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Chapter Eight

"Maybe we should go sit at the table with everyone," I suggested, chugging the contents of my glass.

Edward looked over his shoulder where my coworkers were sitting. "Sure. Do you want another drink?" he asked, grabbing the back of my stool and swiveling it to face him so our knees touched.

"Beer," I finally muttered, feeling lightheaded. "Maybe some water, too." He smiled knowingly. "And I have to pee."

"Okay. I'll order you a beer and meet you over at the table?"

"Sure." I nodded, accepting the hand he held out to help me gracefully slip off the stool. "Thanks," I mumbled, realizing I was locked between his legs. I laughed nervously as he tightened his thighs around my hips, keeping me from moving.

"I thought I said I'd meet you over there, Bella," he said, trying not to smile as I struggled to be released from his grip.

"Edward." I laughed, partly annoyed and amused. "What are you doing?" I asked, lowering my voice.

He shrugged and reached for his beer, taking a long gulp. Keeping me locked between his legs, he set the empty bottle down and drummed his fingers against the tiled bar. It was apparently the sexiest thing I'd ever seen because I was suddenly overcome with the overwhelming urge to kiss him. As if he'd read my mind, he smiled slyly, releasing his grip on me.

"Okay, so. I'll just, yeah," I said dumbly.

I was becoming too aware of every little thing he did and said. It seemed to both scare and excite me. It was becoming addicting, needing to know how he'd find a way to touch me next.

I used the bathroom and walked towards the table, noticing Edward standing next to where Tanya was sitting. Jealously bubbled inside me and I silently cursed myself for being silly. He wasn't my boyfriend. I didn't care. Besides, Tanya wasn't his type, anyway.

"There you are," Tanya snickered as I walked up to the table. Edward set down the beer and water he was holding and pulled an empty chair from the table next to us, setting it next to where I was going to sit.

"I was in the bathroom," I said, watching her hungry eyes give Edward a once over. He didn't even notice.

"I didn't see Edward come in." She randomly mused, daintily sipping her drink. "I don't know how I could've missed him." I crossed my arms over my chest and shrugged. I don't know how she could've missed him, either.

Edward excused himself, explaining that he didn't have enough hands to carry his beer along with my drinks. I sat down and listened in on the different conversations going on at the table, pretending to be interested.

"Do you know what that is?" Edward asked, nodding towards the pint in my hand as he sat down. I shrugged, knowing my simple reply of 'beer' wasn't going to be the answer. "It's the proper way to drink a Blue Moon," he snickered.

"Point taken. I'm a terrible hostess who doesn't provide you with the utmost quality of service." He laughed while I rolled my eyes, pulling the orange slice from the edge of the glass and squeezing it into the beer.

"Hey, Edward," Tanya called out from a few seats down the table. I lifted my head, cautiously watching her.

"What's up?" Edward asked, draping his arm around the back of my chair, creating goosebumps to break out over my skin.

"What are you doing after this?" she asked in a nasally voice. "I think some of us might be going downtown."

I swallowed and began bouncing my leg. Edward kept his eyes on Tanya, but let his thigh brush against mine under the table as he said, "I don't know. Whatever Bella wants to do." He turned to me and I stopped bouncing my leg. "Do you want to go downtown?"

"I'm kind of tired," I admitted, only allowing him to hear. I really was tired, but I also didn't want to watch Tanya throw herself at him all night. It was pathetic and stupid and other adjectives that made me sound eloquent.

"What do you want to do?" he asked just as softly.

I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I did know I didn't want him to hang out with anyone else but me. I shrugged, finding it hard to stare at anything other than his lips.

"We're probably going to call it a night after this," he stated, turning back to Tanya. She opened her mouth to protest, but Edward had already looked away from her and began talking to me.

An hour later, everyone began paying their checks and getting ready to head downtown. Edward offered to drive to our place, which I was grateful for because there was absolutely no way I could have driven. He promised to take me to pick up my car in the morning.

