Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or characters, no income being made, only fulfilling a creative whim.

Chapter 8

Edward's POV

Laughing chocolate eyes flashed in my head as I slipped into a semi-conscious state. Long brown hair wrapped around my fingers that felt like the most expensive silk known to mankind. I inhaled deeply taking in the scent of her clean fresh bouquet. She was perfect. She was more than perfect. Her body molded against mine as if she was made for me and only me. I brushed my lips across hers feeling the softness as she sighed. Taking my tongue I urged her mouth open and was granted access. Our tongues met fiercely, dueling in need and desperation. I knew she would taste like this. Sweeter than candy that made my mouth water for more. I couldn't resist as I bit her bottom lip as I made my way down to her neck. If my body responded this way to just her kiss I could only imagine what it would be like once I got inside her. I was hard and my need for her was teetering on the edge of losing total control. She knew exactly what I needed; it was as if she could read my thoughts. I felt her hand move down and grasp me, a cross between gentle and rough. The perfect balance of pleasure and pain. God, she was the sexiest little thing I had ever encountered. Slowly her mouth peppered kisses along my collar bone, my chest making sure to suck both my nipples as she continued her journey to where I wanted her mouth the most….

Jesus Christ!

I jolted up in bed wiping the sweat that was dripping down the side of my face. What the fuck was that? A dream dickhead! But not just any dream. Again I dreamt of her when I finally fell asleep. What was this now, three times or four? All I knew that since Monday night I had no control over these erotic fantasies about Bella. So fucking hot that each time I woke up I was so hard, like a steel pipe and in pain that I had to find relief. I jerked off and came in a matter of seconds but fuck if I wasn't hard again. In the years since I hit puberty I had never masturbated as much I had since Bella entered the picture. A girl I had only met a couple of times. This was insane. I looked at the clock on the nightstand. 5:00 AM. My ass was going to be dragging today. Thank Christ it was Friday. I planned on an early day and then do absolutely nothing this weekend but catch up on sleep. I needed to be at the Wolf building site this morning. The beginning phase of construction was under way and I wanted to go over a few things with Emmett.

Hot streams of water pelted my back as I held myself under the shower head. I stretched my arms and moved my neck back and forth. Fuck I was tired and my body felt like it had just finished an iron man triathlon. I guess sleep deprivation can really fuck you up and fuck you up good. I didn't get why Bella Swan was occupying my mind so much. Shit, if it wasn't during the day she was now invading my thoughts at night. This shit was just too fucked up. I was frustrated. I could whack off three times a day and I still felt like I was going to explode if I didn't have her. I was more than frustrated. Besides my physical needs, it was my head that was ready to burst as well. I felt the need to vent to someone, but whom? Emmett? I don't think so. Jasper, maybe but he was up to his ass in wedding plans. Alice didn't give him a chance to breathe. Never mind my baby sister either. She would be concocting some shit theory about meeting my destiny. I couldn't talk to my mother about this without it turning into something about Bella being the one. I could maybe talk to my dad but how would I even approach this with him? We hadn't had a talk about girls since I was teenager.

Fuck I was so screwed.

I made a pot of coffee and drank it all except for maybe a half a cup. Caffeine wasn't the answer but at least it would help me get one foot in front of the other. I had a bowl of cereal just to have something in my stomach. I didn't need to be fucked up on caffeine overload. The last thing I needed was to be jittery like a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. What shit is that and where did it come from? I was more tired than I thought. I sounded like Larry the Cable Guy! If I didn't get any sleep tonight I was going to talk to my father about maybe prescribing me something. Or maybe smoking a little weed might help; I hadn't done that since college. I didn't, nor had I ever abused drugs apart from pot. I never really considered that hardcore.

The house was a mess but at least it was Friday. Mrs. Cope would be here to clean it from top to bottom and get the groceries. It wasn't that I couldn't do this shit, I could. And I did. The schedule I had sometimes had me away for days at a time so it was worth the money I paid her to keep the house in order and the refrigerator and kitchen pantry stocked. She was a great lady. Sheila, as she liked to be called, had been in the housekeeping business for years. She started off just as a solo act. But as time went on and word of mouth spread she built a business where she now employed at least a dozen housekeepers. She didn't need to keep cleaning houses since she had the business to run but she had become quite attached to the Cullen family. In fact we were the only account she handled directly.

~~SyP~~

September 21st and weather wise for the month of September, it was one of the best we had seen in quite some time. Actually, this month typically had some really great weather but the last few years had brought more rain than usual. So early in the morning and it already felt warm. It was a welcome return…no doubt it was going to be a beautiful day.

