A/N: This took a bit longer than I originally intended, as always with me. I had a bit of trouble getting into Edward's character.

I hope everyone enjoys this. Thanks a bunch to my awesome co-writer, celesticbliss, for being amazing and putting up with me…bouncing ideas back and forth and talking about our E and B like they're real fucking people. With the way we talk, they pretty much are.

I also want to thank my lovely friend and beta, Claire Bloom, for agreeing to beta my chapters for this story. I appreciate all the help, babe, as always. You know THAT you're the best, haha.

Enjoy!

"Strangers...waiting, up and down the boulevard

Their shadows, searching in the night

Streetlights...people, living just to find emotion"

-Journey: Don't Stop Believing

e.p.o.v

I loosened my tie further as I walked away from Bella. My heart was pounding in my chest, like it had been since I'd first put my hands on her waist in the elevator. My body had known far quicker than my brain that it wanted the beautiful woman standing in front of me.

All it took was the darkness for me to acknowledge what I was about to do to a complete stranger.

I carded my fingers through my hair as I rounded the corner, taking a second to stop and breathe. What happened in the elevator was...unreal. It was the most exhilarating thing I'd ever done in my life and I couldn't believe Bella had gone along with it. I had tried to rationalize what I was doing in my head, but I realized it was simply impulsive.

Bella was beautiful and sexy, and with the cloak of obscurity surrounding us, I was helpless to resist her.

I watched from where I was standing as she got into her little, red car and backed out, heading onto the main street. I thought maybe my heart would quit thumping irregularly, but it didn't. I couldn't stop replaying what I had done in my head, and each time I did, all I could see and hear was Bella; her sweet, brown eyes; her long, dark hair, the soft, breathy noises that came from her mouth.

"Edward!"

I turned my head, my thoughts interrupted by Jasper as he jogged over to me from the crowd of people who had also been trapped in the elevator. His suit jacket was slung over his shoulder, his bright orange tie undone around his neck as he slowed down and casually approached me.

"Hey," I said with a nod.

He put his arm around my shoulder, looking about discreetly before he whispered, "You totally felt that chick up in the elevator, didn't you?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat as I narrowed my eyes at him. "No," I lied.

"Bullshit," he said with a chuckle, "I saw you eye-fucking her before we even got in there."

I pursed my lips to stop from smiling because, well, he was right. Jasper was my best friend and my roommate...he knew me better than anyone. I was thankful he had been able to help me get a job at Newton's publishing company because none of my leads had pulled through.

Who knew I'd round third on my first day?

"Okay," I acquiesced with a shrug, "fine! Maybe I felt her up a little."

Jasper laughed as he clapped me on the back, "Atta boy."

I shook my head and followed him as he took off towards the car, bobbing his head of messy, blond hair to a phantom tune. He bent down as he approached the passenger door, checking his teeth in the side mirror.

"What on Earth are you doing?" I asked as I pulled my keys from my pocket.

"Checkin' my pearly whites," he said sarcastically, "I'm going out to the bar, wanna come?"

"Uh, no," I replied offhandedly. I unlocked the doors to the pretentious, black Audi that had been my graduation present and slipped inside.

"Why not?" Jasper asked as he got into the passenger seat. "Some people from work are coming. I think those two chicks who were in your batch of hires are going to be there, and they were very...," he waggled his eyebrows as he trailed off, gesturing obscenely with his hands.

I rolled my eyes before laughing at him anyway.

"Come on," he prodded, "a few drinks."

"I can't," I retorted, "I...I have a date tonight."

"A date?" he repeated, "With who?" I shot him a sideways glance and he laughed, "No way! The elevator chick? Jesus," he said, giving me a subtle smirk as he tossed his jacket into the back seat, "that must have been some foreplay."

I put the car into reverse, muttering under my breath, "You have no idea."

.

.

I dropped Jasper off at the bar on the way home, thankful to be rid of his near constant chirps about Bella. It may have been an extremely unusual circumstance under which we'd met, but I was eager to go out on this date. Though we hadn't known each other for very long, I liked what I had seen so far. And not just the fact that she had done some particularly indecent things with me in an elevator full of people.

Despite that, she seemed...sweet; unbelievably sexy, but sweet.

I wanted to get to know her better.

I pulled into the lot of our building, next to Emmett's beast of a Jeep which he never used. Trying to find decent parking in New York was just as much of a hassle as driving, and he usually always walked or took a cab. I don't even know why he still had it.

