Just so we're clear, we liked Alex Clare before he got all main stream. Most of you probably know him from the song "Too Close" but for this chapter we would like you to listen to "Relax My Beloved." It has a lovely haunting feel to it that goes rather nicely. ;) youtu*be/6TQBd_pYyYk

The club we mention is called Temple and their dance floor is pretty awesome. Check it out: i47*tinypic*com/2d0yl2r*jpg

Thank you to karenec, LJ Summers, AshesAshes, and jakeward for your super spiffy master-batering skills. Yeah I know, I spelled it wrong, but it's funnier this way. You ladies rock our socks!

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Eighteen: Confusion

The following week passed quickly. I felt productive, like I was finally feeling a little more like myself again. Edward and I talked on the phone a few times and I found myself looking forward to his occasional texts that said he was thinking about me.

We went out for lunch again, although we managed to take a shorter lunch than the last time. When he dropped me off at my office building, he asked me about the upcoming weekend. I remembered I had made plans with Vanessa.

"Come dancing with Vanessa and me tomorrow night," I said impulsively.

He turned his head to look at me in surprise. "Um. . . I . . . All right."

"I mean, if you want to. It's not a huge deal, but I'd like it if you came. Just to warn you though, Ness is—" I paused "—Well, she's a bit over the top."

"What do you mean by over the top?" He looked at me curiously.

"It's hard to explain. I envy her sometimes. She's completely full of life and nothing gets to her. Her family is old money from the east coast. They are determined to get her to settle down with someone well connected and 'appropriate'; she's determined to go out and enjoy her life. She's a brilliant criminal lawyer—I wouldn't be surprised if she made partner someday—she's just very exuberant about everything. Be warned, she will hit on you."

"Why? Am I her type?"

I snickered. "I think Ness's only 'type' is male. You should see her flirt with Jacob."

"He's got to be at least eighty."

"Like I said, I don't think she has a type," I said dryly. "She flirts shamelessly with him and he just eats it up. If he were just a little bit younger, I shudder to think what they would get up to."

He laughed. "It probably makes his day – makes him feel young again."

"That's true. I'm sure it gets lonely. He was widowed four or five years ago. They were married for a long time. He just has his daughter, Emily, and his nephew, Seth, now."

Edward nodded. "Well, I'll do my best to resist Vanessa's charms; I'd really like to go dancing with you."

~ LTOYL ~

I left work on Friday at five p.m. on the dot, and Bree gave me a surprised look when I walked past her. Usually she left long before I did.

"Have a great weekend, Bella!" she called out.

"Thanks. You, too, Bree."

I hurried home to eat a quick dinner before showering and getting ready. I finished just a few minutes before Edward arrived.

When I opened the door to my apartment, he shook his head. "You look sinful in that. Please promise me tonight will end with those amazing legs of yours over my shoulders."

I shivered at the image his words created. "That is a promise I can definitely keep," I said huskily.

Edward looked equally delicious in his black suit pants and black shirt. On many guys, the same outfit would have looked boring but it made his grey eyes look especially intense and I tugged him forward by his lapel to press a heated kiss to his lips. He took my hand, winding our fingers together.

"What was that for?"

"You look good."

"Glad you like it." When he kissed my forehead, I could smell his cologne, crisp and light. I felt myself flush, thinking how I wanted to drag him into my apartment rather than go out with Vanessa tonight. I dragged my fingertips along his jaw; it was soft and smooth. I wondered if he'd shaved just before he came over here. "You smell good."

"Mmm, so you do."

"Are you ready to head out?" he asked and I nodded.

I gathered up my purse, not bothering with a wrap. It had been warm out that day; If I got cold, I knew Edward would be willing to loan me his jacket.

Temple Club was just a few blocks from my apartment, so we opted to walk, taking the time to catch up on our week. Vanessa was already at a table when we got inside and she stood up to hug me excitedly.

"I am so glad you made it. I see you brought a friend." Her eyes gleamed at the sight of him. I smirked, amused by her enthusiasm. I hadn't told her Edward was coming.

"Yes, this is Edward. Edward, this is my friend, Vanessa."

She gave him a long look up and down and turned to me. "Well done; he's delicious."

