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"Tell me how you make Bella feel adored," he prods.

"I thought I was supposed to think about what I don't do," I complain.

"Humor me," he answers.

"Fine. For starters, I cook for her, buy her gifts; I go out of my way to try new things I know she likes…"

"Okay," he cuts in, but I'm not finished yet.

"I'm always hot for her, but her pleasure always comes first."

Banner nods matter-of-factly to my intimate revelation. "Does Bella feel adored by you?"

"Damn straight, she does."

He smirks. "Could anyone else make her feel any more adored?"

-o-

"I can't imagine how."

"What about respect? Does she know you respect her?"

We continue back and forth this way until he makes me admit that nobody else could adore, respect or support her better than I do.

"Do you really believe that, Edward?"

"Yes," I answer with all my heart.

"Then how is it that you believe Bella deserves better than you, if you're already doing all these things better than anyone else, by your own admission?"

"That's just psychobabble mumbo-jumbo voodoo," I grumble.

"They're all your own words, Edward."

I sit back heavily, arms folded and eyes narrowed.

-o-

"I can see that you're itching to get to your shortcomings, so go ahead. What is it that she deserves that you can't deliver?"

I produce the magic answer. "Trust." There's no trumpet fanfare, no girl bursting through the doors to take me back.

"And why does she deserve that?"

"Because she's never given me reason to doubt her loyalty."

"Then, why do you?"

"What? I don't."

There's a brief stare down, followed by a gentle, "Tell me what happened at the club."

"I've already …fine. I came out of the bathroom, this pack of hungry wolves was surrounding her…"

-o-

"And what was Bella's demeanor?"

I feel the tension mounting, my possessive reflexes kicking in at the memory.

Bella's genuine smile at seeing me …"Edward, hey" …

"Bring me with you, Edward." The doctor's voice cuts in. "What do you see?"

"Too many guys. One's way too close and he's looking at Bella like she's the prize for ringing the bell with the damn hammer."

"I'll bet he could do it, too," Banner comments, causing my stomach to flop over and make me glad I skipped breakfast.

"His muscles had muscles," I moan miserably.

"And Bella was admiring those muscles?"

-o-

"Who wouldn't?" I snap back.

"Was Bella admiring them?" he asks again, ignoring my comment and sending my head back to the scene of the crime.

Bella's fingers running through the guy's hair …her casual offer of advice—

"Not that I could tell, specifically."

"Hmm. You know what seems odd to me? In your long list of qualities that Bella deserves in a man, you never once mentioned muscle-bound."

"Okay, allow me to file an addendum then," I gripe, frustration building inside me. "Bella deserves a strapping, young, hip guy who can recognize more than two songs on her iPod."

A/N: Oh! XXX ~BOH