Emmett, whom I had met along with Jasper in our second year of college at NYU, was my other roommate. We had been living together since then, going on six years. I loved them like brothers, they were the best guys I had ever met, but sometimes I wanted to throttle them.

It turned out that today was definitely one of those days, because when I walked in the front door of our loft, Emmett yelled out, "Dude! Tell me about the elevator hussy!"

I groaned, dropping my messenger bag to the floor. Jasper was a dead man.

"There's nothing to tell," I shouted in response.

He snorted, "Pussy."

I rolled my eyes. "I assume Jas already told you everything, so what does it matter?" I shot back. I kicked off my shoes and headed into the living room, where Emmett was lounging on the couch with a beer in one hand and the TV remote in the other. He took a sip, tossing the remote onto the couch.

"You know that fucker always exaggerates things," he said with a grin, "I want to know what happened."

I huffed as I sat down on the couch, putting my feet up on the coffee table. "I don't know...I met her when I was waiting for the elevator, and I helped her pick up some things. We got on...lights went out..."

I paused, not knowing what else to say.

"And...?" Emmett hedged.

"And what?" I replied with a shrug, "One thing led to another, you know how it goes."

"Uh-huh," he said in amusement, "for me, 'one thing led to another' never occurred in an elevator full of people." I laughed at the retort and he continued, "Maybe in public, but never that public. I can't believe people didn't call you out on it. I would have."

I shook my head, "Yeah...you would have."

"Yep," he said with another sip of his beer.

"But that's because you're an asshole," I quipped.

He smirked, "Yep."

I smirked back, nudging him in the ribs. He swatted me in return and I dodged his hands, laughing as the low volume on the television caught my ears. I looked at the screen, scoffing as I turned my attention on Emmett.

"Really, Em," I asked, pointing to the TV, "porn? What time is it?"

He checked his watch, crossing his arms over his chest before he responded, "Six thirty-seven, and your point is...?"

I laughed, "Never mind."

The girl in the porno moaned loudly and my gaze travelled back to the screen. Her tiny, slim body and her dark, brown hair slammed me with memories of Bella. The softness of her skin and the sweetness of her perfume were ingrained in my mind, and I found it hard to peel my eyes away from the girl who resembled her.

Why? Why did she have to be a brunette?

I watched intently, pulling my tie over my head as an overly-tanned surfer-dude took the tiny brunette against a wall. She wrapped her legs around his waist and moaned again, throwing her head back and closing her eyes. She reminded me so much of Bella that I was starting to...

Well, you get what I mean.

All I knew was I needed a shower...now.

I stood quickly, taking the stairs two at a time as I called to Emmett, "I'm gonna take a shower."

"Thanks for the heads up," Emmett hollered back, "you gonna give me a play-by-play or save that for your diary?"

I shook my head, snickering as I looked down over the banister and replied, "Why don't you save the sarcasm for someone who gives a shit?"

I shut the bathroom door behind me, locking it as I undressed. I was unbelievably hard by the time I stepped into the shower, hissing as the hot water touched my cock and made the ache in my stomach burn.

I put one hand on the wall, using the other to tightly grip my cock at the base. I palmed the head, groaning quietly before using swift, long strokes. Water fell onto my face and I shook out my hair, bowing my neck as I squeezed my eyes shut and conjured up some extreme visuals of Bella.

I pictured her with her clothes off, all of her soft skin on display for me. I pictured taking her like the surfer-dude took the brunette against the wall, having her legs wrapped around my back. I pictured her on top, her hair falling down around us as she gasped in pleasure.

Reaching my orgasm didn't take long considering the day I'd had. I stifled a groan as I came, making a fist against the tiled wall and absently spitting water from my mouth as it trickled in. I felt better when I was done and quickly finished my shower, washing up before I got out.

Since I wasn't going to work, I didn't bother styling my hair. I took a brush to it and dried it vigorously, deciding it looked fairly decent and probably wouldn't get any better unless I put product in. I padded down the hall to my room, closing the door and dropping the towel as I searched for something to wear.

I went for a casual look, dressing in jeans and a plain, grey t-shirt before going back downstairs. Emmett was still watching porn, sipping on his beer as his large frame was now sprawled out on the couch. I rolled my eyes at his indolence; apparently having a few days off translated to being a bum.

