Beta'd by cejsmom and preread by Twi-mom12292005

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Chapter 20

EPOV-Dogward/Brokenward

I bolt from the bedroom like a scared child. I'm not feeling very mature right now or very in control. Just that small amount of physical contact with Bella and my body reacts like an adolescent boy.

I take a minute to calm myself before joining everyone at the table. If she can be all nonchalant about that, so can I.

"Edward, when did you get here? Have you seen Bella?" Alice chirps.

"Hi, Alice." I give her a sisterly hug. "I think Bella is changing for dinner."

Alice giggles and Emmett raises his eyebrows at me.

Of course there are only two unoccupied chairs at the dinner table and they're next to each other. I think there are forces at work here trying to push Bella and me together. I could do worse, and she can do better - my inner voice so kindly reminds me.

Bella joins us looking beautiful as always. Her hair is in a ponytail. Her skin is still flushed from the heat of the spa. She's wearing shorts, short shorts and a tank top.

I don't participate much in the dinner conversation, trying to prevent myself from saying something stupid or something that could encourage questions about Bella staying the night at my apartment.

Rose, who has a tendency to keep her distance from people, must really like Bella because she includes her in the conversation by asking her about her job. Bella lights up when she talks about writing and traveling. I'm selfishly glad to hear that she has no immediate plans to travel. Her publisher has her compiling past articles for a potential book deal.

I'm trying to be an attentive listener when she's talking. I think I'm doing a pretty good job at seeming impassive, until Jasper elbows me and whispers. "Hey, dude, I think you're drooling."

My hand immediately goes to my face. I'm not drooling, but everyone at the table except Bella is looking at me with this goofy grin. What is wrong with them?

"Edward, are you staying here next weekend?" Alice asks.

"I plan on it. Mom, Dad, do you mind if I bring Booboo for the weekend? He's been a little freaked out lately."

"Of course not, we know you wouldn't bring a dog that would cause any damage."

"Thanks, I don't want to leave him for the whole weekend."

My parents start clearing the dishes off the table and head for the kitchen.

I start grabbing the glasses, when Alice whispers, "Who else is coming? Rose, Emmett, Jasper? Bella, you have to come. Don't tell my parents, but the whole weekend is one long party. We basically get here on Friday and don't leave until Sunday. We don't leave the house at all. We either cook here, order in, or just drink." She giggles.

"Hell yah," says Emmett.

"It's an annual event!" Says Rose.

"I wouldn't miss this for anything," says Jasper. He's never attended one of our "weekends".

I nearly drop a glass at the thought of spending the entire weekend with Bella while intoxicated, me or her. It's one of the few times I let loose; because I know I'm not driving or seeing anyone on the outside. One of the few times I feel like I can be myself.

Seeing my reaction, Bella says, "I don't know, Alice, I can't leave Buddy for the entire weekend."

"What about your pet sitter?" Alice asks.

"Well, that relationship is a bit...strained right now. I don't think I want to ask him to help with Buddy anymore."

"Mom, Dad, can Bella bring her dog too this weekend? He's little and cute and house trained." Alice yells. She leans over to Bella and whispers, "He is house trained, right?"

Bella nods, looking mortified that Alice asked our parents about Buddy. She opens her mouth, "It's o..."

"Sure, that's fine. We trust Bella's judgement." Mom yells from the kitchen before Bella can protest.

"Well, that's settled, Friday after work, here. BYOB, snacks, favorite game, movies, ipods, surfboards, swim suits, or they could be optional; just kidding brother." She says. I think I threw up a little in my mouth.

I groan inwardly, another swimsuit moment. I'm dreading it as much as I'm excited for it.

When I bring the glasses into the kitchen my mom says, "Bella is a really sweet girl, don't you think, Edward?"

"Yes, she seems like a really good friend for Alice. Her calmness balances Alice out." I laugh.

"Edward, I think she's good for both of you," she says without looking in my direction.

Instead of encouraging that topic with my mother I go back to the table to retrieve more dishes and glasses. I over hear Alice and Bella talking.

