The rules are all out of order. Deal with it :) Also, come find me in my group on Facebook: Ausha Pasha FanFics! I can't wait to hear what y'all have to say about this.

Rule #5: Consent from both parties

It's been a few weeks since Edward and I laid out the rules and agreed to try this agreement. The only issue is that in those few weeks, he's had duty, I've had my period, Jake has been spending a lot of time at home, and Jasper's been crashing on our couch.

He usually stays on the ship, but he's almost all but moved in with his girlfriend, Maria. Neither he nor Edward would tell me what was going on, but Jasper showed up and asked if he could stay for a while.

We haven't gotten any alone time together since the night we went to the batting cages, leaving me feeling a bit wound up. I certainly wasn't having regular sex before now, but the prospect of it had given my body certain expectations. Edward and I had been texting each other on Instagram about what we were going to do to each other when we got the chance.

Initially, we wanted to keep our setups out of our text messages because Jake and Jasper are nosey. But then we realized there was no way we could sneak away to talk or use some sort of code with each other that they wouldn't notice. By the time Jake realized we were both on our phones a lot, I had him convinced I was texting the guy I was with when he showed up at my bedroom door.

"So, Jasper, when are you going back to Maria's?" I'm trying to be casual, but he side eye's me, and I look back down to the dishes I'm rinsing in the sink quickly.

He shrugs. "I don't know. I don't want to overstay my welcome here."

"That's not what this is about. You know we could always set you up in the office," I offer quietly.

"To be honest, I'm wondering if our relationship hasn't run its course." He takes the plates from me and places them in the dishwasher. "We don't talk anymore, and when we do … I think something's wrong, Bella."

We're on KP after dinner, and I smile gently. "Wanna talk about it? I know Jake's turning on the hot tub and building a fire in the pit. Why don't you grab a couple of beers while I go change and grab a hoodie."

"Thanks, Bella." He smiles and shoos me away from the sink and takes over to finish the dishes. I dry my hands off before heading to my room. I'm stepping into my suit when I hear a tap on my door.

"Who is it?"

"It's Edward."

I tell him to come in just as I'm slipping the straps of my suit over my arms, and he steps in and smiles. "Are you going to talk to Jasper? I think he's really upset about Maria."

"Yeah, do you know what's going on?" I grab a hoodie out of my closet, slip it on, and turn back to him.

"He thinks she's cheating on him." He leans against my closed door and sighs. "I think she is too."

"Really? What makes you say that?"

"I went out last week and saw her with some guy," he tells me. "Remember we took out our chief? I saw her at the bar."

"Oh, that sucks." I feel awful for Jasper if this is true. I've met Maria a handful of times, and while she was nice enough, she didn't seem interested in anything that Jasper was.

He's a farm boy from Texas with dreams of moving back, buying a small plot of land, and actually becoming the fire chief in his small town. Maria is … well, I'm not sure what she is, but she doesn't seem like she's interested in that future for herself.

"Thanks for talking to him. I think he needs a girl to talk to." Edward shrugs, and I smile.

"Of course. It's no big deal." I move to open my door, but his body blocks my way. "Maybe we should talk to Jake about converting the office to another bedroom."

Edward hums. "You look cute."

I glance down at my bare legs peeking out from under the oversized hoodie, and I laugh. "Yeah, really attractive. C'mon, move."

"It's been a few weeks since we've been able to do anything," Edward reminds me as he grabs at the pocket of my sweatshirt and pulls me toward him. "Can I kiss you?"

He's already bent down and skimming his nose along the column of my neck, making my skin break out in gooseflesh, and I shiver under his ministrations. "At this point, you don't have to ask."

He murmurs into my skin, "I'm always going to ask, Bella." He raises his head to look at me, and I nod once before he captures my lips with his. I'm gripping his shirt, expecting a frenzied kiss, but his movements are lazy, casual. He teases my lips with his tongue, but when I open for him, he pulls away, pressing his forehead to mine.

Edward hums contentedly. "Tonight. Jake will go to bed early. We'll get Jasper drunk and put him to sleep. Then I want you in the hot tub."

"No, gross! It's against the rules, Edward!" I try to pull away from him, but he's got those big hands of his plastered on my ass, kneading away at the flesh.

"It's getting cleaned on Monday." He dips back down to kiss me again, and I sigh into his mouth.

"Is that what you do? Have a girl in there when no one is around just before it's going to be cleaned?" I pull away and push him out my door and walk toward the back yard.

"You'd be the first."

I gulp. Okay then. "Oh, and Edward?"

"Yeah?"

"Consent given. Until I say no."

He straightens up into a quick salute. "Yes, ma'am."