"Have you even showered since you've been off?" I asked curiously, though I wasn't sure if I really wanted the answer.

He sighed, "Nope."

"Awesome," I cringed, "anyway...as lovely as you seem, I'm gonna go."

Emmett snickered, "For your date with the elevator hussy."

"She's not a hussy," I countered irritably, "and yes, for my date."

"Whatever, man," he replied, "see yah."

I grabbed what I needed from my bag and slipped on a pair of shoes before heading out the door. I was more than a little annoyed with how Jasper and Emmett were treating this whole situation. I know how it looked, really, I did, but it bothered me that they thought Bella was a slut. I knew that type of girl, the self-righteous whores who threw themselves at you because it was all they had.

I also knew Bella wasn't like that. I didn't know much about her, but it was just something you could tell about a person. I could already tell Bella wasn't the type to throw herself at someone.

She seemed the exact opposite.

The sun was setting as I stepped outside, casting a soft, purple glow over the city. It wasn't time for me to pick up Bella yet but I had a stop to make first. I felt like an ass for what happened earlier, no matter how much I enjoyed it, and I wanted to do something small to make it up to her. I wanted to make her smile.

I stopped at a flower stand on the way to her apartment, picking out a simple, red daisy. I didn't want to get her a full bouquet because that seemed like tacky first date etiquette, but I wanted to get her something to show her I was sorry.

Sort of like an 'I'm sorry for the impromptu feel-up in the elevator' flower.

I thought a daisy would suffice.

I followed the directions she gave me, making sure I had the right place before I pulled into the lot, early. I didn't want to seem too eager so I sat in the car for ten minutes, listening to the radio and watching the blur of traffic go by.

When I felt it was appropriate, I went to the front doors and buzzed the apartment that said B. Swan.

"Hello?" she answered.

I smiled, "Hey...it's Edward."

"Oh hey," she replied, "uh...I'm still getting ready, so come on up."

She buzzed me in and I decided to take the stairs up to her fourth floor apartment. When I knocked, she answered almost immediately. Apparently I had forgotten just how attractive she really was, because she looked stunning. Although she was incredibly hot in her work clothes, all sophisticated and done-up, I thought she looked ten times sexier in dark jeans and a long-sleeved shirt.

Humble and beautiful.

"Hey," she greeted.

"Hi," I replied a little dumbly, "you look..."

I widened my eyes, finding it hard to take them off her. She ran her fingers over her lips before brushing them through her hair, looking at me just as intently as I was looking at her. I could have sworn I had seen her blush and I smirked at the sight.

"Thanks," she said, "so do you. Come in." She stepped aside and allowed me to enter. I turned to her as she closed the door, offering the flower I had gotten her. "Edward," she said with an adorable grin, "you didn't have to get me anything."

She gently took it and looked up at me as she twirled the stem between her fingers.

"It's not exactly a first date thing," I told her, "it's more of an 'I'm sorry' thing." She quirked her brow in interest and I continued, "I mean...for earlier, at work."

"Ah," she replied, "sort of an 'I'm sorry for feeling you up' thing?"

I nodded, a little embarrassed, "Yeah."

She smiled, "Well thank you, either way. It's beautiful." I smiled back and she said, "Just let me put this in water and grab a few things, then we can go. You can sit in the living room if you want, make yourself comfortable."

With that, she was gone.

I chuckled as she took off around the corner, admiring her studio apartment as I followed the small hallway down to the kitchen and living room. Bella put the daisy in water and gave me another quick smile before she disappeared, closing the curtain that separated her bedroom from the rest of the apartment.

Her place was nice, a lot nicer than mine. It wasn't nearly as big as the loft, but she had furnished it well, she'd made use of the space she had. Our place, it was a lot less...organized. Bella's was stylish and modern while ours actually looked like three guys lived there.

I walked around the living room, curiously scanning the pictures on her walls and tables. I found plenty of Bella with who I assumed to be her parents, then others with people who looked to be friends. While she had many sentimental photos, she also had various city and landscape snapshots which appeared professionally done; some of them were extraordinary.

Bella returned a few minutes later, apologizing for making me wait.

"Really, its fine," I assured with a wave of my hand, "I was preoccupied anyway."

"Oh?" she asked, intrigued.

"The photos," I pointed to the walls, "they're really well done. Where did you get them?"