"I don't want you to have to leave early, but I really need to get home to Buddy."

"It's okay. I don't mind leaving now. Let me say good bye to everyone and we'll go."

"You don't have your car?" I ask Bella.

"No, some creepy person has been hanging out on my street. I didn't want to come home alone in the dark."

"You thought Alice would save you?" I snort.

"Hey, I'm really strong." Alice pipes in, flexing her bicep.

"And annoying." I say just loud enough for Bella to hear. We both laugh and Alice huffs away.

"Bella, I'll take you home. I don't like the idea of you or my sister going back to your house with some loser hanging around."

"It's fine, Edward, really, it's out of your way," she protests.

"I insist."

I yell from the door, "Alice, I'm taking Bella home. Mom, Dad, thanks for dinner."

"Ready?" I ask her.

"Okay, just a minute." She says goodbye to everyone and grabs her stuff as I wait by the door.

"Edward, you really don't need to do this. I could even take a cab."

"Please Bella, I'm...none of us would let you take a cab. Just sit back, enjoy the ride and stop complaining." She grumbles and leans back in her seat.

When we enter her neighborhood I can tell she's nervous. She's on the edge of the seat, looking up and down the streets.

"What kind of car does he drive?"

"I don't even know if it's a he. I saw the car in the parking lot at the market the other day, and parked on my street a few times this week. I'm sure it's not one of my neighbors. I can see the silhouette of someone sitting in the car, but the windows are tinted too dark."

"Let me know if you see the car, we'll drive by slowly and you can get the license plate number." She nods.

"There it is." She points at a small dark car parked in the shadows across the street from her house. We can't really drive by without being obvious.

"Let's get you safely in the house. I have an idea." I say.

"Okay, just walk me to the door, please," she pleads.

"Of course, I didn't come all this way to drop you on the curb." I tease, trying to keep the mood light.

We walk straight to the door, she goes in quickly and grabs my hand to pull me in behind her. She slams the door and locks it without letting go of my hand. I just stand there like a fool, staring down at our joined hands.

"Edward." She squeezes my hand to get my attention. "What's your idea?"

"Oh, Buddy needs to go out, right? Let me walk him and I'll get the make, model and license while I'm out there. You stay locked in here and call the police if anything goes wrong."

"I don't like the idea of you... and Buddy out there with that creep."

"Keep an eye on us." I wink.

She grabs her cell in her hand and locks the door behind us. I can see her peeking out the front window. She's so cute when she's scared.

I walk down a few houses and cross behind the car in question. I walk past slowly memorizing the license number. Just as I'm walking past the passenger window, it starts up and zooms away before I get a look at the driver.

Bella lets me in the house quickly. "That was weird," she says.

"You know you should really call the police with this information." I suggest, writing it down for her.

"I thought about it earlier today, but there are a lot of old people on this street. I'm the newest and youngest owner. I don't want to seem like a troublemaker or anything. I'll go to the police station tomorrow and file a report. I don't want to draw attention to myself."

"Can I get you a drink or something?" She offers.

"No, I should get going. Are you okay here?" I ask.

"Um, yeah, I guess. I haven't slept much this week because I've had this feeling like I'm being watched. It's really been creeping me out, but I'll be okay." She's says, not very convincingly.

I stand there having an inner monologue with myself. I don't want her to be here alone, but I should get home to Booboo. I could sleep on her couch, but risk her witnessing another nightmare. I could ask her to come back to my place. I must look like a lunatic.

"Bella, I'm not comfortable leaving you here alone, but I don't know what to do." It's an honest statement.

"You could stay here, on the couch. I know it's not home, but I would appreciate it. I have ice cream." She smiles, trying to bribe me with food.

I'm struggling on how to get my point across to her. "Bella, when I don't sleep in my own bed I tend to have a very...restless night."

"Oh," she nods, understanding what I mean.

"What if you take the bed and I take the couch? Would that help?"

"Maybe, but no guarantees." I admit.

"There are no guarantees any night, are there Edward?" She asks searching my face.

"No, not really." I shrug.