"I have food," I said once we entered the building. It was my way of inviting him over without actually asking him to come over.

"That doesn't mean you'll share," he pointed out, shaking with laughter.

"I will. I promise."

I unlocked the door and was instantly relieved to see Rose was not home. We tossed a few slices of leftover pizza onto a plate, microwaving it until the cheese had melted. I grabbed a few napkins and two bottles of water, motioning for Edward to follow me into my room.

We kicked off our shoes and sat on my bed. He held out the remote, but I shook my head. I was too occupied with my food to offer any suggestions of what we should watch. He flipped on Food Network, our go-to channel, and we watched in silence, letting our food settle.

I'd started drifting off to sleep when I felt a foot brushing against mine. I opened my eyes and yawned.

"I was almost asleep," I pouted, pushing his foot with mine.

"Should I turn off the lights?" he asked. I nodded, yawning again and watching as he leaned over to turn off my lamp.

"You know what? I hate how attracted I am to you lately," I hissed, rolling over on my stomach.

"What?" he questioned, smiling widely, causing my stomach to flip.

"Yeah, don't be flattered. You should see some of the people I've been attracted to after drinking tequila. You'd judge me."

"Nice," he scoffed, shaking his head, flipping off the television.

I hated that I couldn't lie next to him without feeling like I needed to touch him. It wasn't fair because it wasn't ever like this before. We could hang out and everything was fine, but now I was second guessing everything and confusing myself. This could have been because of the alcohol, but maybe it was a good idea to relieve some of the sexual tension. I was certain he'd be down, because what guy would turn down hooking up with one of their girl friends?

Yes, this was for the best. I was going to hook up with Edward for my sanity. I wanted things to go back to normal, and maybe all I needed was for him to fuck this feeling out of me. Or maybe I just needed to never drink tequila. Ever.

"We should kiss or something," I finally suggested, waiting for an awkward silence to follow.

I didn't realize his smile could get any wider. "Or something?"

"You're judging me for finding you attractive," I whined. "I swear it's the tequila. Just, I don't know. Kiss me or something."

"What's this 'or something' you keep speaking of?" he teased, tossing the remote on the floor.

"I don't know." I eyed him. "I'm kind of drunk."

"And you want me to kiss you...or something," he repeated.

"Okay, yeah." I frowned, grabbing the bottle of water next to my bed. "The 'or something' does sound a bit scandalous."

"That doesn't worry me as much as the 'I'm kind of drunk' statement," he confirmed, bringing one hand to rest behind his head.

"Why would that worry you? I thought guys liked drunk bitches." Still lying on my stomach, I sipped the water and began laughing, managing to spill the liquid down my mouth and chin.

"See, now that's hot." He pointed at the water trickling down my neck. "If you wanted me to make out with you, that's all you had to do."

"I never said I wanted you to make out with me!" I argued, sitting up.

His eyebrows raised at a furious speed. "You said 'or something'."

"And you automatically assumed I meant making out? That's very gentlemanly of you," I said lamely.

"I'm confused. Are you upset because you saying 'or something' made me think of making out? Because I'll have you know it make me think of many things other than making out."

"I'm confused now, too. Maybe we should just stop talking about this," I suggested. "Forget I said anything."

"We could always start the conversation over again. But maybe leave out the part when you reveal you proposition really ugly guys to make out with you."

"What? I didn't say that."

"Yeah. 'Hi, my name is Bella and you're attractive, but it's the tequila. I'd make out with a cardboard box right now'," he said mockingly.

"Oh my God! That's not true. I don't even sound like that, either," I squealed, not actually offended because I definitely sound like that.

"Yes, you do."

"Don't be rude," I scolded, slapping his arm.

He laughed, grabbing my hand from hitting him a second time. "Oh, I'm rude? You just said-"

"I didn't mean it like that. I think you're hot," I admitted.

