saw what a cheating spouse did first hand, how it tore families and people apart, and yet here I was in bed (naked) with a woman who was not my fiancee. I was becoming a man I didn't recognize, and someone I couldn't be proud of. But could I give up Bella? NO, my mind screamed, berating me for even the suggestion of leaving her. Tanya, then, could I leave her? I was shocked when the answer didn't come as readily.

I leaned over again, this time kissing across her face until I got to her lips. She smiled after a moment, then pulled me tighter.

"Hey, you." She mumbled.

"Hi," I replied, kissing her cheek before rolling her onto her back and kissing my way down her body.

Her hands found my hair, and she started massaging my scalp as I got lower and lower. "You could say good morning like this everyday."

I smiled into her breast and flicked her nipple. "I would, too."

I saw her arch into me and I slipped my hand down to her core and found that she was already sopping for me. "Baby... Baby, you're--"

"Only for you," She whispered.

My lips found hers again, and in an instant I was inside of her. She moaned and pushed her hips down into mine as I thrust against her. This was what it was supposed to be like, I realized. Sex was supposed to be with someone you want to be with, not just because you owed it to the other person. Being with Bella felt different. She made me want to please her, and be a part of her. I didn't... I didn't want those things with Tanya, I realized. That was yet another reality to freak me out. Soon enough, she came followed by me and once I pulled out I realized that I hadn't worn a condom. Shit.

I quickly turned back over to her, panic in my voice. "I didn't wear a condom."

She laughed a little, shifting a bit on the bed. "I thought it felt different." She looked over to me and sighed softly, then put her hand on my cheek. "It's okay. I'll just stop by the pharmacy and get one of those plan b things." She sat up and kissed me. "It'll be fine."

"You sure?" I asked, then looking down. "That's not gonna mess up your... parts?"

She laughed again, shaking her head. "I don't think the FDA would allow it to be on the market if it made me sprout a 3rd tit or turned my vagina into a scrotum. I think I'm safe."

I shivered and kissed her. I didn't want to think about that. "Bella... ew."

She just laughed, and kissed me again. Okay, fine. As long as Bella didn't grow balls, we'd be okay. "Hey, don't you have to work today?" She asked, pulling away.

I pouted. "I thought we were spending the day together." I really didn't want to let her go.

She pushed the hair off of my forehead, "But you have work"

"Come with me." Impulsive, yes, but necessary all the same.

"Well... I want to... but I don't think it's--"

"No. Come. I won't go if you don't." I knew I had her, and she knew it too. I leaned in and kissed her again, a triumphant smile on my face. "Come on, then, we have to get going."

She laughed and pushed against me. "Then move your naked ass!"

I got up and walked to the bathroom. "You think my ass is sexy."

"Yeah, yeah hot stuff. Keep telling yourself that."

A shower, breakfast, a stop at the drug store and my studio later, Bella and I were at a huge white house in the suburbs setting up my equipment.

"Just be careful, okay?" I said as she attempted to adjust one of the lighting fixtures for me. "It's heavy, don't hurt yourself."

She rolled her eyes. "Easy, Edward, I got it."

I shook my head and unpacked my camera, and put it together.

"Ta Da!" She called, plugging in all of the lights and wearing an accomplished smile. I snapped her picture. "Hey!" She yelled coming over to me. "Don't--"

"Shh." I said, smiling at her. "Get over there and let me check the light."

She eyed me, disbelievingly but relented, standing beside the huge floor to ceiling window that was there. "Tilt your head up." I asked as she looked out onto the lawn, her shy blush coming up her cheek. she was so beautiful that it literally made me ache with desire for her. I wanted her to be mine; to wake up with her, have sex with her, kiss her... but I couldn't. I knew we couldn't. We had an expiration date, of that I was sure.

"Bella, look at me." I murmured and she turned slowly. Her hair was like a halo around her face and she smiled a little when she looked at me. Her eyes were so warm and open; it was like she was asking me to stay with her. She would give me anything. I took a few more shots before I went and kissed her.

"Thank you. You're perfect."

She smiled against my lips then tapped my hip with her fingers. "You better hurry, though. Your real model just showed up."

BPOV

I watched him spin around as he came within inches of kissing a ridiculously tall and thin red head. "Natalie!" He said, taking a few steps back. She smiled and wrapped her arms around him and for a brief moment I felt pangs of jealousy.

