21:

BPOV

For the third day in a row I wake up in the morning to find Edward's side of our bed cold and empty. I'm not used to him being up and out of the house before I even wake up and I miss the lazy mornings we used to spend together, lounging around until whatever time I needed to be up for work. I've come to find out construction workers start their day early... like 6am early. Edward's been meeting the head contractor, Chris, every day this week to oversee the renovations at Full Exposure. They've been working long hours in an attempt to keep on schedule for the grand opening. We haven't had morning sex in far too long, and the absence of our playroom is also starting to get under my skin.

I suppose then, that it's a good thing that I've been equally as busy. I'm excited to have a new personal shopping client here in Seattle named Lucy Morehead. She's an elderly woman who hired me to help her twice a week with minor housework and whatever shopping trips she needs to make. She owns a condo on the tenth floor in a building not too far from Esme and Carlisle's home.

Miss Morehead is a tad more old fashioned and traditional than Mrs. Beagle so I've been careful not to give her many details about my life. She subtly turned up her nose when I told her I'd recently moved to the city with my fiancé. She called it cohabitation before marriage. I moved to Seattle in hopes of finding more open minded people, and blending in with a larger population who don't know or care who I am or how I get my rocks off. So it's disconcerting to think how I am once again hiding details of my life from my very first new client, but it's been harder to find employment that I expected and Lucy Morehead was the first person to hire me. I've been working for her for three weeks now and overall we get along well.

Initially I wanted to find four clients but when that proved to be more difficult than I'd hoped Edward recruited me to work on PR for the club. I wasn't expecting to be involved with the club at all, but I didn't want to put any more stress on my darling fiancé than there already was. He is working so hard alongside Chris and Mr. Jenks to ensure the project stays on track for the grand opening they have planned in a few short weeks. I didn't want to let him down when he was counting on me.

Edward's entrusted me with all the marketing and advertising aspects of the job and so far I think I've done well. I set up a Facebook page for Full Exposure and filled it with general information about the grand opening party. I've been taking pictures of the club as renovations progress and posting them to Facebook to generate more interest in opening night. Rose liked the social networking idea and created a page for Coming Attractions. On the Full Exposure page we posted an open invitation to Coming Attractions members and have had a positive response so far.

Emmett is taking care of vetting all potential members for Full Exposure by getting them to sign newly drafted nondisclosure agreements, doing a basic background check, collecting doctors notes to prove their clean bill of health, and accepting payments on the fee for their first month upfront. Any Coming Attractions member that wants a dual membership is being asked to sign updated NDA's that include protection for Full Exposure in addition to Coming Attractions. Jenks had his lawyer draft a new NDA form that closed the loophole which prevented us from suing Kinky Catie. Now performers' privacy is protected under the agreement even if a scene is conducted outside the walls of the club.

Rose created a blacklist of members not invited to join the new club in Seattle, Catherine Bennett being numero uno of unwelcome members. Sandra and Gabriel are also blacklisted from Full Exposure. These precautions are slowly making me feel more secure in my involvement with the club. It's reassuring to see how much effort Jenks and Emmett are putting into heightening security for both clubs.

The closer we get to officially opening the doors, the more excited I become. I toured the building twice since Edward and I had our little impromptu play session there. When I first saw the future club it was stripped down to steel beams and concrete floors. So much has changed since then; the contractors are doing a very good job with the renovations. I have plans to stop by today to bring Edward lunch, but first I have to do something very important here at the apartment.

Standing in the small bathroom, I stare at the cardboard box in my hands, carefully reading the directions. When I realized the date this morning I counted back the days since my last period and immediately panicked. I bought three of these damn tests from the local drugstore and now I'm debating which one to use. Maybe I should take all three? Opting for the test with an idiot proof digital screen I tug my jeans down my legs and slip the plastic stick between my legs as I empty my bladder. I can't believe this is happening to me.

Three minutes. This is how long I have to wait to find out if I'm pregnant.

My period is four days late, not a terribly long time, but still I'm usually regular. I'm a nervous wreck right now, and so thankful Edward isn't here to see me freaking out. I pace back and forth wondering how this could have happened. Edward and I never use condoms, but I'm diligent about taking my birth control at the same time every night. We haven't even been having as much sex as usual since moving to Seattle. I try to think back if there have been any days in the past month when I deviated from my routine with the pill. I can't think of any occasion where I was even an hour late in taking it.