I snickered and Edward blinked before chuckling lowly in surprise. "Thanks, I think."

"Oh, it's definitely a compliment, honey," she assured him.

We sat down, ordered drinks, and the conversation flowed easily. He asked her a little bit about her job at Swan and Volturi, and how long she'd lived in San Francisco. She was enthralled with him and I started getting a little antsy when she kept resting her hand on his forearm. He kept politely letting it slide off, and it wasn't long before we were sitting very close. I had a hand on his thigh and his arm was around my shoulders. It suddenly occurred to me that I was jealous of Vanessa flirting with him, even though it was something I had expected to happen. Vanessa flirted with everyone. She had flirted with Riley incessantly, although I never thought for a moment she'd actually make a move on him. She wasn't a home wrecker, just a flirt. Although I knew Edward wouldn't take her up on it, it bothered me a little that she was so into him.

After a few drinks, Vanessa looked right at Edward and spoke, "Bella and I are going to go gossip about you in the bathroom."

"You have no tact, Ness. We'll be back in a few, Edward." He shook his head at us in amusement.

She practically dragged me into the bathroom then whirled around to face me.

"Oh my God, Bella; that man is edible. How on earth have you managed to go anywhere in public with him? I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off him."

I giggled. "He is pretty hot."

"Pretty hot? That is absolutely the understatement of the century. I want to lick him up one side and down the other. Please tell me he has a big cock."

I shook my head at her although I couldn't hide the amusement in my voice. "Do you really have no verbal filter at all?"

"You've known me for how long?" she asked. "I have never had a verbal filter. I'm not about to start now. Anyway, answer my question or I'll be forced to find out for myself."

"Fine." I rolled my eyes at her. "Yes, it's rather large," I admitted. "And keep your hands off of Edward."

"Getting territorial I see." Her eyes gleamed at me and I rolled my eyes.

"No, I just know what a skank you are, I wouldn't want you to give him something nasty," I teased her.

She gasped in mock-horror. "You bitch; you know I am always careful." She grinned at me to show there were no hard feelings. I grinned back. "Anyway, if you get sick of him, send him my way."

I turned to the mirror and touched up my lipstick. "I think I'll keep him around for now."

When we got back to the table, I scooted my chair just a bit closer to Edward and he brushed his fingers along mine. "So, what's the consensus?" he asked.

Ness gave him a flirty look. "You're hot as hell and I'd take you off Bella's hands if she gets sick of you. Oh, and according to her, you have a big cock."

Edward snorted, sliding his arm around my shoulder. "Well, I'm hoping she won't get sick of me." He leaned in to whisper in my ear. "Did you really tell her that?"

I shook my head a little. "Not really. She asked, I merely confirmed. I certainly wouldn't have brought it up otherwise," I said quietly, a little embarrassed that he knew we were gossiping about him.

He laughed and kissed my cheek, seemingly unfazed. "As long as you're satisfied." I shivered when his nose lightly brushed along the skin of my jaw. The heat within me built until I flushed from head to toe.

"You know I am." His nostrils flared when I dragged my nails across his thigh. "Want to dance?" I asked him teasingly.

When we were on the dance floor and he was moving against, me I relaxed. I hadn't realized it, but I had been apprehensive about Edward meeting Vanessa. For one, small shameful moment I had been worried that he would find her more appealing than me. It wasn't that she had a better body than I did, or a prettier face; we were both attractive. However, Vanessa was vivacious and fun in a way I would never be. Although I shouldn't be jealous of her, I was.

"So, what do you think of Ness?" I asked him.

"She's hilarious. I can see why you're friends. You seem more light-hearted with her."

"Yeah, she's been good for me. I was pretty anti-social for a while. She was the one who got me out again."

Edward tenderly kissed my forehead and I soaked in the feeling of his soft lips against my skin. "What you and I have is good, too," I admitted. "I feel better than I have in ages."

"I'm glad."

When we resumed dancing, I felt myself let go, really just enjoying the moment. Most of the time when I was out, I was thinking about what was going to happen at the end of the night. Wondering if I'd take someone home with me, how it would go with him and how awkward it would be after we had sex. But being here – dancing with Edward – made it easy, everything was just fun, like it was supposed to be. I didn't have to think about any of that. I knew Edward would come back with me to my place, and we would spend the night satisfying each other. It was freeing.