Drafting and designing were what I loved about my job but the other big plus was being able to be outdoors and not stuck behind a desk all day long. There were days that I would do just that but I felt fucking lucky that it was a small percentage of my time. I would go ape shit if I had to go to the office every fucking day. No one wanted to be around Edward Cullen when he felt like a caged animal. Least of all my assistant, Leah. It wasn't that I treated her poorly, that fact of the matter even I would admit - I could be one huge pain in the ass. I would be constantly bugging her over some shit. Being out of the office in many ways was a relief for her. Leah was really good at her job, and the last thing I wanted was for her to quit because I was being a dick.

The drive to the building site was quick and easy. I wanted to turn my mind off and stop thinking about, well what else Little Miss Swan. So as soon I got in to the SUV I turned the radio on. It was one of the best ways to quiet my thoughts. But they would not be silenced.

I was anxious and confused. I didn't understand this anxiety which totally baffled the fuck out of me. I felt like a high school boy with his first crush on a girl. Yeah, Edward Cullen has a crush! Well whatever this shit was I needed to get a handle on it. She had a boyfriend right? All indications pointed in that direction. I wonder how serious it was. I didn't notice a ring, not that that meant anything. What the fuck? I had never lusted after a girl the way I was lusting after Bella. Maybe if I just got a taste of her it would satisfy the hunger threatening my sanity. One problem, she had a fucking dickhead boyfriend!

I pulled into the lot and quickly found Emmett surveying the morning activity.

"Emmett, hey man what's up." I walked up to my brother who was observing the work crew.

"Hey bro, glad you remembered to be here." He slapped me on the back. The fucker.

"How's Rosalie feeling?" I knew that she had been dealing with some nasty morning sickness. Rosalie had a bad ass attitude when she was healthy; now that she was pregnant multiply that by one hundred. I loved to give my brother shit, but what Rosalie was putting him through I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

Well maybe my worst enemy.

"Fuck, she's still sick as a dog. It's not just the mornings. It's every fucking minute of the day. The slightest smell makes her want to puke. You know how much I love bacon. I fucking love it. Since she got pregnant she can't even look at it. You know what that means bro? No fucking bacon in the house. What the fuck!" I didn't want to laugh but I couldn't help it. This was as big deal to him.

"You know Emmett there are worse things in life. I might not be Rosalie's number one fan but come on man, cut her some slack. She's carrying your kid. Suck it up." I winked.

"Yeah well most women are hornier during pregnancy. Fuck my wife won't even give me blow job…" I cut him right off.

"Stop that shit right there. Not another word. I don't need to know about your sex life. Fuck, now I want to throw up." I would have teased him more but God only knows what else he was going to share. Rolling my eyes I walked over to building site, Emmett following close at my heels.

Wanting to change the subject, I asked if Jake had arrived. Jacob Black was the foreman for the construction crew. He had been with us almost a year, a hard worker who never gave us any shit. In this business, keeping good help was hard to come by. We had our share of guys who blew their paycheck on booze or drugs. Those were the guys you couldn't depend on. Not Jake, he was dependable and was good at his job.

"He was here before I arrived." Like I said dependable and did I say punctual?

"Cool, looks like everything went according to plan. We should be able to start framing next week."

"I think so. We have everything lined up. Let's just hope we have a full crew. The Davis build was fucking painful." Emmett replied scratching his head.

"That's because we had a few guys who liked to party too hard. I can remember we were guilty of the same thing." I chuckled. Some of the guys hired were young, therefore immature. That nearly always led to making some stupid choices.

"Not anymore, bro. Well not me. Rosalie would have my balls in a sling if I got fucked up like we used to." Before Emmett got married, shit even before he met Rosalie we would hit the bars. Don't get me started on the shit we did when we were at UW.

"Those days are long gone, well at least for you. Do you ever miss it?"

"Miss getting hammered and puking all over my shoes? Not remembering what the fuck I did the night before? Waking up with some chick that looked hell of a lot hotter the night before? Fuck yeah!" He was busting on me.

""Come on Emmett. Seriously, don't you miss being single?" I wasn't sure why I was going down this road, but I was on it so I wanted to see where it led.

"What's this all about Edward?" He gleamed at me inquisitively.

I hesitated a moment. Emmett was a smart guy. He might be a bone head at times and act like an ass but he was slick. He could poke holes through a story if he sensed things didn't add up. The fucker was dead on when it came to evaluating situations. It was one of the things I admired about him. But it was also one of the characteristics that I loathed too. You could say he got that from our father. Carlisle Cullen could see through any half lame cock bullshit tale. Emmett and I could never keep anything from him. I swear to God Carlisle had a built in lie detector.