Two minutes. What am I going to do if the test is positive? So much is going on right now between the club opening, looking for a house, and planning the wedding. I haven't even gotten myself back in the right frame of mind for performing at the club. I know Edward misses it, there's no possibility that he doesn't. Yet he's been so careful not to let me see his desperation for getting back on stage. I need to overcome this fear I have of getting back on the horse, so to speak. I miss the theater too, and am itching to resume our old routine whether Edward believes me or not. I wish I didn't associate the club with all the terrible things that have happened to us in recent months, but I do. I want nothing more than to see our names on the Friday night theater schedule, so I've been trying to prepare myself for Full Exposure's grand opening, hoping I'll feel ready by then to submit to my master in public again.

The last thing I need right now is to throw a baby into the mix. I need more time to figure out how to be a good mother. I'd also prefer to be married before getting pregnant. I may not lead a very traditional life in most regards, but I always expected to be married before I had a baby.

One more minute. If I'm pregnant, Charlie is going to flip. He will eventually be very happy to be a pop-pop, but I've thrown a lot of curve balls at him lately and I'm not sure how many more surprises he can take. Edward would be happy, that's for sure. He can't hide his true feelings from me. I see the way he talks to that dog; he treats Beanie like his child. Alice calls it having a "fur baby."

Time's up. I close my eyes and lean over the sink vanity, holding my breath as I look at the test. Not pregnant. Huh. I don't know which is more surprising to me, the fact that I've been worrying for the last hour for apparently no reason, or because I feel the slightest twinge of disappointment at reading the results. I check the screen again. Not pregnant. I should be fist pumping the air right now with a huge smile on my face, but I can't seem to make the corners of my mouth cooperate.

I'm relieved for sure; the timing was not at all favorable. So why am I sad? I feel even more envious of Alice right now because when she looked at one of these tests hers read positive. It's not rational, but I have no choice but to admit that a little part of me was excited about an alternate outcome. I don't have time to think about these mixed feelings right now. I promised to bring Edward lunch and that is what I'm going to do.

When I enter the front door of Full Exposure I'm instantly reminded why I love visiting Edward at work. I'm greeted by the sight of him leaning over the drafting table in the center of the main room, wearing light blue jeans and a white t-shirt. And, be still my heart, a canary yellow hard hat with a fine layer of concrete dust covering it. The trauma from my morning is pushed to the back of my mind as I take in his long lean frame standing over a set of blue prints on the table. I watch quietly as Edward jots down a few notes on a legal pad next to the building plans. He sticks the pencil behind his ear and then stands tall, stretching out his back.

"Looking good, Mr. Cullen!" I call out to announce myself.

Edward spins around quickly and grins from ear to ear when he sees me. "Hi, love."

"You look like my filthiest fantasy come to life," I murmur under my breath.

He closes the distance between us and gives me a soft lingering kiss on the lips. I respond eagerly, running one hand up his solid chest and around the back of his neck. While our lips are still tangled together Edward reaches out for my other hand, the one holding his lunch sack. I yank it back just as he goes for a grab and hide it behind my back. I feel his mouth smile against my lips as he reaches again, forcing me to take a step back.

"Not so fast! You promised to give me a tour!" I remind him.

Edward groans. "I'm so hungry. You're late." He has no idea how right he is.

"Regardless, I still want to see how the renovations are coming along. Then you can eat this delicious turkey BLT with chips and an iced tea."

"Urgh. Fine, you strike a hard bargain, Miss Swan, but I'll agree to your terms. Come this way," Edward says with a sigh and walks over to another table to get me a hard hat. He places it on my head and smirks.

"How do I look?" I ask in a flirty tone.

"Fucking hot," he replies. "Come on, before I get hungry for something other than food."

Edward walks me around the first floor, pointing out the finished walls and flooring that has gone in around the bar area. The club portion of the building is really starting to take shape and I can visualize how it will look when it's completed. The bar is in the center of the room and Edward shows me where all the tables and booths will be placed. He briefly shows me some of the more functional areas like the coat closet, the security team's small office, and the rest rooms.

One of the laborers working on tiling the ladies' room floor gets my attention with a cat call as I step inside to see his work. "Hey, how are you doing, sweet thing," the middle aged man with sharp blue eyes asks.

I wink at him and smile, feeling just the slightest hint of flattery at being hit on. Edward responds sternly and protectively; pulling me quickly out of the man's line of sight. "This woman is my fiancé, Lance. Keep your eyes on the tile or I'll tell Chris you're volunteering to work through lunch," he warns.

"Nice to meet you, Lance," I call over my shoulder as Edward pulls me towards the large staircase leading to the second story.