Bella walked over to where I had pointed and studied the ones I was referring to. She cracked a small smile before licking her lips. "These ones?" she asked. When I nodded, she replied, "I took those. In college I got really into photography...I love it."

"Jesus," I said in awe, "they're amazing, Bella."

When she blushed again at the compliment, all I could think about was kissing her – a lot. "Thanks," she murmured.

She led me out of the apartment, telling casually of how her college roommate had gotten her into photography and actually inspired her to minor in it. She was animated as she spoke, using subtle hand gestures when she was trying to explain things, or when she simply didn't know what to do with them. Our conversation carried on as we got onto the elevator and I was glad she was easy to talk to. It made the whole situation much less awkward.

But when she abruptly cast her eyes to the ground as we descended, it dawned on me where exactly we were. I leaned back against the wall, blowing out a nervous breath.

So much for it not being awkward.

"I promise to keep my hands to myself," I vowed.

She laughed, "It's not that, I just...I don't think I'll ever be able to ride an elevator again without...you know..."

I nodded, "Yeah, I know. I actually took the stairs on the way up." She tilted her head in acknowledgement and I asked, "So...what'd you want to do tonight?"

She glanced up at me, her expression questioning as she replied, "Would you think it horribly cliché of me if I suggested something like dinner and a movie?"

I smirked, "Maybe a little." She made a funny face, scrunching her nose up adorably before I added, "But that sounds perfect. You pick dinner and I'll pick the movie?"

"Sure," she said, exiting the elevator as it opened to the lobby. I held open the front door for her and she turned slightly, asking, "Do you like sushi?"

"I love sushi," I told her honestly.

"I know this awesome place about fifteen blocks away," she explained, "is that okay?"

I nodded in agreement as we went around to the parking lot. She shivered and drew her arms up to her chest, wrapping them around her torso. Since it was a little chilly, I took the opportunity to put my arm around her shoulder and asked, "Are you cold?"

She nodded, "Kind of. I...I didn't even think to bring a jacket."

"I have one in the car," I replied. "You can have it."

I saw her smile as she turned her body into mine, leaning against me as we walked. I rubbed my hand over her arm, partly because I wanted her to warm up, and partly because I liked the contact. She relaxed into me a little more, obviously enjoying it too.

We parted when we got to the parking lot. I popped open the trunk, grabbing my jacket for her as she stood and admired the car. She barely even noticed when I put it around her shoulders.

"Nice ride," she said in appreciation. I draped the collar of the jacket in towards her chest, crossing both sides so she would be covered. Bella reached up, placing her hands over mine as I stood behind her. "Thank you," she said softly.

"It's nothing," I replied. I leaned in a bit closer, hoping to initiate something, maybe a soft peck on the cheek or maybe a quick kiss. I think Bella sensed my intentions because she cleared her throat, giving my hands a gentle squeeze before she stepped forward.

Too soon.

"How much did something like this cost?" she asked semi-awkwardly, trying to ignore what had just happened, "because I want to get a new car. Mine...it's looking a little old lately."

I tried to ignore it too, though all I wanted to do was kiss her. "I don't really know," I replied, "I didn't exactly pay for it."

She feigned shock and playfully asked, "Did you steal it? Like grand theft auto or something?"

I laughed, "Yeah, I jacked it just before I picked you up." She bit the corner of her lip to keep the smile from her face and I shook my head, "It was a...present, I guess, from my parents. They gave it to me when I graduated from college."

"They gave you this?" she wondered incredulously, "For graduating?"

I shrugged, "Yeah?"

"Whoa," she replied, "all I got was flowers. You must be loaded."

She slipped into the passenger's seat, zipping up the jacket as I got into the driver's seat. I frowned at what she had said. I had never considered myself 'loaded'. My parents had money, yes, but I didn't. The car was the nicest thing I owned, and was one of the very few things I had accepted from them after I moved out for college.

I'd had a lot of expensive things growing up, I was a spoiled kid. I'll admit it was easy to get what I wanted but I changed as I grew up. I didn't want it to be easy anymore. I didn't want to use money to make my way through life. Being privileged as child left me wanting independence and separation, especially from who my parents were and from who I was.

I think it was why I wanted to do my own thing, I wanted to earn it. I didn't want everything to be handed to me on a silver platter.

"I'm not exactly loaded," I replied as I backed out of the space, "my parents are."

"Ergo, you're loaded," Bella countered with a smirk. "I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I'm just saying."

