A/N

Hello My beauties first of let me start by saying I'm so sorry

I am so sorry to everyone that has read this story over the years and have waited for me to come back and finish it. 8 years people... 8 years since I last posted. The worse thing is that I would HATE when other authors did this on here and swore to myself I would never leave story untold. I'm actually horrified in how long its actually been because truth be told there has not been a single day where this story hasn't plagued my imagination. To the point that I actually thought I was going crazy lol. I guess real life got involved as it always does and to be honest I allowed self-doubt to get to me, believing that this wasn't a tale worth telling. I recently came back on fanfiction yesterday after my long hiatus simply wanting to re-read that story I had loved writing so many years ago and to see if I had maybe a few more reviews. I had no idea that I would be so incredibly overwhelmed and so truly humbled that my heart would fill with such joy and happiness by the amount of support that TWTMOH had received and the demand for more chapters. I honestly didn't think that so many of you loved this story the way I loved writing it. But I am proud to say that I am back to do my due diligence to not only you guys, but to myself and this story I've had cooking in my brain for so so long.

Which is why because of this long hiatus, if its been more than a year since you've read this story I do highly recommend re-reading from chapter 1 again, I know I know but its only 10 iddy biddy chapters that shouldn't take you too long and it will help with the continuity, otherwise this new chapter may seem a little redundant and I would hate for your experience of this story to feel like that. Trust me even I had to do this before writing chapter 11 just to further reignite the flame and get the juices flowing once again. Please let me know what you guys think of this chapter. I plan to post as a minimum weekly potentially bi weekly depending on how R.L is.

Damn it feels so good to be back!

xxx

Disclaimer: As always all recognized characters are the property of Stephanie Meyer and no copyright infringement is intended.

You give me something

That makes me scared alright

This could be nothing

But I'm willing to give it a try

Please give me something

Because someday I might know my heart

Damn it! How is it possible for this man to make pizza look so frigging sexy? Seriously I don't think I've ever been more excited about pizza like this before in my entire life. I shake my head in utter amazement.

"I actually can't believe you right now" I say in utter disbelief. This has to be the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. Oh yea his definitely scored some brownie points with this move. Edward clicks the button on his keys causing his car to flash and lock a low chuckle leaving his lips.

"What can I say? I like a woman who knows what she want. Plus Marcos Palace IS the best pizza in town" he replies matter of fact. I feel my heart flutter in my chest as my skin flushes. I smile widely at him as he offers me his arm, which I happily take hold of, mainly for stability as the tequila still pumping through my veins has made it quite difficult to walk without wobbling, but also because I secretly crave to be close to him.

We walk through the underground car lot to a side entrance of the building complex, I let go of Edward arm so he can place his key card against a small card reader on the wall which flashes green briefly letting off a short low beep. Edward opens the door beckoning me to enter first.

I step into the brightly lit white room with two large elevators standing opposite. Edward follows, closing the door firmly behind him with another low beep. He strides over to another smaller reader on the wall tapping his card against it and pressing the call button. We wait silently for the elevator to descend, a nervous energy filling the room.

I subtly wipe my hands down the outside thighs realising that my palms had suddenly become slightly sweaty. My intoxication slowly ebbing away as I realised that I'm going to be alone with Edward…in his apartment. I gulp down the lump forming in my throat as my heart quickened remembering him pinning me against his car no too long ago my neck still tingling slightly from his kisses, telling me… no warning me what he was going to do me if I didn't behave myself.

I quickly began to think that maybe my drunken bravado from earlier was possibly going to lead to events that far exceeded my skills set. I mean, I'm a 30 year old virgin for Christ sakes!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not completely unaware and naïve. I've spent most of my life being privy to peoples minds and sexual exploits and deepest even depraved fantasies waaay before I was even probably suppose to know or understand it, but that was theory – thoughts. I had very…very limited experience in practice. I crossed my arms in front of my chest feeling completely out of my depth, a nervous knot forming deep in the pit of my stomach.

Suddenly the doors to one the elevators opened up after what felt like an eternity but in reality was probably less than 15 seconds. I stepped inside heading towards the back turning to lean my back against back wall suddenly feeling a little light headed. Oh god Bella please don't faint, please don't faint or worse... vomit, I pleaded internally with myself.

'Are you ok, Bella?' Edward asks concern tinging his voice as he steps onto the elevator balancing the pizza box and pressing the 'P' button on the panel. Of course, he lives in the Penthouse. I'd roll my eyes and say something sarcastic to him but right now I needed to concentrate on making sure the contents of my stomach stay exactly there…in my stomach. I nod my head yes to him, before letting it rest back against the wall my eyes close briefly.