I can't help giggling at Edward's annoyed expression. "I like you being overly possessive," I whisper to him.

Edward eyes me intently. "That guy is blacklisted," he huffs. I continue to stare at him in amusement and after a few moments his face breaks into a grin. "Come on, the theaters are almost done. I want you to see."

I'm blown away by the changes that have taken place on the second floor of the club. The framework that was in place when I was last up here with Edward has been completely dry walled and painted. The floor is still concrete and the doors are missing from each room, but it seems like the majority of the work is done. There are two theaters, each larger than the one at Coming Attractions. The stages are built and look amazing with shiny hardwood floors. There are three dressing rooms backstage which are situated between the two theaters, linking them together behind the scenes.

I wander up the steps and onto the theater stage, looking out at the audience floor. Even empty and void of seating I can feel the energy in the room. I get a tingle low in my belly, a feeling of excitement and anticipation. Edward stands in the center of the audience space, watching me closely and I'm sure that he can read my expression.

"Can you feel it too?" he whispers, his voice thick with need that matches my own.

I can only nod, biting my lower lip nervously. I feel like stripping off my clothes and asking Edward to fuck me, but I know we're not alone in the building, possibly not even on this floor.

"Let me show you the new features," he says after about a minute of staring at each other wantonly. He really does look amazing in a hard hat.

Edward leads me down a hallway filled with doorways. The walls are painted a deep cranberry color and inside each doorway is small room about sixteen square feet. The shared wall between two of the rooms has a large hole cut out. I gaze at it strangely, trying to figure out what its purpose might be.

"It's a masturbation room," Edward says answering my unspoken question. "Jenks wants us to call them M-Booths."

"An M-Booth," I repeat.

"One side will have a padded bench and on the other will be one or two chairs. A two way mirror will be installed there in that hole between the two rooms. The reflective mirror will be on the performing side with the padded bench, and the two way glass will be on the viewing side with the chairs."

"How will that work exactly?" I'm really intrigued by this idea and I want to hear more about it.

"The performer will put on whatever kind of show his or her viewer would like, dancing, stripping, masturbating, or whatever, knowing he or she is being watched through the mirror. The viewer will have the ability to watch the performance in private and masturbate if they so choose."

"I want to do this," I say immediately. Just hearing Edward describe it has me hot and bothered. I can't wait to see what the rooms look like when they are finished.

"You do?" He seems surprised.

"Yeah, it sounds thrilling. Have you ever been in one?"

Edward's bashful gaze falls to the floor. "Yes, Jenks made me take his prototype for a test drive," he admits guiltily.

"Really? Who was on the other side?" I wonder.

"Callie," he says softly. "Are you mad?"

"You've seen Callie and Chloe perform many times before. You didn't touch her or participate in her scene did you?"

Edward shakes his head adamantly. "I watched. I masturbated."

I idly think how cute it is that Edward is embarrassed to admit this fact. "Then I'm not mad. It's like being in the theater, only one on one. But I do have a request."

"Name it."

"I want to watch you perform a strip tease for me when these M-Booths are finished. Wearing this outfit," I say seductively pointing to his construction worker getup.

Edward chuckles. "Oh, really? And then you'll put on a show for me in return?"

"Absolutely." I close the distance between us and kiss the corner of his mouth. I'm about to press my lips to his fully when we both hear his stomach growl. I laugh and take a step back. "It's time to feed you, I think."

He groans and then rubs his stomach. "Okay, there's just one more area I want to show you up here," he says walking back the way we came and taking me far across the open space to another set of rooms with door frames but no doors. Edward gestures for me to look inside and at first I'm not sure what I'm looking at. The rooms are at least 12x12 with dark green paint and crème carpeting.

"Is this room for training?" I ask looking around the four bare walls. There's a lot of brand new BDSM room equipment in the center of the room that needs to be unwrapped from the packing material it shipped in and set up.

"Yes. There are three of these private rooms on this floor. They will be used for private viewing sessions as well as training," Edward says.

"Who's going to do the training? Emmett?"

Edward rubs his hand over the back of his neck, a nervous tic I noticed he's developed over the past few months. "Emmett's already working forty hours at Coming Attractions and it's a long commute from PA to Seattle. I was sort of thinking you and I could do the training here, if you'd be interested in that, I mean."

"Really? Edward, are you sure that's what you want? You've been so against the idea of us training since we started dating," I say completely flabbergasted by his suggestion.

