Thanks to Iris, MidnightCougar and SparklyMeg for their help.

Let's see who that stranger is then, huh?

Chapter 3

"Oh…"

He grins at my lack of response, and I can't help but answer with one of my own. Up close, this guy's even hotter, and now that I can see his face in detail, I love how his smile reaches his deep, green eyes. When he doesn't look away, I force myself to glance down at the table, my eyes automatically locking on his fingers that are picking at the label on his beer bottle.

A million things to say run through my head, but I don't say any of them. It's been months since someone's even caught my eye, and it's taken minutes for this guy to render me speechless.

"Hey…"

I look up.

"One dance. That's all I'm asking." He finishes his beer, and I follow the movement of his Adam's apple as he swallows.

I want to lick it.

Something tightens deep in my stomach, which I ignore.

He stands and offers me his hand. "Please."

Something in his eyes makes me want to say yes. I take his hand and slide out of the booth, trying not to focus too much on the butterflies in my stomach.

It's just a dance.

The band changes songs as we approach the dance floor, and it begins to play an acoustic version of "Sex on Fire."

I roll my eyes at the irony.

Around us, groups head back to the bar, and couples move closer together. I stand awkwardly, not knowing how to approach the stranger.

He moves closer, wraps an arm around my waist, and takes a hand in mine. Automatically, my free hand grasps his waist. The sounds of the guitar surround us, and I try to focus on the music instead of how his body feels against mine. Even in my heels, I only come up just past his shoulders, and I already love how good we feel together.

"I won't bite, you know."

I look up and smile softly. "Good to know."

He chuckles. "So why the distance?"

"This is a perfectly respectable distance for dancing with someone I don't know."

"Well, we'll just have to rectify that. I'm Edward." He pulls me closer, takes both my arms, and wraps them around his shoulders.

Caught off guard, I stumble a little but catch myself quickly. His body feels so good, warm. Hard.

"You know, it's usually polite to tell someone your name once they've introduced themselves."

I look up again to see him grinning down at me, and I blush.

"Bella. My name's Bella."

"Bella…"

And I love the way he says my name. I want to hear him say it again.

He smiles softly, and I turn my head, leaning against his shoulder. I feel a hum vibrate through him, and I like that he seems to be enjoying our dance as much as I am.

We don't speak again as the music surrounds us.

But it's not forever

But it's just tonight

Oh, we're still the greatest

The greatest

Edward bends down, his lips brushing my ear. I can feel him sing the chorus of the song more than I can hear him, and it's making me shiver. I haven't had a guy show any interest in me in months. It's been even longer since I've been on a date, and now I have a gorgeous guy singing Kings of Leon to me.

I pull myself tighter against him but don't say anything. Does he feel this intensity between us, or is it only me? Maybe it's just a dance for him. I roll my eyes as I imagine Alice telling me off for overthinking something. Again.

Instead, I close my eyes, enjoy the feel of his body against mine, and don't even notice as he moves us to a darkened corner of the dance floor.

The song finishes and launches into another, more upbeat song, which I don't pay attention to. Edward's grasp on my waist tightens, and we don't stop moving. Shadows creep over us as we're pushed farther into the corner as the dance floor fills up.

Feeling his gaze on me, I look up. He smiles and brings one of his hands to my cheek, pushing a stray piece of hair behind my ear. Even the simplest of gestures makes my knees go weak.

"Why did you ask me to dance?"

"Why did you say yes?"

"I couldn't say no."

He takes a shuddering breath as his eyes dart from my eyes to my lips and back again. I place my hand on top of his and lean forward silently, telling him I want this kiss as much as he does. If I'm being honest with myself, I've wanted this kiss since I saw him at the bar, saw him smile at me, and definitely since he asked me to dance.

Before our lips meet, he scrunches his eyes as if he's in pain and drops his hand like he's been burned.

"Edward?"

"I can't…"

With a last glance, he turns quickly and pushes his way through the crowd without looking back, leaving me hurt, dazed, and bewildered behind him.

ooOoo

Fic Rec: Burn Notice by ifyouweremine - The last days of summer. Two weeks of freedom. One lie. What could possibly go wrong? BxE, canon couples, AH-OOC. M-Rating for lemons.

ooOoo

Umm… See you next Sunday?