The elevator gently lurched upwards, grateful that it was clearly a new well-maintained elevator unlike the temperamental one I had in my building.

What are the chances of my night ending up like this? Just a thanksgiving dinner with Alice and Angela, nothing mad, nothing crazy. Yeah right, so much for that. I smile to myself quietly as my stomach begins to settles and the nervous knot loosens the events of the past few hours replaying in my mind. Damn that tequila.

'Listen, Bella… what I said earlier… I don't want you to think that you know…I don't want to feel pressured or uncomfortable… or that I might be expecting…' Edward starts as my eyes open to see him rubbing the back of his neck nervously with his free hand. Bloody hell, his more perceptive than I gave him credit for. Just as I'm about to open my mouth to reassure him that its cool, the doors of the elevator open up with a soft whoosh and my eyes widen in amazement.

To say this penthouse was wasn't incredibly exquisite would be lying a thousand times over. As I step forward out of the elevator onto the white marble flooring into the enormously spacious open planned living and dining area which could easily fit three and a half of my living areas in. I glance back around to look at Edward in sheer astonishment.

He still looked a little sheepish stepping out of the elevator, probably thinking his earlier comments were a little too provocative for my virgin ears to handle. Still I wouldn't know as he thoughts still allude me. If only he knew some of things I'd heard over the years, he would soon realise his smutty mouth was nothing more than a drop in the ocean. My mind flickers back briefly to that night in New York and that guy outside the theatre. I shake my head quickly.

No, lets not go back there not now, not ever. Mentally burying that memory deep down inside along with so many others just like it. At least now with Edward and his silent thoughts, as much as they frustrated me in the beginning, I can now start to revel in them and be happy in the not knowing. Like being with him made me feel…normal for the first time ever in my life. Not having to mentally put my guard around him is nice and freeing. I reach for his hand taking it and pulling him in close smiling gently up at him remembering his previous ramblings in the elevator.

'I thought you said you don't sleep with drunk girls' I recalled to him softly, raising my eyebrow and tilting my head slightly.

'Well if there anyone worth breaking rules for mia cara it would definitely be you. But only if you when your ready' Edward croons a little cryptically, pulling me in even closer the huskiness from earlier returning back slightly as his emerald green eyes peered down at me with veiled lust and a hint of...defiance.

I smile widely at him, glad that he was being so respectful but even more glad that my V card was clearly being accepted for all the major purchases he may be offering.

'Come on' I said, taking a step back and turning away from him, his hand still clasped in mine, I glanced back at him over my shoulder 'before the pizza gets cold' in a lowered tone. He stood there for a second looking at me with a quiet desire in his eyes as if he really couldn't give two fucks about the pizza, as if right in this very moment he had a hunger for more than just pizza. I smile at him coyly before breaking his gaze and turning back to face his penthouse.

Edward let out a tiny groan before quickly hiding it by clearing his throat 'Right, yea. Erm, yea let me grabs some plates' he muttered leading the way further into his luxurious home towards the kitchen area.

Oh yes my V card was definitely not getting declined, I felt giddy at prospect.

With my hand held in his, he led the way walking past the living area that my eyes couldn't help but soak in. The huge fire place with a thick grey hearth rug laid before it and a large flat screen TV hanging above on the wall. The plush L shaped grey sofa and matching arms chair and chaise lounge perfectly positioned around it. I glanced up to see an intricate crystal chandelier light fitting, hanging from the incredibly high ceiling, twinkling mesmerizingly.

But the most breath taking part of all, was the floor to ceiling windows allowing for the perfect view of the Chicago's skyline at night. So, this is how the other half lived I thought to myself feeling thoroughly awestruck. His home was incredibly stylish crisp and clean just like him without being over the top so that the natural structures like the windows and fireplace could take centre stage. As we arrived at his kitchen which in all honestly even Martha Stewart wouldn't have room to criticise, I asked

'Hey, which way is your bathroom?' the excessive amount of alcohol I drank earlier was making its way through my renal system.

'Just down the hall fourth door on your right', he pointed in direction of a hallway that veered off from the kitchen, placing the pizza box down on the large kitchen island.

I let go of his hand and made my way down the long hallway my bladder quickly feeling like it was about to burst the further I got along the crimson carpeted hallway.