I shrugged, "It's not like I use their money and have a nice place. Yours is actually nicer than mine." She cocked her brow and I smiled, "Honestly, it is. I live with two other guys and it's the biggest disaster zone sometimes. I don't live in a mansion and I don't have a maid."

She shook her head, "I'm not judging you, Edward, don't worry. I just think it's a generous gift, that's all."

I nodded, "Yeah...my dad's kind of like that. He wouldn't take no for an answer when I tried to refuse the car. We were in the driveway arguing for ten minutes before my mom told me she would disown me if I didn't take it."

Bella laughed, "Damn, don't you hate it when parents force expensive cars on you?"

I narrowed my eyes at her before focusing them on the road again. "Very funny," I said dryly.

"I'm only kidding," she said softly, nudging me in the arm.

I sighed, "Yeah, I know." She smiled and I changed the subject, asking, "So, where to?"

.

.

Ten minutes later, we were sitting down in a quaint sushi restaurant, probably one of the most authentic in New York. Bella knew a few of the servers by name, saying hello to them on the way in. We sat near the back, flipping through menus as we talked about our respective college studies.

I told her about graduating from NYU with a degree in Computer Science, alongside my two jackass best friends-slash-roommates.

As I told her stories about them, she laughed, "They seem like trouble." I simply rolled my eyes because they were. "I have a friend who would get along with them perfectly," Bella continued, "Rose...she's like the fiercest person you'll ever meet. She doesn't take shit from anyone, and she's smart. I would pay money for Rose to meet your friends."

I chuckled, "So would I. I have a feeling she'd rip Emmett's head off."

Our waitress came to take our order then, interrupting the conversation for a minute before we were talking again. Bella told me about graduating from UW, all the way in Seattle, with a degree in English and a minor in photography. She had tried for months to get a job out there but hadn't been able to find anything. After that, she had decided on a whim that she needed a change of pace; a fresh start.

Apparently her friend and college roommate, Angela, lived in New York and convinced her to move here three years ago. She'd been working at Newton's for one of those three, but wanted more than anything to pursue her photography.

Based on what I'd seen, I thought it was a pretty good idea.

"I mean, I do it for fun," she said as she set down her chopsticks, "but I'd love to do it for a living, you know? Isn't that what you're supposed to be doing, anyway, finding something you love to do?"

"Yeah," I replied with a nod, "but that's easier said than done a lot of the time. I play guitar, I love it, but I know realistically I'll never be a rock star."

Bella smirked, "You never know."

I shrugged, smiling back at her, "Okay, maybe I don't, but I think my dream's a little more farfetched than yours. What you had in your apartment, Bella, those were great. I think if you love it, then that's what you should be doing, not working for some idiot in an office building."

She leant forward slightly with her elbows on the table, nodding absently. Her pretty, brown eyes met mine as she whispered a small, "Thank you." I simply stared back, wondering how my luck had brought me to her on my first day of work. "Oh, so you met Newton, huh?" Bella asked belatedly, her eyes widening. "Mike, I mean."

I scoffed, "Yeah, he's definitely something."

We talked about work for a bit, finding a common dislike for Mike Newton, the owner's son and Bella's subsequent boss. I got hired in IT, so I would never run into him, but from the stories I'd heard, he didn't seem like that great of a guy – he seemed like a scumbag, in all honesty.

When work talk started to irritate us, we decided to get the bill. Although I insisted on paying, Bella was two steps ahead of me and had already paid while I was in the bathroom. It baffled me because I was gone no more than two minutes.

I told her it was a sneaky move and I'd get her back. She compromised and said I could pay for the movie.

The drive to the theatre was short. It was a small, old-fashioned venue that kept its business by playing dated movies as opposed to new releases. I had accidentally stumbled across the theatre when I first moved to New York and had been going to it ever since. There was always something good to watch.

It turned out tonight was an especially good viewing because they were showing The Exorcist. A scary movie – just what I was hoping for.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," she said nervously as I handed her the ticket, "how come we're seeing The Exorcist?"

"Because it's the ultimate, classic, scary movie and it's the only one you haven't seen," I responded, "therefore, we see it."

It was a little bit of a lie because I probably would have chosen it anyway. It just worked to my advantage that she had never seen it before.

She frowned, "There's a reason I haven't seen it." She paused before she whispered, "I don't like scary movies. They freak me out."