"Can't a guy have a heart to heart with his big brother?" Emmett was going to call bullshit. I could see it coming a mile away.

"Fuck, no. You haven't had a heart to heart with me since sophomore year in high school when you thought you knocked up Tracy Madison."

Did I know my brother or what? And fuck Tracy Madison! That was as memory best stowed away in the attic of my mind. I'll never forget Emmett sitting me down and giving me the lecture on safe sex. It's not like Dad had not given it, repeatedly by the way. But my big brother took his role seriously. Fuck if he didn't scare the shit out of me about not only unwanted pregnancy but sexually transmitted diseases. The image he painted of my dick falling off still made me cringe. I was quite fond of my dick, after that experience, I never had sex unless it was wrapped.

"Emmett, it's nothing really. I was just wondering since you have a kid coming and your life will be changing even more. I've heard sometimes guys can't handle the responsibility." Actually I think what I said made sense. I knew some guys from college who got married right after graduation, had a kid or two then struggled. In fact one or two of them were not even thirty yet and divorced. Fuck I would rather remain single then go through that shit.

"Little brother here's the deal. When the right girl comes into your life anything before doesn't matter anymore. What I mean is, going out with the guys, getting hammered, wanting to fuck anything with a pulse, it doesn't matter. You put your needs last because hers are what matter more. You want her happiness above all else. It's not always perfect; the road can be rocky. It's not what you read in romance novels. And no, I don't read that shit but you get what I'm saying. I wouldn't trade one night with my Rosie for week of drunken stupors."

Who the fuck knew that Emmett Cullen was a philosopher and romantic?

~~SyP~~

After having a quick sandwich off the canteen truck, which sucked by the way, I left the trailer. The sun was warm and there were very few clouds in the sky. It was really a perfect day. I took a quick scan around the area making mental notes of the progress made so far. From the corner of my eye I spotted a familiar brunette.

Fuck me Bella Swan.

It was the first time I had ever seen her outdoors. I already thought her beauty was something to behold, but nothing prepared me for the sight of her in the sunlight. Her hair was gently swaying in the light breeze which she was wearing down today. With the sun shining down on her I could see shades of russet and auburn streaking that gorgeous mane of hers. I wondered if her hair would feel as silky as it had in my dreams. Her face was a vision of purity almost angelic like. She was perfect. Too perfect for me but that didn't make me want her any less. She was in a pair of jeans that fit her fucking curves like a second skin. Shit! Her tits, I couldn't resist but refer to them using my favorite adjective. Why? I felt as if I knew them after all my dreams starring the elusive Isabella Swan. Perky, not large but not small either. They were the right size that I had no doubt would feel like heaven in my hands. My mouth longed to suck on her nipples. And I knew those areolas were a dusky pink, fuck I was hard thinking about what my tongue would do to them.

My impure thoughts were rudely interrupted when I heard someone call out to her.

What the fuck.

Jacob Black?

Bella knew Jake? By the looks of it they seemed to be well acquainted. She wrapped her arms around him as he swung her up and held her tightly. He fucking twirled her around. It made my fucking head spin. So what was up with this chick? Monday night she was having dinner with some blonde douche and now she was all over Jake. The portrait of her that I had stowed away in my dreams all of sudden was beginning to tarnish. Apparently this chick liked to play the field. Oh like you don't Cullen? Shut up! I just had a whole different Bella in my head. Something about her screamed meek and innocence. Then again women like her did exist. A face like an angel but when you got them behind closed doors they would fuck your brains out. Why this upset me I had no idea. Why was I so pissed that Jake had some claim to this girl? Why did I give a fuck? You like her and you still want her. Did I? It's not like the other women I had been with didn't have histories. Bella just struck me as being different. Could I have been wrong about her?

In my earshot I heard Jacob tell Bella he would see her tonight.

My day was getting better and better!

Fuck, it annoyed the shit out of me that she was going out with Jake tonight. It shouldn't. I had not hold over this girl. Yet at this moment I would have loved to wipe that smile off Jake's face. I liked the guy, I really did. Now I saw him as the enemy, my competition. Jesus, how can one small slip of a girl fuck with me without fucking me? I wasn't making any sense.

I kept my distance from Bella. She said hello and I nodded and used her formal name. She gave me a curious look. I am sure she wondered what was up my ass and why had I reverted back to calling her Miss Swan. I hated that she affected me in a way that left my emotions in a jumbled mess. I hated that again I was envious of another man who knew her intimately. I just hated her. Right. I wasn't behaving any better than a child. Pouting and stomping around because I wanted my favorite toy and I couldn't have it. I needed to stop acting like a total douche bag. Bella had not fucking clue that I was attracted to her. Grow up Cullen!