The song changed to "Looks Like Sex" by Mike Posner. I wound my arms around his neck and kissed him, letting his thigh slip between mine. The throbbing beat and rhythmic bass line on top of the dirty lyrics aroused me and I moved against him, wanting to feel his touch all over my body. His fingertips caressed every inch of skin that the dress left bare. I pulled him closer, deepening the kiss. I could feel he was aroused as well, and his tongue teased mine, making me moan against his lips. My body ached at the feel of him moving against me, remembering all of the times he'd made me cry out with pleasure. Dancing at the Black and White Ball had been nice, but it was subdued and designed for polite company. It wasn't at all like what we were doing now. Edward's breathing was ragged, his lips hot as they trailed down my throat. His teeth took tiny little nips at my skin, not hard enough to leave a mark, just enough to send a small jolt of pleasure through my body. I saw Vanessa out of the corner of my eye dancing with a guy and she winked at me.

I rolled my eyes at her then turned my attention back to him, pressing my lips to his smooth jaw. The song changed to something slow and sultry. It took me a moment to recognize Alex Clare's "Relax My Beloved". Edward's body slowed and he grabbed my hips, guiding me to move with him. I closed my eyes, tilting my head back as his lips teased the soft skin behind my ear. My nipples were hard and I could feel myself shameless rubbing up against his erection, wanting to feel it inside of me. The heat from the club made the scent of his cologne more intense and I breathed it in, feeling myself grow light-headed and flushed. I hadn't abstained from drinking tonight, but the three drinks certainly weren't what was making my head spin. I lifted my head and met Edward's heated gaze.

"Do you want to get out of here?" he asked, his voice low and rough.

"Yes." My voice was equally ragged and desperate sounding. We pulled apart and I tilted my head at Vanessa. She excused herself; stepping away from the guy she was dancing with. She hugged me and spoke in my ear. "I'd say go do something I'd do, but I don't think you need any encouragement."

I nodded in agreement and she flirtatiously said her goodbye's to Edward. I was grateful that she didn't hug him because in the mood I was in, I might have clawed her eyes out. I wanted him, and the thought of another woman touching him irritated me.

She leaned forward to speak to Edward, but it was loud enough for both of us to hear. "Go give my girl the fuck of her life; she needs it."

He gave me a heated glance. "I think I can handle that."

With a wave of her hand and saucy toss of her hair, she rejoined the guy on the dance floor. We headed back to my building. Although we tried to make small-talk, the need to touch each other made the conversation a little awkward. The moment we were in my apartment, he kissed me, his tongue seeking mine. He was aggressive, like the time he'd fucked me over the railing at his place. But this time it wasn't punishing at all, just desperate. I eagerly responded and we stripped out of our clothing on the walk down the hallway to the bedroom. I was buzzed from the drinks and the dancing. My body felt loose and pliable in his hands as he positioned me on the bed and slid into me.

Three condoms later, when I was sprawled out on the bed, my limbs heavy, chest heaving with exertion, I turned to look at Edward. He was equally exhausted, but the lazy smile he gave me made my heart skip. "You certainly took Vanessa's suggestion to heart."

He rolled onto his side with a quiet groan and put his hand on my hip before leaning down to kiss me. "Like I said, so long as you're satisfied."

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Are you satisfied?" I asked.

He propped himself up on one elbow and looked down at me. "This was fantastic, Bella. I love seeing you laugh and let loose."

"Well . . . I meant tonight, in bed."

He gave me an incredulous look and the low throaty sound he made in his throat was enough to convince me he was. "Yes, quite satisfied."

When the sweat on my body finally cooled, I shivered. Edward flipped the sheet back over me and sighed. "I should go."

It was hard, I didn't really want him to leave, but I wasn't ready for him to stay either. "I don't want you to feel like you have to rush out of here," I said hesitantly.

"I don't. I have plans first thing tomorrow morning though, so I should get home."

"What do you have planned?"

"My sister's husband is opening up a new office. The grand opening is tomorrow. I promised to get there early to help set up."