I smiled down at her, "That's what you have me for."

She rolled her eyes before a small smile tugged at her lips. "Whatever, Romeo, let's go see this thing."

She surprised me when she grabbed my hand, tugging me into the building. Hers was soft and small, fitting with mine as our fingers laced together. Bella stopped in the lobby, casually perusing the menu for the concession stand as I stood with her, content to hold her hand. We were the only people there and thankfully didn't have to wait in line. Since neither of us was very hungry, we decided to share a drink and popcorn.

When we went inside the theatre, she chose seats near the back. They didn't hold many people, fifty at most, but only roughly a dozen seats were occupied by the time the movie started. It was the reason why I loved this place; low-key and quiet.

I put my arm around her as the lights went down, listening as she laughed quietly. She turned her head, playfully narrowing her eyes as she looked up at me. "Real subtle, Edward," she whispered.

I leant closer, whispering back, "At least I didn't do the 'yawn and stretch'."

She covered her mouth with her hand to stop from laughing. "Touché," she replied.

Bella eased into me, snuggling beneath my arm as she cradled the popcorn in her lap. The beginning of the movie was slow and Bella was okay, but when it got to the creepy, freaky parts, I could feel her tense, almost cringing away from the screen.

During one particular scene, she buried half her face in my shoulder, covering her other eye and watching the movie through slits in her fingers.

It was probably the cutest thing I had ever seen.

I rubbed my thumb over her arm, leaning into her as I whispered, "We can always go, Bella."

She shook her head, causing her hair to tickle my nose. "No," she replied quietly, "I...I want to stay. I'm having fun."

I sighed, turning my attention back on the screen. I felt Bella move with me, nuzzling her cheek and nose against my shoulder just before soft, warm lips were gently on my throat. I swallowed noticeably, feeling my heart beat quicker in my chest. She shifted closer, brazenly putting her hand on my abdomen as she kissed me again, slowly and deliberately placing her lips on my neck.

I shivered at the sensation, dropping my head back against the seat and tightening my grip on her, pulling her impossibly closer. She moved her mouth over my skin with confidence, kissing the ridiculously sensitive spot just below my ear. My cock strained hard against my jeans and I groaned quietly. I couldn't contain how much I wanted to kiss her.

It was getting a little absurd.

When she took my earlobe into her mouth and rolled her tongue over it, my body took over my brain. I couldn't help myself anymore. I swiftly cupped her face in my hands, titling her mouth up to mine. She gasped quietly before our lips touched and moved in sync; mine, eager and intent to taste her, hers, just as eager and remarkably soft.

I tentatively deepened the kiss, emboldened by the darkness, and gently slipped my tongue into her open mouth. I hoped it wasn't too much too soon, but she didn't seem to mind. She responded with a muted whimper, twisting her fingers into my shirt as her tongue passionately moved with mine.

Oh yeah, she'd been thinking about it too.

We made out for a while, keeping with the entire cliché of our date. In the back of my mind, I was conscious of the fact that we were getting a little too PG-13 for most people. I realized we were somehow prone to feeling each other up in dark places. I also didn't really care. I fucking loved every minute of it, and the thrill of getting caught…well, that made it all the more exhilarating.

It was the most fun I'd had in a while.

Bella mumbled my name against my lips as we kissed, scratching her nails into my hair. I angled my tongue further into her mouth, wrapping one hand around the back of her neck as the other found purchase on her waist. I pulled her closer, drowning in her smell as she practically climbed over the arm rest, planting one hand on my thigh, painfully close to my rather obvious erection.

I groaned, moving my fingers up from her waist to her tits, roughly palming them as she arched her body into me. One of those breathy moans filled the space around us and my eyes rolled back in my head as the side of Bella's thumb grazed my cock through my jeans.

This was torture.

"Let's go somewhere," I suggested quietly. I was done with the movie, not that I had even seen the past half hour of it.

"Okay," Bella replied, "your place?"

I thought about it for just a fraction of a second before I adamantly shook my head. The only thing I could see was an Emmett and Jasper ass-fest. If I brought Bella back to my place, they would be crass and vulgar. We wouldn't have time alone; they'd make sure of it.

"My roommates," I said softly, "they're assholes."

She giggled, "They sound swell. We can go back to my place," she whispered, "I live alone, remember?"

Fucking. Awesome.

"Perfect," I murmured.