"Then it's settled, you take the bed. I'll take the couch. Don't worry, I'm a heavy sleeper." She winks at me this time.

"I'll be right back," she says, going into her bedroom. I hear drawers opening and closing, water running. She must be getting ready for bed.

I walk around her living room looking at her photos, trying not to stress out about the sleeping arrangements I just agreed to.

There are photos of her when she was a child. She was a cute kid; big brown eyes, fair skin. She went through a wild hair phase, glad that's over. There's a photo of her and her dad fishing. He seems like a very serious guy, not a smiler, and one of her and her mom at the beach. She looks more like Bella's sister, than her mother.

Bella comes out of her room dressed in a too big t-shirt and tiny shorts. Her face is clean of any makeup, her hair is brushed straight and she smells of mint toothpaste.

She hands me a pair of men's sweat pants and a t-shirt. Why does she have men's clothes?

"I've had these for years; you can wear them if you want. You might be more comfortable. I had an extra toothbrush; I left it on the sink in the bathroom, right through my room."

I take the clothes and walk into the bathroom, closing the door. It's very girlie. Good smelling bottles of stuff all over the sink, tub and shower area. It reminds me of when I lived with Alice.

I change, brush and walk back into the living room. She and Buddy are cuddled on the couch under a blanket watching tv.

"I'm watching The Hangover, again. I love this movie. Come join me." She lifts the blanket and pats the couch next to her.

"Wait! Go get the Ben and Jerry's out of the freezer and two spoons, please." She says never looking away from the television.

I get the ice cream and sit on the couch. She puts the blanket over me, leans over, grabs a spoon and takes a bite of the pint in my hand. I'm mesmerized by her every move.

We sit there laughing at the movie, while eating the entire pint. By the time it's gone we've moved closer together, our legs are touching under the blanket. I'm glad the blanket is covering the way my body reacts to her.

I don't think she is even aware of how her sheer presence makes me feel. And then any physical contact with her sharpens every one of my senses.

She yawns and lies down on the couch, putting her feet in my lap. I put my hands on her feet, not wanting her to move them and come in contact with my ever present erection.

She jumps when my hands touch her. Does she feel the humming, electric sensation flowing between us or are her feet really sensitive? I test it out and gently rub her feet. She moans and closes her eyes. I bite back a moan of my own because my hands are tingling just from touching her.

The next thing I know I have a sharp pain in my neck. I move to stretch my neck and I feel her warm, soft hands. She rubs my neck, shoulders and head with her small, confident hands. I've never been massaged before. It's the perfect balance of soft and deep.

"You fell asleep sitting up on the couch. You looked so uncomfortable. Sorry for waking you, but go get in bed now," she whispers near my ear. Her hot breath caressing me, causing me to shiver.

She stops rubbing and comes around to the front of the couch. She puts out her hand for me. I hesitantly put my hand in hers and slowly rise from the couch.

Every time we touch I anticipate the aversive reaction I've always had to physical contact.

She walks me to her bedroom door and lets go of my hand. She turns to go back to the couch. Without thinking I grab her hand and pull her towards the bed. She's looking at me with a confused look on her face.

"I'll sleep on top, you sleep under the sheets. I don't feel comfortable kicking you out of your own bed."

"Are you sure?" She questions.

I nod.

She settles into her side of the bed. I get the blanket from the sofa and climb onto the other side, making sure to keep a distance between us.

"Good night, Bella."

"Good night, Edward. I'm glad you stayed."

It's still dark when I wake up. Warmth is all around me, her scent enveloping me. That's when I realize I'm in her bed, with her.

I look down my body; her hand is draped over my torso and her bare arm is touching the exposed skin on my ribs. Her body's pressed up against my back with only a cotton sheet between us.

I'm waiting for the freak out. I'm being intimately touched... but nothing. I'm not freaked out about being touched. Now I'm freaked out about liking being touched... by Bella.

Eventually I surrender to a deep sleep.

The most amazing peaceful sensation sweeps over my body. It's warm, soothing, healing, erotic.