I stuck around while Emmett gave Fred, Bella and the others from Wolf's, who came out today, a quick tour and briefing. Before I made a further ass of myself I decided to take the afternoon off. After a brief word with Emmett, I high tailed it like a bat out of hell. I felt like a dick for acting the way I had. She must have thought I was one moody son of a bitch. If I was trying to score any points with her, today was a big fat zero.

I was driving back out onto the main road when I began to breathe a little easier. My fingers were still wrapped around the steering wheel tightly as I drove aimlessly until I decided where I should go. I pulled into the large circular drive which abutted the impressive home. My parents' house was large, it was more than large. I guess you could say it was rather stately. A multi-level residence featuring an abundance of windows giving the house such a light and airy feel to it. Although the size was on the grand scale it was still so very homey. I sounded like such a pussy. But I loved this house even if I had only resided here for a few years. I had spent four years at UV, came home on weekends. By the time I graduated I moved back home and stayed until I was twenty four. It was then I decided I needed my own place. I wondered if Alice would be here too. She still lived at home currently working at a posh boutique in Port Angeles as a fashion buyer. Don't even ask.

The foyer was spacious and so bright. Esme had done most of the decorating. She had quite a knack for it. Tasteful pieces of art and sculpture adorned each room. My mother had exquisite taste. She loved to joke that it all started when she met my father and us kids. We were works of arts in her eyes which gave her inspiration. Did I tell you how much I loved my mother?

"Mom!" I called out although I knew I would either find her in the kitchen or in her study. Esme loved to cook. She was a fucking amazing cook. I would come over a few times a week just to have her home cooking. If I ever got married I hoped my wife would be almost as good a cook as my mother. If not I was no slouch in the kitchen. I learned from the best. Yeah, I love to cook so fucking sue me.

"Edward!" My mother came rushing out from the kitchen and wrapped me in her arms. "I didn't know you were stopping by. God, my hair is a mess, oh just look at me!" Apparently Esme was in the middle of some culinary delight. Her hair was sprinkled with flour and her apron was sprayed with that and some orange shit. She looked beautiful regardless.

"Mom, you are one beautiful mess." I leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Esme had one of the best laughs I had ever heard. It was a sweet and lyrical. It reached up into her eyes. Those same eyes had captivated me from the very first time I saw her. I was just a child; I think five at the time. But I remembered how warm they were. It was the kindness in them, how they would light up when she smiled and laughed. They were such a beautiful shade of caramel. So different, I had never seen anything like them. They complimented her hair which was a hint darker than her eyes. Where she was light the woman who had given birth to me was dark. I guess in more ways than one. I fucking hated it that my coloring came from her. My hair and eyes resembled that bitch. That's where the similarity ended thank fuck. I wanted to be nothing like her. I hoped I would never be anything like her. Even after all these years, even after the love my father and Esme showered on us I still felt the hatred. That she could have written us off so easily was still something I could and never would comprehend.

"Edward, you certainly have you father's charm." Esme brushed her hand over her hair in an attempt to make it look presentable.

"Stop it Mom. You look amazing. Just what the fuck are you doing in the kitchen?"

"Language Edward! You know you are not too old for a swat on the ass." She turned around and walked back into the kitchen.

"Funny, mother. I think the last time you swatted my ass I was nine, after I mangled one of Alice's favorite dolls." I laughed at the memory, although at the time my baby sister was devastated. I was such a little shit when I was a kid. I guess I was still acting out my aggression.

"Poor Alice, she cried for a week solid. But if I remember after your spanking you did apologize to your sister. You even made it up to her by buying her a new doll from your allowance." She gave me that sweet smile again.

"What can I say? I couldn't handle listening to her crying." I still couldn't. She was my baby sister. That was the last time I had ever made her cry. I made it my mission going forward no one would hurt her. Talk to some of the boys that Alice had dated. If one of them even made her sniffle I would fuck them up. Jasper included. I am an overprotective brother. Fuck I was just overprotective of anyone who was special to me. Would that extend to Bella Swan? Shut up.

"So dear what brings you here in the middle of the afternoon? Not that I am complaining mind you. I love having my son stop by." She had a sixth sense as well, did I mention that?

"Nothing, I was just in the neighborhood. I finished early today. I thought maybe my mother had something for my sweet tooth." I eyed the countertops in search of my prey.