.

.

"Do you want something to drink?" Bella asked. She was sort of pacing her kitchen as I sat on the couch, looking a little anxious. I shook my head and she kept going, "Something to eat? I can cook something if you want?"

I rested my arm on the back of the couch, watching her closely. "Are you nervous?" I asked curiously. She bit down on her lip, leaning against the small island in the kitchen as she nodded. "Why?" she didn't respond, just shrugged, avoiding my gaze. "Bella, come here," I said, scooting over.

She made her way to me and sat down, keeping a bit of distance. "I just...I feel like you have these expectations now," she said quietly, "after today...after the movie. I don't know exactly what you want and I'm worried it won't be what you expected. I won't be what you expected."

My eyes were wide in astonishment. I didn't even know what to say.

"Bella," I stuttered, "I...I don't expect anything from you, honestly. I just wanted to have dinner." She tucked her feet beneath her on the couch, twisting slightly to look at me. "And you're not what I expected," I continued, "you're so much better."

I watched as she looked away, rubbing her fingers over her lips as she smiled. "Are you always so charming?" she asked sarcastically.

I smirked, "Only sometimes."

She rolled her eyes, crawling over to me and nestling herself beneath my arm. I kissed the crown of her head, murmuring, "Seriously, Bella, I don't expect anything. I can even leave if you want..."

"No," she assured quickly, "no..., its fine, I want you to stay."

"Okay," I replied.

She turned on the TV and we watched a movie for a while, talking through the commercials and laughing at how people in the theatre gave us dirty looks on the way out. By their judging stares, you could tell they had heard what we were doing.

I didn't give a shit.

Before long, Bella and I were making out again. I had told her I didn't have any expectations, and the truth was I really didn't. She initiated everything, pushing me back against the cushions as her lips hungrily sought out mine. I complied willingly, falling down onto the couch as her tiny body came with me.

I skimmed my hands up the back of her shirt, brushing my fingers over her smooth skin. She shifted on top of me, making the sweetest noise I'd ever heard before she sat up a little bit. She attempted to take her shirt off with one hand but it didn't exactly work out. Eager to undress her – any part of her – I offered my help, tossing the shirt onto the coffee table.

"Thanks," she mumbled cutely.

I replied by pulling her back to me, kissing her swollen, pouty lips as her hands came up to cradle my face. She moved them up further, tangling her fingers into my hair and gently tugging me closer as I toyed with the clasp to her bra. When I flicked it open, she didn't object.

I took it as a sign to continue.

I slid up against the arm rest, pulling her bra off as I admired her exquisite, curvy figure and her small, perky tits. Lust and hormones were clouding my vision and it was all I could do to not ravage her right here, on her couch. I needed to control myself, though. I didn't want to push her.

I was about to take off my own shirt when something on the side of her ribs caught my attention. I tilted my head, lifting her arm out of the way.

It was a motherfucking tattoo – a full ribcage tattoo.

I'm pretty sure I almost came in my pants.

"Holy fuck," I muttered shakily, "that's..."

I had no idea what to say to that.

"Oh," Bella replied quizzically, looking down to the ink on her body, "do you like it?"

I widened my eyes at her in disbelief. "Do I like it?" I asked stupidly, "Bella, that's probably the sexiest thing I've ever seen. Jesus..."

She blushed, resting her arm on top of her head. "Really?"

I nodded, "Really. I-"

I didn't know what to do with myself. I was so turned on I was delirious. I leaned forward, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her against me. I kissed her tattoo, brushing my lips over the intricate roses and the long, swirling designs surrounding them. I felt as she shivered, running her hands across my shoulders and gently tightening her legs against my hips.

I rubbed my thumb over the black ink where my lips had been, admiring the striking piece that ran from her hip all the way up to her armpit. I absolutely loved it.

Bella took the opportunity to take my shirt off when I stopped, dropping it on the floor. Her eyes roamed over me appreciatively, pausing on my stomach and my arms before they met mine. I wasn't exactly 'built' but I could see that she was impressed.

"You're so sexy," she whispered. She bit her lip, running her fingers through her hair before she curved her body to mine and took my mouth with hers. We spent a long time on her couch, kissing languidly, exploring each other impatiently, hands, lips, and tongues travelling over soft, smooth skin.

From the good half hour we spent like that, it was obvious how much of each other we had missed in the dark.