Finally stopping at fourth door on the right, I opened it hurriedly and entered the dark room feeling for a light on the wall quickly and flicking it on. I located the toilet in the brightly lit room and darted over to it in a rush, with what felt like seconds to spare.

Using the toiler immediate relief washed over me as I curiously glanced around at the bathroom which, like all the other areas of his penthouse I have seen so far, was stylish and clean. Consisting of a sink embedded into a counter, a toilet and deep clawfoot bath located by the wall opposite. the walls tiled a soft sand colour.

I finally finished up after having what felt like the longest pee of all time, thankful that all those years spent in the O.R had somewhat trained my bladder withstand huge volumes for long periods of time. Washing my hands at the sink I quickly dried them on a nearby hand towel and gripped the edge of the counter with my hands staring at myself in the mirror.

I couldn't help but take stock of my appearance. I was still me, but I couldn't help but feel like I looked different somehow. Was it me or did my cheeks look tinged ever so faintly pink? There was a kind of brightness to my usually tired dull, boring dark brown eyes which almost made them.. sparkle? What the hell kind of tequila was that Angela had us drinking.

Or maybe it wasn't the tequila maybe it was something else that just couldn't quite be explained. Not scientifically anyway, a bit like my hearing ability. A feeling possibly? I looked...excited? Or maybe...horny even? God knows I really enjoyed feeling Edwards body pressed against me, his lips on my neck I wondered where else his lips might feel good. I grinned at myself in my reflection, turning my head slight to expose my neck where his lips had been. Luckily my skin was dark enough to hide the trail blaze he left behind. God who even gets love bites or rather hickeys as they say over here, at 30? Maybe hickeys from him wouldn't be so bad? God, what was this man doing to me?!

Or maybe I was just plain old Drunk? Who knows? I flattened down my hair trying to tame the loose strands and reached into my bra for my phone, feeling in both cups for it, when it dawned on me where it was. Not me throwing my whole cell phone out Edwards car window. Ahh shit this is why drunk Bella hardly ever emerges. I groan internally thinking of what my mother would say if she knew that I was in some rich guys penthouse with NO PHONE!

'See this is what America does to you, makes you into a reckless, leave you vulnerable' I can practically hear my mothers voice in my head. 'You should come home where its safe' I grip the edge of the counter leaning forward peering closer at my reflection. Sighing loudly wondering what the hell I was even doing here. 'It's just pizza Bella, your just having something to eat with a guy' I tell myself internally, gripping and loosening my hands clutching the edge of the counter.

When something hard and cold hit my fingertips on the underside of the bathroom counter that the sink basin is placed into.

What in the hell is that? I duck my hand further underneath to get a better feel thinking its probably pipework or something but pipes by the cold oblong shape stopped to short. Curiosity getting the better of me I crouched down to see exactly what it was.

As I l crouch even further down to get a better look up to see the underside of the bathroom counter I gasped quietly, as I instantly recognise it but why would Edward have something like this.

As I look more closely I see not one but three guns perfectly concealed in their own upholstered sleeve strategically spread across and attached to the underside of the bathroom counter. Positioned south, west and east of the circular sink basin. I hesitated t for a second before reaching my hand out unfastening the south gun from the sleeve. I stared down at the gun surprised by heavy long barrelled object felt in my hand. It was easily longer than my entire hand. I stood up straight, my gazed entirely fixed upon it

It was made from what looked like type of dull stainless steel metal with a black handle. I inspected it closely looking at the grooves and indentations in the handle, which I suppose was there to make you grip it better.

I ran my forefinger along the barrel feeling its cold smoothness. I had no idea what type it was. It sort of looked like an updated version of the ones you see in old cowboy movies. I transferred it from hand to hand carefully.

I'd never actually held a gun before but had treated countless gunshot wounds especially since moving over here. Living in England, guns were illegal to carry and own unless you had special license which was only reserved for those in law enforcement or who owned and managed farms for stuff like cattle and live stock, and even they had restrictions. The average Joe could not apply for a license to own one like they do out here.

I looked up at my reflection hold this piece of weaponry and felt surprised by how calm I looked and felt holding it. I mean I was just holding it and I knew enough to know the safety was on. ?Firing at something may have created a completely different expression. I gave one more look over it before crouching back down and stashing it back quickly and carefully in its holder under the counter.

Why did Edward have guns in his bathroom and why so many? The amount of gunshot wounds that I treated over here was extreme compared to my training back in the UK. They were dangerously fatal if handled incorrectly or even correctly depending on the intent.