"What kind of office?"

"He's a pediatrician."

"Oh, that's nice."

"It was until I realized I need to be up at seven tomorrow." He grimaced and looked at the clock. It was nearly two a.m. already. By the time he got home, he'd be lucky to get four and half hours of sleep. "So as much as I hate to leave a beautiful, naked woman in bed, I'm afraid I have to go."

"Okay."

He stood up, groaning and stretching a little. I got out of bed and grabbed my robe, wrapping it around me while he dressed. "I'll walk you to the door."

"You could have stayed in bed." He wrapped his arms around my waist and gave me a slow, lingering kiss.

"I have to get up and shower anyway." I tried to be nonchalant. Honestly though, I just didn't want to let him go quite yet.

At the door he gave me a kiss. "Call me this week?" he asked.

I readily agreed. "Of course. Just to give you a heads up, things are going to get a little crazy for me. I have a huge case coming up, so I'll be working long hours and fairly busy on the weekends. If I don't have a lot of time, don't take it personally, I promise I'm not ignoring you."

"That's fine. I understand. I appreciate you letting me know."

He gave me a final kiss before he left, as if reluctant to let me go, and a beautiful lopsided smile as he walked away. I closed the door, showered, and then went to bed still feeling dizzy with thoughts of Edward.

~LTOYL~

We talked on and off throughout the week, texting and talking on the phone occasionally. We were both busy with work, so we had no time to meet for lunch or dinner.

I had a major negligence case against Price Industries pending, several meetings with the client scheduled that week, and an upcoming trial date to prepare for. I had been enthusiastic about the case initially, but as the week progressed, I became less and less sure about it. My client's story was starting to show holes and with a sinking feeling, I began to doubt the truth of what he was telling me. I poured over the file, desperate to find something, anything that would give the case a more solid foundation, but it was in vain.

By the time I left the office on Friday, I was a frustrated mess. Even after I was home, and had eaten dinner, I was still struggling to unwind. I felt keyed up; anxious and unable to shake the stress of the week off. But I had done everything I could to deal with the case and all I had left to do was wait.

When it was nearly midnight, I was still pacing after a second glass of wine. I gave in to the urge I'd had the entire evening and called Edward. But four rings in, I was starting to wonder if he was going to answer. I probably should have just texted him, I realized. I really hoped he wasn't asleep.

I was just about to end the call when I heard a sleepy voice say, "Hello?"

"Edward? Uh, hey."

"Bella?" His voice was soft and a little bewildered sounding and I instantly felt guilty that I woke him up.

"Hey, I'm really sorry I woke you. Go back to sleep, okay?"

"No, it's fine. I fell asleep on the couch actually. You okay?" I heard a muffled groan, then rustling, then silence.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said automatically then corrected myself. "Actually, no, I had a shitty day. A case with a client is falling apart. For some reason, I just can't seem to get over it."

"You want me to come over?"

"You don't have to, I mean, I didn't mean to wake you up. I'm sure you're tired and just want to go to bed …."

"I didn't ask if I wanted to come over, I asked if you wanted me to come over."

I hesitated for a moment. "I … I don't know."

"Hey, tell me what you want. Please," he coaxed softly.

"I want you to come over," I admitted.

"See, was that so hard?" he teased. "I'll come over in about half an hour; I'll call when I get here, okay?"

"Okay."

If my anxiety and pacing had been bad before, it was doubled while I waited for him to get to my place. In an attempt to distract myself, I wandered around my apartment to make sure everything was in order. Condoms were in the guest bedroom and there were clean sheets on the bed. I hopped in the shower to shave my legs; carefully I made sure my body was smooth and soft. I debated what to wear; finally settling on an impossibly-soft jersey baby doll chemise. It had a plunging neckline, ended mid-thigh, and was a gorgeous coral color. I had surprised myself when I'd picked it up a few weeks before, but something about the color appealed to me. I slipped it on, and worked a little product into my hair so it would dry nicely. I checked my phone, surprised to see that only twenty minutes had passed. When I called down to the desk in the lobby, Jacob answered.

"Uh, Jacob, this is Bella in 25; can you send Edward upstairs when he gets here?"