At one point, I gently flipped Bella and put myself on top, spreading hot kisses over her chest before reaching her supple breasts. Her nipples were hard and pebbled, showing me how aroused and into this she really was. Expected or not, she was enjoying herself.

I swirled my tongue over the sensitive peak, smiling as Bella's breaths stuttered and her back lifted off the couch. She put her hands on my waist, squeezing her fingers into my sides as I lavished her chest. I kissed and nipped, listening contentedly as she whimpered beneath me. It was more than satisfying.

Bella's fingers gripped my hips again, harder this time, pulling me even closer. My cock pressed into her, hard and unyielding as I groaned, stilling my lips against her skin. She moaned quietly, the sound breathless, as I sighed in resignation.

I wasn't sure I would be able to contain myself much longer – the heat coming from her body, how attracted I was to her…it was too much; too much for me to simply kiss her and not go any further.

"Bella," I groaned, tilting my head slightly to look at her, "you're really not making this easy on me."

She pressed her forehead against my shoulder, breathing out deeply as she murmured, "I'm sorry. I…I just got carried away."

"Yeah," I said in response, "we tend to do that." I smirked at her, loving the subtle, pink hue on her cheeks. "But it's not like I'm complaining," I added lowly, "quite the opposite, in fact."

I leaned down and gently nipped at her soft skin, slightly salty to taste and utterly addicting. Although her body was torturing me, I found it hard to stop myself. She was partly naked and completely beautiful, a combination that was damn near impossible for me to resist.

Bella's chest pressed into mine, her hands brushing quickly over my back as she worked them into my hair. She tugged lightly, sending ripples of want through my body, flooding to my groin. I attempted to kiss her again but she sighed, bringing her hands between us.

"I think we should stop," she whispered.

I'll admit that her words were a little disheartening, but I understood. I would stop if she wanted to.

"Whatever you want," I said honestly.

"Okay," she replied quietly. She sat slightly and I moved with her, pulling myself off as I reached for her bra and shirt. She thanked me, angling her body away from mine and quickly slipping both on as I pulled my own shirt over my head.

We sat in silence after that, Bella brushing her fingers over her lips and tucking her feet beneath her once again. I gazed at her, catching her eyes. I offered her a small smirk and she smiled back, tentatively shifting closer to me.

"Thank you," she said, "for tonight…I had fun."

"Me too," I responded. "And thank you, for dinner." I playfully narrowed my eyes and she giggled, unconsciously leaning into me.

"The look on your face was hilarious," she remarked, "it was totally worth it."

I shook my head, "I'm glad you were amused."

Our eyes met again, deep, soulful brown penetrating mine for the longest minute of my life. I kissed her then, the movement almost instinctive. I knew she must have felt the same because she relaxed, gently gripping my shoulder to bring herself closer.

She pulled away much too soon, murmuring, "It's probably late."

I nodded, "I'll go."

I was reluctant as hell but I didn't want to make her uncomfortable – I didn't want to make her do something she wasn't ready to do with me yet.

Bella stood up, stretching. Her shirt rode up partly, exposing the smallest sliver of skin at her waist. I watched audaciously but the tiny patch of skin was gone just as fast as it had appeared. I tore my eyes away from her, groaning.

The wood I was sporting was unbelievable.

I waited until she started down the hall to stand up. I did so slowly, discreetly attempting to rearrange my hard-on so it didn't look so obvious. She knew it was there, yes, but she didn't have to see it.

Bella stopped at the front door, gently gripping the handle as she leant against the wall. I slipped my shoes on, holding onto the doorframe to the bathroom as I did so. I straightened my shirt when I was done before raking my fingers through my hair.

"So, can I call you or something?" I asked.

"Hmm," she hummed in response, "I don't know." Her tone was sarcastic and I smirked, cocking my brow. "Of course," she replied seriously.

She stood up straighter, brushing her hair over her shoulders and looking up at me. Her expression was almost expectant and I leaned down, gently grabbing her by the waist as I kissed her. It was sweet and chaste, and completely different from the kisses we'd shared earlier.

"Bye," I mumbled against her lips.

She sighed, whispering a soft "bye".

I pulled open the door, giving her a last, quick peck on the cheek. When she closed it behind me, I pursed my lips, exhaling deeply.

I needed a cold shower.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Stop by to leave your love, or comments…whatever ;) celesticbliss will be up next with Bella's POV!