I did have sweet tooth, anything chocolate and any kind of cake or pie. It's a wonder I wasn't sporting a pot belly. I think I had inherited my metabolism from my father. I could eat what I wanted and with very little effort keep the weight off. I did hit the gym a few times a week and did enjoy a good run. I use to run in the mornings but lately I'd taken to running later, closer to dusk. Whatever I could to tire me out so I could sleep.

Mom laughed and nodded towards the oven. "I do have a carrot cake in the oven. Unfortunately sweetie that will need to cool but I did make a batch of brownies this morning."

I watched her make her way to the other side of the kitchen by the refrigerator. Sitting on top of the counter were said brownies. I was already thinking how a couple three of those would be nice with a big glass of milk. My mother could anticipate my needs because before I knew it she had a glass in hand pouring the milk. She ushered me to sit at the kitchen table as I began to devour my afternoon snack.

"Fuck, these are so good. No wonder Dad married you." I winked at her.

"So tell me Edward. How did things go with Tanya? The last time we spoke you were calling it quits." Esme was eyeing me with that curious glint in her eye.

I swallowed my last bite of the brownie and finished the milk before I even wanted to answer her. Hell, I really didn't want to rehash the Tanya bullshit.

She waited patiently; Esme was many things one of which was patient. It was a good thing but in times like this it was fucking bad.

"Ah, it went as well as you think it would go. She was pissed, called me a fucking an asshole. But I managed to leave unscathed."

"You know Edward one of these days you are going to meet a girl who will make you reconsider how you view relationships. I hope it's soon. No good can come out of dating with a revolving door." Then she gave me that smile that she had for me and only me when she was attempting to make a point.

Oh fuck, here we go. Now why did I think it was a good idea to come here?

~~SyP~~

My cell buzzed. I had a text message from Emmett. Christ what was it now?

Bro, you dropped your iPod at the site. – Emmett

Did I? I didn't think I had taken it out of my car. It was nearing four o'clock. Emmett was still over at the construction site.

Ok, will swing by to pick it up. – Edward

I slid into the driver's seat and started the engine. As I pulled out of my parent's drive way I made my trek over to meet Emmett and grab my iPod. Looking right before I turned onto the road, I noticed my iPod lying on the passenger seat. Shit. Okay, so if mine was here, then whose was at the site? Fuck it. I decided to head over anyways. With any luck we might be able to figure out who owned the one that Emmett found. I had to assume he already asked the guys but who the fuck knows. Other than the work crew and the canteen truck, the only others there were some of the staff from Wolf's. One of them must have dropped it by accident.

I walked over to the trailer and opened the door to let myself in. Emmett was sitting behind one of the desks, on his cell phone.

"Babe, settle down. Of course you are going to gain weight. You're pregnant."

Emmett rolled his eyes at me as he continued talking to Rosalie. At least I thought it was Rosalie. I was being a dumb ass. Of course it was her. I smiled and winked at him.

"Rosie, I will be leaving in a few minutes. When I get home I will give you a nice massage."

I could hear Rosalie loud and clear from where I was standing. Fuck she was in a pissy mood. What is else is new. Poor bastard. I don't know how Emmett did it. But if anyone deserved saint hood my brother did.

"Fuck man. She's only three months along, what the fuck is she going to be like when she's farther along?" Emmett had this glazed look on his face, as if he had been sucker punched.

"Emm, I have no experience with pregnant women. But from what I have been told from friends of mine, who went through it, just nod and agree. Everything is going to be your fault. Better develop a thick skin bro, and be prepared for her to unleash her bad ass on you when it's time to deliver." One thing I knew for sure I was going to stay clear of the delivery room when Rosalie went into labor. Collateral damage was something I had no interest in being.

Emmett got up from his chair and stretched as he put his phone back in his pocket.

"So Emm, where's the iPod you found?"

"Hold on, I put it here inside." He motioned to the desk drawer. "I bet you're psyched I found it huh?" I reached out to take the iPod from his hand.

"Actually I have mine. Not sure who this one belongs to. But we'll find out soon enough."

Well I hoped we would. I turned the device on. It took a few seconds for it to power on. Once the display appeared my eyes were focused on the one word I was hoping I would see there. The one name I wanted to see. Fuck if this wasn't Bella's iPod. I broke out in a huge grin.

"Okay asshole what's the smirk for?" Emmett glanced at me then at the device in my hand.

"It's Bella's."

My day just got fucking better!

A/N: Thanks for reading...any comments? New followers welcome! To Jlyn & DennaRose you make me smile! xoxoxoxo