"Who?"

"Isabella Swan in 25F."

"No, I know who you are, I'm not an idiot. Who am I supposed to send upstairs?"

"Edward. Remember, he's the tall one with the dreadful hair? Actually, he's the only one now … but, never mind. Do you know who I'm talking about?"

"Yeah, idiot who kept leavin' you messages."

"That you failed to give me," I reminded him. "Look, just let him up to my apartment, okay. Please, Jacob?"

"Sure, sure. I'll let him up."

"Thanks."

I paced restlessly while I waited, stopping to inspect the polish on my toenails and wonder if I needed to go get a pedicure sometime soon. I was interrupted by a knock on the door. I made my way over and yanked it open, surprised by how eager I was to see him. He was rumpled and still a little sleepy, with his hair wild and untamed looking. He had on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, with a leather jacket over top. He looked younger, less carefully groomed, and professional. He leaned against the doorframe with a half-smile.

"You look edible." His voice was a little raspy still, as if he weren't quite awake yet.

I stepped back and he came inside, closing the door behind him. He reached for me immediately and drew me into his arms, his fingertips and cheeks chilled from the cool damp air outside. He kissed me thoroughly, his mouth tasting mine without any hesitation. I leaned into him, feeling the roughness of his jeans against my bare legs and smelling the rich smell of the leather from his jacket over the top of his normal light, clean scent.

His hands moved down to cup my ass as he drew me closer to him. I felt him begin to harden against me. I shamelessly jumped up and wrapped my legs around his hips. He groaned, adjusting my weight in his arms and continued to kiss me deeply. He turned and pushed me up against the door. I gasped and my head fell back with a soft thunk. His lips blazed hot, wet kisses down my throat as he ground his cock against me.

"Do you have anything on under that thing?" he asked roughly.

"No," I gasped.

"Fuck, I want to be inside you," he groaned. "Right here, like this."

"Bedroom," I prompted, pushing at his shoulders. It wasn't that I wasn't perfectly happy to let him take me against the door, but I didn't have any condoms on me. "Unless you have a condom in your wallet."

"No, damn it," he muttered as he lifted me, continuing to kiss me as he carried me down the hall. It was awkward; he staggered once as I tried to guide him into the bedroom but we made it. When he let me drop onto the bed, I looked up at him; his eyes were intense as they gazed down at me. He shrugged out of his jacket and peeled his shirt off. I watched him intently, shifting on the bed, eager for him. Just watching him unzip his jeans and push them off made me sit up and start to slip out of the camisole, but he stopped me.

"Leave it on," he said, his voice rough and needy sounding. His naked body covered me and he pushed me down onto the bed. "I like it."

I gasped when his lips met my neck, suckling gently. Too gently to leave a mark, but enough to make my nipples harden as he moved down toward them. He tugged the fabric below my breasts and his hot, wet mouth encircled one. I reached over to fumble in the drawer for a condom and tossed it at him when I finally found it. I parted my legs after he'd put it on. His hands slid up either side of my thighs, pushing my chemise up to my hips. One hand moved between my legs, fingers sliding through my wetness before they pushed in to me. I moaned and begged to him to fuck me. He slipped his fingers out of me, and settling his body between my thighs, slid in to me. My fingers clutched at his shoulders, gasping as he began a quick pace. I writhed against him, desperate and eager for him. It was fast and a little rough; exactly what I needed. I glanced up, watching the look of utter pleasure on Edward's face. His eyes were closed, his jaw clenched tight, and I could feel his arms tremble a little as he held himself up over me.

It wasn't long before I felt my body clench around him and he groaned. He leaned down and took my nipple in his mouth again, his tongue flicking against it until I cried out, the orgasm slamming into me, my back bowing up off the bed. He came with a hoarse shout, collapsing on top of me for a moment until he rolled to the side. He disposed of the condom and rolled back over to face me.

I stretched, feeling relaxed and calm, the day's earlier stresses gone. "Thanks for coming over."

"You're welcome. I'm glad you called."

I shifted on the bed, pulling the chemise back down over my thighs and tugging the top up.