His grin was boyish as he said, "I haven't heard anyone describe the opposite sex as 'hot' since I was in high school."

"Sorry if my compliment wasn't up to date for you. Rose usually says 'fine as fuck'. I should've gone with that, huh?"

"Nah. Whatever." He waved me off. "I'm just giving you a hard time."

I gasped. "Shocking."

"Not really." He reached over to squeeze the spot just above my knee, causing me to jump and squeal in response.

"You know I hate that!" I scooted away, trying to escape.

"That's why it makes me laugh," he said, moving to his knees to crawl after me.

"You're not allowed to stay over if you're going to do that," I ordered, making it to the foot of the bed before his hands wrapped around my hips, flipping me over on my back.

"Who said I'm staying over?" he asked darkly, moving to straddle me like he'd done so many times before. But this time it was different because, even though it was playful, I could feel there was another reason behind his touch.

"I want to make out and spoon and make sure you don't sneak off to Tanya's," I said quickly, laughing. Hopefully he'd write this off as a drunken admission and not accept it for the truth that it was.

He sighed, softening his gaze as he looked down at me. "You're asking for a lot. I can cover the make out session and the spooning, but then I have to go to Tanya's."

"Oh, God." I lightly pushed his chest with both hands. "You're such an idiot with your eye crinkle smile."

Edward paused. "My what?"

"Your eyes. They crinkle when you smile. You didn't know that?" I questioned, finding it hard to believe that he didn't know.

"You got it, you got it bad," he sang, fighting a giggle.

"Don't you dare Usher me right now."

"Why not? It's true. You asked me to make out and then-"

"I didn't," I pushed against him, "ask you to make out! I just want to fuck you so I'll stop...feeling. So I'll just stop feeling," I said quickly, embarrassed.

"What do you feel?" he asked with hooded eyes.

"Drunk."

"No. What else?" He moved his fingers to my sides, letting his thumbs brush against my stomach as his hands slid up my body.

"I don't know," I admitted, breathing erratically.

"Yes, you do know."

I watched in confusion as he slowly smiled, then felt his fingers dig into my ribs.

"Fuck!" I hissed in pain and laughter. "Edward, not now."

"Too bad." He laughed along with me, leaning his head down closer as I squirmed underneath him.

"Tell me what you feel," he insisted.

"You can't just," I gasped, "tickle me whenever you want me to tell you something."

"Yes, I can."

Edward leaned closer and his fingers slowly stopped tickling, my body finally stilling as I tried to breathe. But I didn't have a chance to catch my breath because his lips were suddenly crushing against mine, warm and soft and so much better than I could've imagined. I was caught off guard for half a second before I reacted, frantically moving our lips together. My hands reached under his arms, clawing at the back of his shirt. He groaned into my mouth and I reveled at the vibration it caused against my lips.

He lightly sucked on my bottom lip, then moved his mouth to my neck, teeth grazing against the skin of my collarbone. I panted, the sensation between my legs intensifying and we hadn't even done anything other than kiss.

He kissed his way back to my lips. I whimpered as he slowed the kiss, his tongue sweeping gently against mine, causing my entire body to ignite. I ached for more, disappointed as he pressed his lips against mine once more before pulling away. My eyes stayed close for maybe a full minute. Edward kissed me again, then murmured my name against my lips.

"What?" I asked, finally opening my eyes.

"Hi."

"We just kissed," I said dazedly.

"I know. I partook in said kiss."

"I think I like kissing you," I mumbled, trying to lean up to kiss him again.

"I know I like kissing you," he shot back, smiling sheepishly.

"Okay," I said decidedly. "Let's make out."

A/N: Sorry for not updating sooner. I was busy being a spider monkey in Forks. Don't believe me? I posted twitter pics of Livie79, Mshavisham79 & myself reenacting scenes from Twilight. If you decide to flounce me, all I ask is that you please not say it. Out loud.

Thanks for reading!