"I know that, but you enjoyed witnessing me train if I recall. I want you to feel comfortable here. I thought perhaps training other members would be a good warm up to a full audience," he explains hesitantly.

"I haven't talked to anyone from Coming Attractions in a long time; I do miss being a part of this community. And watching you train Emmett was so hot. I loved being a part of that," I muse.

"I'm in the process of hiring bartenders, security guards, and waitresses. If you don't want me to be the trainer then I'll hire one. I just thought it might be a good start for us, you know?"

"So you think it would be a good practice exercise? If we train a few couples privately and I do alright then maybe I'll be ready to perform again?"

"Yeah, what do you think? If you hate the idea, or have any concerns at all we won't do it. You know I want you back on that stage, Bella. If you want that too then I'll do anything to make you feel comfortable again."

I walk into the room and look over all the equipment on the floor. Edward ordered a whipping bench, a four poster bed frame, a padded table, a Saint Andrew's Cross, a curio cabinet, and various boxes marked Adam & Eve that I really want to open.

"Can I help you decorate one of these rooms?" I ask.

Edward nods; his mouth quirking up into a tight smile.

"I want to assist you in training new members, Edward. As long as you feel like we can handle it as a couple, I'll be more than happy to help as your submissive. I just want you to know that you don't have to worry about me suffering from some kind of post traumatic stress disorder over Kinky Catie. I really want to participate fully here at this club. And I'm feeling more and more certain that I'll be able to submit to you here once we're open for business. I'll know when I'm ready, so let's just take it one day at a time."

Edward's small smile turns into what can only be described as a Cheshire cat grin. "Okay, one day at a time."

We go outside to eat lunch, sitting on the cement steps that lead up to the building's front doors. Edward gobbles down his sandwich in two minutes flat; meanwhile I've taken about three bites of mine. We've taken off our hard hats and I can't stop giggling over the complete disarray the hat has left Edward's hair. It's even more wild and tangled than usual. He looks adorable.

I want to tell Edward about my little freak out from

earlier this morning. It must be stress that is messing up my cycle, there's no other explanation for being four days late, other than perhaps the test I took that morning was a false negative. If my damn period doesn't start in the next few days I'll likely flip out again and take another pregnancy test so I might as well tell him. I am about to confess to Edward what happened this morning when someone calls our names from the street.

"Bella! Edward!"

I turn my head towards the sound of our names and see Jason Jenks stepping out of a taxi cab. Fabulous. He's dressed in a three piece suit today, looking every bit like the successful entrepreneur he is.

"Hello, Jason," we greet in unison. I divert my eyes back to my sandwich. It's not that I hold Jenks responsible for the scandal that started in his living room, and I am very grateful he offered Edward such a good job that allowed us to leave Port Angeles, it's just something about him rubs me the wrong way. He takes BDSM to the extreme and it makes me more uncomfortable than usual as this is a time when I feel like I need to rediscover my inner exhibitionist.

"It's so wonderful to find you both here this afternoon," he says. "I wanted to go over the timeline with you today, Edward; to make sure everything is progressing according to plan."

"That's no problem, Jase. Chris is inside and he can get you up to speed. I just want to finish lunch here with Bella and I'll meet you in a few minutes," Edward replies.

"Splendid. Where are we with membership preregistrations?"

"We've had sixty seven applicants and Emmett has given the green light to thirty seven of them last time we talked, which was Monday."

Edward opens the bag of potato chips I packed in his lunch bag. Jenks looks at me expectantly. He must want an update on the PR work I've been doing. It's strange to think Jason Jenks is sort of my boss now; I don't know if I like that.

"Um, the online marketing campaign is going well. The website is up and running and I've been posting updates on renovations and the features we'll offer to members. There's also an online application and the list of requirements for joining. I've had a lot of interest in the club through Facebook but very few people will "Like" the club's profile for the sake of their anonymity so it's hard to estimate a real number of prospects. I set up an open invitation for the grand opening party but only people who are already out of the playroom have RSVP'd. Basically, Facebook puts everyone's life on display. One could argue it's a greater form of exhibitionism than your club."

"Ha! Very interesting, Bella. I think we should set up a security check at the stairs on opening night. The open invitation will be contained to the first floor. Only active members will be allowed upstairs, that way we won't have to limit the performing and other activities for people who have already been cleared."

Edward nods. "Yes, I considered that too. Rose is putting together a lineup of performers for both theaters. We'll need to keep anyone who hasn't signed the NDA downstairs."

"Emmett and Felix will both be working Full Exposure that night. They'll need to train the new team. I want security to be tight."