"Why was your day so shitty?" he asked, pulling the covers up over us and propping himself up on his hand to look down at me.

"Hmm, just a stressful case. I'm fairly sure my client isn't being honest with me. It's a suit against a company, where an employee claimed he was injured on the job, but I'm starting to believe that he's faking it. Or at least milking some minor injuries for all they're worth. He claimed they had faulty equipment and it probably wasn't as well-maintained as it should have been, but I just don't trust him.

"I hate cases like this. I want so badly to believe all my clients are trustworthy, but unfortunately, there are too many who try to milk the system. It's a pro bono case, which makes it worse. I really want to help the people who can't afford good representation; I just don't like being lied to."

Edward nodded. "That is stressful. I hope you're able to get it straightened out."

"Thanks. How was your day?"

He shrugged. "It was all right. A couple of meetings and lots of phone calls." I stretched again and yawned. He leaned down and brushed his lips across my forehead. "Do you want me to head out now?" he asked.

I shook my head. "No, I'd like you to stay for a while. I mean, you can spend the night, if you want. If you do though, I'll go sleep in the other room." I looked down at the duvet, fidgeting with the seam, but Edward tilted my face up so my eyes met his.

"It's okay. I keep telling you, just be honest with me. That's all I ask."

I nodded, and we moved on to other topics. We talked for a long while, until I was beginning to nod off. "I'm going to head out now," Edward said. "Okay?"

"Just stay until I fall asleep," I mumbled, and I was out in moments, not sure if he stayed until I was completely asleep or not.

I was alone in the morning. In some ways it was a relief, but to my surprise there was a twinge of disappointment, as well. I got out of bed, opened the curtains, and was surprised to see that it was a beautiful, sunny day out. I went into the kitchen to make coffee, eager to start my day.

I heard my phone beep and I wondered if I needed to charge it. I had left it on the table by the entryway and, sure enough, the battery was low. There was a note under it with Edward's now-familiar writing.

Bella,

You were sleeping peacefully when I left. I have the entire day free on Saturday. Call or text if you'd like to do something.

-Edward

I carried my phone in to my office and plugged it in to charge, setting the note from Edward down on my desk. I went to the bathroom and brushed my teeth while the water in the shower heated and suddenly heard a knock on the door. I spat out the toothpaste and turned off the water in the shower before I headed to the entryway.

I peered out into the hallway to see Edward standing there, holding a large brown bag and coffee.

I opened the door and looked up at him, surprised but not at all displeased. "Back so early?"

"I wanted to surprise you with breakfast." His eyes traveled down from my face to my body. The desire that flared in his eyes made my breath catch in my throat.

"That's sweet, thank you." I stepped back to see Jacob in the hallway holding another bag. I turned quickly, embarrassed to realize I was wearing nothing but the skimpy chemise from the night before.

"Uh, come in, I just need to go put something else on."

I hurried for my room and I heard both of their voices in the kitchen as I hurriedly dug through my clothing to find something. Just a few moments later I heard the front door close quietly and Edward's voice behind me saying my name. I was wearing nothing but a pair of jeans and a bra and I whirled around to face him. Instead of the hungry look I expected to see on his face, he looked puzzled.

"Which room is yours?" he said after a moment.

"Well, technically they're both mine," I said weakly, not really wanting to explain it all to him. I tugged on a shirt and gathered my hair into a loose ponytail.

"This is the master bedroom, though, right?" he asked.

"Uh, yes. The other room is the guest bedroom."

"But sometimes you sleep in there?"

"Uh, yes."

He nodded and didn't say anything but I could see he was trying to figure it out.

"So, you brought breakfast, huh?" I asked.

"Yes. I bribed Jacob to help me bring it up. Hopefully I'm not being too presumptuous, monopolizing your morning like this." He turned to walk back toward the kitchen and I followed him.

"No, it's great. I was going to call as soon as I got out of the shower; my phone was dead. How much did you bring?" I asked in astonishment. My counter was covered with bags and he gave me a slightly sheepish smile.

"I may have gone overboard. But everything sounded so good."

"What did you get?"

"Well, I stopped at the café we went to after the museum, to pick up crepes and coffee."