As I become more alert, I realize this is not a sexual dream happening while I'm alone in my own bed, but a real erotic moment happening with Bella.

I'm lying on my stomach, she is sitting my ass, rubbing my back, neck and scalp.

Every part of my body awakens at her touch.

There is unmistakable warmth that emanates through her thin, tiny, shorts, as she sits on my ass.

Each time she shifts her weight to rub up my back she pushes my pelvis against the bed, over and over again. It is torture, but a wonderful torture.

Her hands slide up under my shirt, pushing it up out of the way. The overwhelming warmth of her skin on mine, the electric feeling that passes from her to me, is almost too much to bear.

Does she know what she is doing to me? Does she have any idea how much this is turning me on?

The feelings and sensations she is unleashing in me are overwhelming.

My breathing becomes erratic; my heart is beating wildly in anticipation.

If this continues my orgasm is imminent. I don't want to cum like this.

She/this feels so good, but will it repulse her if I give into the pleasure? Will she think less of me? Think that I have no self-control?

That part of my brain that keeps me from enjoying sex and intimacy is fighting with my body for control.

When I let slip a moan of pleasure and frustration, she lets out her own little moan. Her erotic sound almost causes me to explode.

She rubs my back, ghosting her hands up my spine, running her fingers through my hair, dragging her nails down my back to where our bodies meet. I can feel her hard nipples grazing my back when she leans forward.

It feels like she is everywhere. I instinctively thrust my hips into the bed creating the friction I crave.

I'm so hard, so confined. All I want is to turn over and let her touch me, all of me.

My body takes over and I start rhythmically thrusting into the bed, she starts rubbing her hot, wet center against me at the same time.

The moans coming from me are matched by soft moans from her; our movements are in perfect unison.

I'm harder than I've ever been. My body is craving release.

Then she whispers in my ear in the sexiest voice, "You feel so good."

The sound of her lusty voice sends me over the edge. I thrust hard into the bed, succumbing to the pleasure, while moaning her name.

She collapses on my back, our hearts beating wildly, our breathing erratic.

"Sorry," I blurt out.

"For what?" She asks.

"For ... for letting go like that," I barely whisper, embarrassed that I gave into the pleasure.

"I'm glad you did. That was, HOT," she whispers in that same sexy voice.

I let out a big sigh of relief, causing her to giggle.

For the first time in my entire life I have had a sexual experience with a female that doesn't leave me feeling shame, embarrassment, or regret.

I feel good, peaceful.

She did this for me. Her selflessness is so appealing, but then I can't find anything about her that isn't appealing.

She surprises me with a quick kiss on the cheek as she lifts herself off of me and heads for the bathroom.

I turn my head to get one last look at her long, toned legs, and tight ass.

"I need a cold shower, or ... maybe not." She shrugs, wagging her eyebrows as she closes the bathroom door.

"Now, that's HOT." I groan, rolling onto my back staring at the ceiling, trying to process what just happened.

Buddy jumps on the bed and onto my chest. "You don't like sharing your girl do you?" I tease. "Want to go for a walk?"

I change into my clothes from last night, put on Buddy's leash and head out for a quick walk. I get a few houses away when I notice a guy getting into his car. He abruptly stops, looks from Buddy to Bella's house, scowls at me, gets in his car and leaves. That was odd, I see what Bella means about not wanting to disturb the neighbors, they're a bit uptight.

When we get back to her house Bella is still enjoying her shower. I'm thinking she didn't go with the cold shower. Get your mind out of the gutter Cullen.

I need to get back to the shelter, back to Booboo. Last night was the first night he didn't sleep in my apartment since he was lost.

I grab Bella's cell off of the night stand, take a quick photo of myself looking more relaxed than usual. I program my number and photo into her phone.

I look around for a paper and something to write with. I ponder what to write and decide to go with one word, "Thanks." I leave the note by her phone and head home, with a satisfied smile on my face.

A/N

An unexpected citrusy moment!

So, who's watching Bella? Some of you shared your theories last chapter.

A drunken weekend together... this could be good!

Thanks for reading and reviewing. I really do love to hear your thoughts :)