Maybe it was for protection? I thought. But from who? I wondered? I cant really go and ask him because he would think I've been snooping and its obvious by there location that he doesn't want anybody to know about them. Its not like I can even read his mind either. I guess if you have a license over here you can have as many as you want, just seems a bit excessive maybe?

After living here for over 6 years now I still cant quite wrap my head around the American traditions and cultures. I know up in Washington it seemed quite frowned upon and discouraged but maybe here in Chicago its different? I stood up and headed over to the door flicking off the light as I left and closing the door behind me.

I headed back up the hallway mind still focused on what id just discovered in Edwards bathroom, so much so that I didn't realise the faint growling noise steadily getting louder coming from behind me.

I hadn't taken more than 3 steps from the bathroom before I slowly turned around to see a very fierce very big black dog bearing its teeth snarling angrily at me... oh shit!

I look around desperately; where the fuck is Edward! He didn't tell me he had a dog. Especially one that looks like it eats people for breakfast.

OK Bella. don't panic, just relax I'm sure these things can smell fear, right? I think about calling out to Edward but by the sound of this beast growls, I fear that may just antagonise it. Probably not the best idea get on its bad side. Think Bella, think!

"Hel…hello there… my name is Bella. Wha… whats your name?" I try to say calmly as I could muster whilst trying not to break eye contact with the hairy four legged animal. I'm not a huge dog person but I think I can recognize the breed or maybe what it's crossed with, and if I'm not mistaken this thing looks Rottweiler.

I swallow nervously. Ok breathe, the last thing I need is piss this thing off so attacks me. Just relax.

At times like this I wish my gift was able to extend past humans, to read animals thoughts as well, but their thoughts aren't like ours and it isn't transmitted the same, but their emotions are. Just like humans animals are also conscious creatures who feel emotions, some better than others, emotions which are similar to humans. Hunger, Pain, Anger.

I remember once when I was younger I managed to rescue an abandoned puppy in the bushes hidden from view. It was only because I felt the overwhelming sense of sadness and loneliness could I track it down and find it.

But this right here. This is no puppy. I am a stranger, in this dogs' home. And this dog right here is in full protective mode. Great.

I decide to do something, that if not for the remnants of tequila currently pumping through my blood stream helped greatly by my pounding heart rate causing me to lose any sense self-preservation, I most certainly do.

I slowly crouch down whilst reaching out my hand carefully towards it to show I mean it no harm. I keep eye contact until we are on the same eye level. The growling subsides slightly. I sense its confusion; it's probably wondering what the fuck I'm doing.

Yea, you and me both pal.

The dog has stopped bearing its teeth and me but continues to growls quietly.

"Its ok. I'm not gonna hurt you" I say in my calmest voice with my hand still outstretched. Firm but kind, like talking to an unpredictable toddler. Oh with sharp teeth and fur.

The dogs stance changes from protective to curious as it starts sniffing cautiously at my hand, its growling halted. Well at least his not trying to bite it off.

Slowly it edges its way towards me and I do my best to keep perfectly still, no sudden movements. It begins to carry out its own security search, sniffing every inch of me for any threats of danger. Its cold wet nose making me giggle a little as its black and brown furry head darts about. I move my hand and stroke its back softly making him step back and lick my face. I giggle at that and see its thick tail wagging happily.

"Well aren't you a good boy" I coo happily.

"It's a girl actually" my head shoots up to see Edward standing in the hallway watching us, a look of sheer amazement on his face. When did he get here?

"Oh" I say looking back at the dog. "I do apologize ma lady. I hope I haven't caused you any offence" I add as though she could actually reply, but then she proceeds to lick my face again as if in acknowledgement.

Standing back up a little too quickly my head starts to spin, I close my eyes as I stubble a little, not quite as drunk as I was earlier but still feeling fairly tipsy. I then feel two warm arms wrap around me from behind, steadying me.

"Come on Dr Dolittle. Lets get some pizza. "

"Mhmm pizza, I feel like I've waited eight years to eat this thing" I say absently.

"With extra cheese" he whispers with a wink sending warm tingles up my body as he guides me back down the hallway and to the kitchen. I've never known someone who could make saying that sound so… seductive.

"You stay here Stella" he calls back to the dog. I let out a small giggle which doesn't go unnoticed.

"quella risatina, sarai la morte di me donna" I giggle a little more not having a clue what he just said but loving the way it sounds.

translation

Mia Cara = My darling

quella risatina, sarai la morte di me donna = that giggle is going to be the death of me

Song: James Morrison - You give me something