I took a seat at the breakfast bar while Edward unpacked the bag. "Here is a cappuccino. And fruit salad. I think there are muffins and pastries in here somewhere. I got a sweet crepe and a savory crepe, which would you like?"

"Could we split them?" I asked. "So we can have a little bit of each?"

"Of course."

As I sipped my coffee, Edward found dishes and silverware. He made up plates for us before he took a seat next to me at the counter in the kitchen.

He turned to look at me before he began eating. "You sure I'm not intruding?"

"Not at all. I'm actually really glad you came over. I was going to call you in a little bit and see if you wanted to go running with me."

"Oh, sure. That would be great."

"Do we need to head to your place to get your stuff?"

"No, my gym bag is actually in my SUV."

"Perfect," I said, pleased that it had worked out so well. We ate our breakfast quietly for a moment. I nearly moaned out loud at the taste of the ham and cheese crepe.

"This is so good, Edward," I said. "I can't believe you came back just to bring me breakfast."

"I knew you'd enjoy it." He took a sip of his cappuccino and I watched his tongue trace across his lips. I suddenly wanted to grab the front of his shirt and drag him toward me to kiss him. To taste the coffee on his tongue and feel his lips against mine.

"Thank you for coming over last night." I looked down at my plate and pushed a raspberry from the fruit salad around with my fork. "I know I woke you up, and you had to leave after and …" I trailed off, feeling guilty that he'd come over just because I had been having a shitty night. Not only had I disturbed his nap and asked him to come to my place, I had made him leave after.

"Hey, it's okay. You needed me, and you called. That's exactly what I hoped would happen. I hadn't meant to fall asleep on the couch anyway. I had no trouble getting back to sleep when I got home."

"Thank you." I swallowed around the lump in my throat, overwhelmed by how good he was to me. I didn't deserve him. "You have no idea how much better I felt after you came over last night."

"Hey," he said softly. "C'mere."

When he pulled me into his arms, I let out a long, shuddering sigh against his shoulder. "Sorry, it was just such a stressful day."

"You never have to apologize for needing me. Don't you see, Bella? This is what I'd hoped for. I want to be the one you turn to, not the random guy in the bar." His expression lightened. "Besides, I brought you breakfast the next morning, none of those guys could beat that."

"You're right about that," I admitted. After we finished our breakfast, we cleaned up and put the leftovers in the refrigerator. We sipped our cappuccino and talked.

I went to my bedroom to change into running clothes while Edward went downstairs to get his gym bag. By the time I was dressed and my hair was secured in a ponytail, Edward was coming out of the guest bedroom, fully dressed in running gear. It was simple, he was just wearing black athletic shorts with a grey T-shirt, but I couldn't resist kissing him. It showed off the lean muscles in his arms along with the length of his legs. He grinned down at me and gently tugged at my ponytail.

"You look about seventeen, with your hair up like this."

I chuckled ruefully, nodding. "I always looked younger than I was, growing up. I still get carded some, especially if I'm not dressed up."

"You ready for a run?"

"I'm ready," I said confidently. I missed having a running partner. Riley hadn't run with me often, preferring the gym or the treadmill, but he had indulged me occasionally. We went downstairs, waving at Jacob as we passed.

"Take me on your usual route," Edward said when we were out on the street.

It was a beautiful day; the air was warm and the sun was still out. I was eager to get moving.

"Are you sure? It's about five miles."

"I think I can handle it."

I glanced over at him as we set out at a slow jog. "You say that now, but I tackled Lombard Street earlier this summer."

"You ran it?" he asked, his eyebrows raised in astonishment.

"Jogged it, yeah."

"That's insane. How did you survive?"

"Well, I could barely walk the next day," I admitted.

"Were you feeling a little bit masochistic that day?" he joked.

"It was the weekend I met you," I said quietly.

His steps faltered and he frowned. "Fuck, I'm sorry, Bella."

I shrugged. "It's okay. I just had some things I had to get straightened out in my head."

I sped up a little as we reached The Embarcadero and turned left. "C'mon," I teased him. "If you're not careful, I'm going to leave you in the dust."