"I have a list of new hires to go over with you. I want to make sure you agree with my selections," Edward says.

"Very well. I'll go find Chris and get up to speed on the renovations," Jenks says as he walks up the steps to the front door. "Oh, one other thing. A good friend of mine is throwing a party at Midnight Sun. I've known him for years and he is very active in the community. His circle of friends all frequent that club because it's the most popular BDSM club in Seattle. Anyway, he's throwing a party there Saturday night and I'd like for you both to attend."

Edward glances at me warily. I'm assuming he hasn't mentioned to Jason my temporary fear of performing, so he wouldn't think either of us would have any problem participating in a play party. I'm not particularly adverse to the idea of attending this party even though Edward and I won't know anyone there. We wouldn't be expected to do a scene, so there would be little threat of exposure. We're out of the play room already; my concern now is really just about keeping out of the headlines. I want to practice D/s and not flaunt it. I won't put myself in any position where another video of me could end up on the Internet.

"Have I met this friend?" Edward hedges.

"His name is John. We go back fifteen years or so. He's married; his wife is submissive. They're very wealthy and we want to sneak behind enemy lines and persuade as many of their party guests to make the switch to Full Exposure."

I know Jenks will be expecting us to scene in his new theater. I've been hoping my stage fright dissipates before he realizes I haven't made my mind up about that yet. The idea of performing for a small group of trusted voyeurs is appealing to me in a way I haven't felt in a while. I smile at Edward to tell him I am alright with doing Jenks this favor, but he still looks unsure.

"Can I think about it, Jase?"

Jenks looks at me strangely, probably wondering why Edward isn't jumping at the opportunity to dominate me in public. He knows for certain we haven't scened since before the Kinky Catie scandal. "These people are trustworthy, Edward. No uninvited guests will be allowed into Midnight Sun. And Rosalie and Emmett will be in attendance. It's good for business," he explains.

Edward takes my hand and I feel the need to offer my opinion to the discussion to give him a little reassurance. "I wouldn't mind going, Edward. No one says we have to do a scene if we feel uncomfortable, right Jason? We'd be there to talk up our new club and get people excited about it," I say.

"Primarily. I want to steel as many members away from those Midnight Sun sons of bitches as possible. If you two did a scene at John's party it would give his friends a taste of what they could expect at Full Exposure," he counters.

Edward clears his throat. "As you are aware, Jason, Bella and I haven't done a scene since before... the incident. I'm afraid we might be a little rusty. As long as Bella agrees, we will go to your friend's party. But I can't promise that we'll perform there. I won't do anything that makes Bella uncomfortable," he states firmly.

My cheeks blush as Edward defends me because I'm embarrassed by his words. He's basically saying that I'm the only reason he and I might not scene at this play party. Although that is the truth, it still makes me feel like I'm being thrown under the bus a little.

"I'll leave that up to your discretion," Jenks agrees. "And I will inform Rosalie that you will be in attendance." He pushes open the heavy door to the building and disappears inside.

Edward immediately takes my hand in his and squeezes it reassuringly. "Are you sure this is what you want, love? I'll tell him we aren't going."

I smile at him and put my hand on his cheek. He didn't shave this morning and the stubble rubs against my palm. Edward looks so sexy with a little facial hair; I want to lick his chin... Focus, Bella.

"I'm really fine with it, Edward. We won't scene unless we want to. I feel better knowing Emmett and Rose will be there too. At least we'll know them," I say confidently. "It actually sounds like fun. It's been too long since we've allowed ourselves to indulge in our community."

"I miss it," he admits softly.

I reach forward and kiss his stubbly cheek. "I miss it too, baby. Saturday is already our 24/7 day. I think it will be a good reintroduction for us as dominant and submissive."

Edward wraps one arm around my neck and kisses my lips. He tastes like the potato chips he's been eating and I lick the salt off his lips. "Mmm, you'll wear my collar and maybe that little red dress you have? Sexy and revealing yet still covers what's mine," he murmurs.

The obvious desire in his voice makes me wish it were already Saturday. "Yes, I'll wear whatever you'd like. And I promise that if I don't feel comfortable fucking you at Midnight Sun, I most certainly will when we get home that night. Or perhaps I could service you in the car... in one of the bathroom stalls... anywhere you want, Master."

Edward grins and narrows his eyes, that old familiar look of dominance crossing his face. "Alright, then we agree. Saturday you and I will make our first public appearance amidst Seattle's BDSM community."

A/N: Please leave a review! Next week will be their visit to the play party at Midnight Sun!