"It's great to see you. It's been far too long." She said pulling away and smiling. He nodded "It has..." He turned around to face me and waved me over. "Natalie, there's someone I want you to meet." I walked closer to both of them and smiled as best I could.

"Bella, this is Natalie. I've worked with her for god... two years now?" He said, forming it as more of a question. The girl nodded a confirmation glanced at me smiling, sweetly. "And this is Bella, my..." his voice dropped off for a moment as he looked at me. "My Bella." He said matter-of-factly. Both she and I laughed a little as she stuck her hand out towards me. "Nice to meet you Edward's Bella." I shook her hand expressing the same sentiment. And just like that, any unmerited jealousy I had flitted away.

He called me his Bella. And however technically untrue that statement was, it didn't matter because he said it so effortlessly it felt like he really meant it.

For the next few hours I sat back and watched him work. He was so methodical yet random in how he photographed Natalie it almost looked like a science. The way he worked so steadily, but at the same time quickly.. moving from one shot to the next, it was really impressive. He truly made it look like an art. Duh Bella, photographyis an art.

After over three and a half hours worth of shots, poses, wardrobe changes and re-shoots Edward put his camera down and smiled towards Natalie. "I think we're set."

"Really? Even with the re-shoots?" She asked sounding surprised. He nodded and was already starting to pack up his equipment. "Yeah, you did great... made my job a lot easier." She laughed his compliment off and headed back towards the dining room that had been designated the wardrobe station.

"That wasn't tooboring for you to sit through, was it?" He asked me, not looking up from where he was packing up some of the lighting. I shook my head even though he couldn't see me. "No, not at all. You're fascinating to watch. I'd love to tag along again sometime, if it's not a problem."

His head shot up, looking at me. "What? Really? You're not being sarcastic?"

I laughed lightly. "No, really. You're like... I don't know; you seemed like you were in your element during the shoot. It was amazing to watch."

He shook his head, grinning. "Thank you, but I don't see how watching someone take pictures can be in the least bit fun."

I stood up walking over to him. "Is that a no to tagging along then?" I whispered, hovering my mouth over his. His lips tugged my bottom lip inside his mouth and he sucked on it lightly before letting it go and murmuring, "you can come anytime you want." I smiled broadly and leaned my lips against his again, as Natalie's voice echoed through the room.

"Edward?"

He pulled away quickly, looking in the direction her voice came from. "Yea?" I turned around to face her as well, a blush spreading across my cheeks. Fuck, we'd been caught. To my surprise she didn't look upset or disgusted by it, in fact she was grinning.

"I just wanted to let you know the clothes are all packed up and everyone back there has gone home, so I'm going to head off too."

He nodded, still scratching at his scalp. "Oh, okay thanks for letting me know."

She nodded and looked over to me. "It was nice meeting you Bella. I hope I get the chance to see you again at one of Edward's shoots; maybe next time we could do a couple shots together." I laughed outright and nodded. "Sure, right..." Her brows knitted together and she crossed her arms looking back at Edward. "Edward, I don't think you tell your Bella she's pretty enough. She's beautiful." I felt my blush deepen and looked up at him to see a smug smile spread across his face. He glanced over at me. "Yeah she's the most beautiful girl I've ever met."

And that would be the moment my heart stopped beating for James and began humming for Edward.

The drive back to the studio to drop off the equipment was fairly quiet. We talked about our childhoods, and Edward said he really hoped I could meet his older brother some day. "I think you'd really like Jasper; he's really laid back and mellow. His wife is pretty kooky though." He said chuckling.

"How so?"

"Oh she's into all that eastern medicine, acupuncture stuff. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but they have a newborn who's been fighting this bad cold so she's got him going to baby acupuncture or something. It's kind of silly."

I shrugged. "Well, if it works then why knock it?"

He turned to look at me, grinning. "That's exactly what Jasper said."

We parked in his assigned space underneath the building and loaded up the elevator with all of his equipment and rode up in silence, taking chance glances at one another until it was empty and it was only us and his stuff. Before I could prepare myself his lips were on mine, moving against them fluidly as he pressed me against the wall of the elevator. He pulled away slowly as we approached the 3rd floor. "Thank you for coming today." He breathed against my lips. I nodded and smiled, kissing the corner of his mouth, "thank you for inviting me." He backed away from my body and started loading up his arms as the lift dinged and we came to a stop. The doors opened and he held the door open so I could walk through carrying the few bags I'd been able to grab. I nearly dropped everything as I turned towards his door.

"Edward!"