He took off at a steady pace, falling into rhythm beside me. The mood lightened, and we talked and joked as we made our way along the piers. Even when I sped up to my usual pace, he easily kept up. We were well matched despite his much longer legs; we had no problem keeping an even pace together.

There was a light breeze blowing and the good weather had brought what looked like the whole of San Francisco out to the piers. I thought about my run up Lombard Street and all the happy couples I saw. Seeing them still brought a quiet hurt, but it was easier with Edward beside me. I didn't feel so lonely and isolated. I had someone to turn to when the nights were rough. He was right about this; it was so much better for me than what I had been doing.

I couldn't stop myself from peeking over at him. He brushed his hair away as sweat dampened his forehead. I felt a flush of arousal pass over me. I knew Edward didn't want this arrangement between us to be entirely about sex. It was hard not to want it all the time though, not when he looked the way he did. Maybe after we got back from our run, he would take a shower with me. We could spend the afternoon in bed then go out for dinner tonight. I was fantasizing about the feel of his skin against mine when he spoke.

"You seem lost in thought."

"Sorry, just watching you run," I admitted.

"Do I pass muster?"

"You'll do," I teased him, and he chuckled.

"I'm glad I meet your requirements."

"You know, I believe the night we met you promised to be my personal manservant, and I have yet to see another foot massage from you."

"I'll do you one better. When we're done with this run, I'll wash your back in the shower, and then give you the foot massage."

"Of course, there's nothing in it for you; your offering is purely altruistic, right?"

"Absolutely. I just want to make sure all of your needs are met."

I started to reply to him, then stopped short, catching a glimpse of the restaurant where Riley had told me that he was leaving. It was like a sharp stab to the chest, the pain radiating outward until I could barely breathe. "What right did I have to be happy and laughing with Edward when Riley was all the way across the country, missing me?" I wondered.

"We should turn around now," I said tersely, my pace speeding up. Edward pushed hard to keep up with me.

"What just happened, Bella? Are you all right?"

"I'm fine."

After we ran in silence for a while, he shook his head. "You're not fine, something just happened, and you need to talk to me about it."

"I just thought about Riley, all right?" I snapped, stopping dead in my tracks. "I miss him."

His face softened and he stopped running and walked toward me. "I'm sorry. Do you want to talk about it?"

"What is there to say?" I sighed and looked away, out over the water. "We met when I was sixteen. We were together for twelve years. We were happy together, talking about getting married. When he found a job across the country, I couldn't follow him. He said he'd stay here for me but I couldn't let him make that sacrifice for me." I swallowed hard. I had told very few people, aside from my family and Vanessa, even that much about my relationship with Riley.

"Oh, Bella." He looked at me sympathetically, and the concern in his eyes was just too much. "I didn't realize…"

"I…I'm sorry." My voice quavered. "I need to be alone. I'm sorry, Edward." I took off at a quick pace, leaving him standing behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see him staring after me, a pained expression on his face.

*Ducks* Please, no tomatoes. We know Bella is about as up and down in this story as they come. Some things are just triggers! I don't know about you, but I can't listen to the opening song of Twilight without wanting to get all misty. When the full moon turns white that's—Oh, erm, sorry about that. Sometimes I get carried away.

Anyhow, let us know what you think of the story so far. We love to hear from you guys. Be sure to put us on story and author alerts. Both Discordia and I post oneshots from time to time you might enjoy. Discordia also has a fabulous little story called Beyond the Break Room that is full of goodness. Check it out and we'll see you next Thursday!

And I'm not letting Kherisma be modest. She just posted her first one-shot and you really need to go check it out. It's a fabulous little story. As of right now it's only posted on Twilighted. It's the perfect blend of sweet, funny, and hot. And there's just a bit of angst to keep things interesting.

Three Simple Words Summary: A warm summer night, a lapse in judgment, and a hot distraction. Three little words have the power to move mountains, but do they have the power to fix a love gone wrong?

www*twilighted*net/viewstory*php?sid=16716

Feel free to stop by to chat or look for teasers in the following places:
Facebook: www*facebook*com/DiscordiaWriter
Twitter: DiscordiaWrites and kharisma2
Tumblr: discordiawriter*tumblr*com/

(For all of the links the chapter, copy and paste and replace the * with a period)