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Chapter Six

I woke up to Edward's warm, hard body pressed against my back. Everything was comfortable and cozy and I was on the verge of falling back asleep when I felt something poke my cheek.

"That better be your finger," I muttered, opening my eyes as he laughed. I stared at DVD menu on the television, realizing we, or at least I, had fallen asleep. Blinking a few times, I squinted to read the clock. I noticed after a moment that Edward's arm was under my neck, hand hanging over the edge of the couch.

"Were you trying to cuddle with me?" I accused, tugging on one of his fingers.

"I was trying to get comfortable. Way to hog the couch," he said lightly. I could hear the smile in his voice.

I moved to lie on my back, forcing him to scoot closer against the couch, and stretched out my arms above me. He chuckled as he tangled his legs with mine, keeping me from moving.

"I wonder how the movie ended," I said quickly, looking for an excuse to ignore the warm breath I felt on my cheek.

"This always happens when you choose a movie," Edward teased. "I'm revoking your movie selecting privileges."

"So," I yawned, "From now on I'm not allowed to choose where we eat or what we do for entertainment?"

"Exactly."

"I have no freedom in this friendship," I whined.

"You don't need freedom. You reap the benefits from my awesome decision making." His body shook and I felt the low hum from his laugh vibrate in his chest.

"Whatever," I scoffed. "May 2011. You made me watch The Green Hornet. We both fell asleep within the first thirty minutes."

"Hey," he scolded, "I thought we agreed to never bring that up, Swan."

"That was before you revoked my movie selecting privileges, Cullen."

"Yeah, but I only decided that tonight after you assumed The Thing was a legitimate movie choice."

"Honestly, I was planning on falling asleep, anyway, that's why I chose that movie," I admitted, laughing at his mock surprise. "Maybe we shouldn't watch movies together anymore. Clearly it never works out."

"Clearly," he agreed. "What do you suggest we do instead?" he asked, lowering his voice and gauging my reaction.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, quieter than I'd intended, searching his face.

"Whatever you want it to mean," he answered cryptically.

"Oh." I looked away, my heart racing and palms suddenly sweating. "I don't know. I work tomorrow, so I should go..." I trailed off, sneaking a glance at his smug expression while shaking his head 'no'.

Did he want me to stay? There'd been many times we'd slept together in the same bed, last night included. There was never anything sexual about it. Not that I'd picked up on, anyway. We'd fallen asleep together on the couch many times before, too, just like tonight. Everything was exactly the same, but, for some reason, it felt different. Thanks to Rose, I was second guessing everything he said and did. I was beginning to annoy myself.

"You can stay," he mumbled sleepily, closing his eyes and pouting his lips. "You should stay...because I don't want to get up and lock the door when you leave."

"Lazy." I rolled my eyes even though he couldn't see me. "If I don't go home Rose'll think-" I stopped speaking.

"She'll think...what?" He peeked at me with one eye.

"That I was kidnapped. Raped. Murdered," I blurted out, trying to keep a serious expression.

"What the hell?" he questioned suspiciously. "That can't be what you were going to say."

"It was," I lied.

"You're lying," he shot back.

"No, I'm not!" I cried.

"So, you're saying it's possible for someone to kidnap, rape or murder you on the way back to your apartment? You live two floors down."

"Even walking two floors down can be dangerous. Most accidents happen within five miles of where you live," I said matter of factly.

"I think that only pertains to car accidents," he mumbled, scrunching his nose as I sat up.

"No," I argued, though I knew he was right. "I don't think that's true."

"I'm pretty sure it is. You're further proving my point, anyway. You're safer here."

"Ah." I frowned. I really hadn't thought that excuse through.

"Should I be offended you'd rather risk getting attacked than spoon me?" he teased, poking my side.

I slapped his hand, trying not to smile. "I should be offended you keep accusing me of trying to spoon with you."

"You should feel privileged I let you." He grabbed and pinned down the hand I slapped him with, continuing to dig his fingers into my ribs.

"Edward," I gasped through laughter, "Stop."

"What?" he asked seriously, not stopping.

"This isn't funny," I wheezed and squirmed on the couch, fighting against him.

"Then why are you laughing?" He smiled, raising his eyebrows. "Bella, come on. Be serious for, like, one second," he scolded, adding his other hand so he was tickling both sides.

"Fuck. Edward." I squirmed and laughed and feebly attempted to push his hands away because I didn't really want to push him away.

"Tell me what you were going to say about Rose and I'll stop tickling you," he promised.

"What? I told you!"

"Yeah, you told me a lie," he shot back.

"I'm trying to spare you," I choked out. He shook his head and brought one hand under my shirt, fingers brushing against my stomach.

"Spare me from what?" he asked, amused.

I drew in a sharp breath from the tingle of his fingers on my skin. "Stop tickling me so I can tell you."

"Fine. Spill." Edward playfully narrowed his eyes, moving to straddle me to keep me in place. His hands were still, but he kept them resting on my stomach and side.

"I was trying to spare you from the bullshit Rose was spewing earlier. She was giving me shit about staying here last night," I said quickly, catching my breath.

"What? Why? You've stayed here plenty of times," he said, staring down at me. "What's the big deal?"

"There's no deal at all." I paused, needing to see his reaction. "She thinks we fuck all the time." This made him laugh. I didn't think it was nearly as funny. "Why are you laughing?"

"That's how people react when they think something is funny," he said dryly. "Why are you glaring at me?" he asked, using one hand to squeeze my side, forcing me to crack a smile.

"I wasn't glaring."

"God, you're a terrible liar." He rolled his eyes. "I can see your face. You were glaring."

"I really am a bad liar," I laughed, "that's why I find it weird that Rose wouldn't believe me when I said there is nothing between us."

His smile faltered slightly and he swallowed hard. "Ignore Rosalie. I always do." He shrugged, removing his hands from my stomach and moving off of me.

I could ignore Rose. I really could. I could possibly even ignore the tingling I felt when Edward's fingers were on my skin. The thing I knew I couldn't ignore was the loss I felt when he finally removed his hands from my body.

A/N: Thanks to Jaime Arkin, Obsmama, and Kennedy Nicole for rec'ing this. Thank YOU for reading. :)

I adore Mshavisham79 for pre-reading and not flouncing me yet.