Happy Saturday!
First of all, thank you for all the reviews and alerts. I loved hearing all about your pub grub selections.

Usual disclaimer applies - I still don't own any of it. I just like to play with the characters ;-)

Team Momo wouldn't exist without Midnight Cougar and Alice's White Rabbit with their red pens, or without AGoodWitch, Driving Edward, Mel, Maplestyle, and Eternally Addicted who pre-read and tell me if I'm off my rocker or not.

Reminder on chapters: unless indicated, odd-numbered chapters are in EPOV, even-numbered ones are in BPOV.
Today we hear from BPOV. We're getting into the AFTER the axe-throwing date.

On with the show!

Chapter 10 - BPOV

We left the axe throwing place in a big hurry. Edward threw a few bills on the table to cover our tab and the tip, but I couldn't tell how much. My eyes just didn't register the detail, as laser-focused as I was on Edward.

I'd fantasized about him over the years, but he'd always fallen square into the category of impossible dreams. Now the dream was becoming a reality, and despite the lust-filled haze around me, I still had enough brainpower to discern that tonight would be a momentous step forward in our relationship.

We drove in silence, immune to the disjointed sounds of the city outside Edward's car. After a few turns, I realized we weren't going in the direction I expected.

"This isn't the way to your condo."

He cleared his throat, then turned to me. "No, it's not. I thought … Would you like to stop by your apartment, pack a bag, and spend the weekend with me? At my place?"

Patches of darkness and dancing neon lights painted a weird, fluid filigree on Edward's chiseled face. Something shifted in his expression, and where before he'd swallowed after he spoke, now he frowned. He seemed … contrite?

"I shouldn't have presumed. I should have asked you, Bella. I'm sorry."

I grasped his hand where it rested on the gear shift—I noticed he had a habit of doing this while he drove—and squeezed it. "No apology necessary. But thank you for being so considerate."

"Still. I should have asked. I don't want to make decisions for you or pre-empt your choices. I'm not used to … sharing my life with someone." He averted his gaze, looking straight ahead at the road even if we were stopped at a long light with an even longer line of traffic ahead of us. "I'm not used to this. I haven't dated in a long, long time. But I liked it a lot when you introduced me as your boyfriend."

I smiled at him and traced circles on the back of his hand with my fingers. I felt his skin erupt in goosebumps under my touch.

"This has to be the longest fucking red light in all of Atlanta," he muttered. "Sorry. I hate traffic. And I'm … a little anxious here."

"So am I," I whispered. "I haven't dated in a long time either. At least in that, we're on the same page."

A brief frown marred his face but disappeared quickly. "I'm sensing there's a story there, but I've told you before we're doing this at your pace. I'll always listen, but I won't force you to talk about it if you don't want to."

Finally, the light turned green, and Edward sped through traffic like a fiend. By an unspoken agreement, we didn't talk until we got to my apartment building. Edward found a parking spot in the back, and we filed out of the car and up the stairs—still silent, still racing. We were on a mission.

When I unlocked the door and walked inside, Edward followed me. I meant to step toward my closet and gather a few things for the weekend. But I didn't have time to do that. Because Edward took me in his arms and pushed me flat against my front door. Then he descended, claiming my lips with his, first with chaste, then with deep, demanding kisses. And I just melted there in his arms. Breathless and trembling, I moved my mouth over his as his tongue probed and tasted me, and his hands roamed over my body.

He moved to my neck, trailing kisses down to my collarbone, pushing my clothes aside to reach more of me. I felt his hand caress my waist, but then he rested it there and slowed down until he broke the kiss.

"This is me, being impatient and greedy. Greedy over you," he murmured.

"No complaints from me."

He chuckled, then straightened and let me go. "Go get your things, love. I don't know how much longer I can bear this anticipation."

I nodded and packed the fastest overnight bag ever. No doubt I'd forgotten something.

"I'm ready."

He waited by the front door, and without a word, he opened it and led us outside. "Let's go."

I didn't remember the drive to his place.

How much do you hate me for stopping there, on a scale from 1 to "Broody Edward Cullen in the biology lab"? :)
The rest of their night HAD to be in EPOV. So we'll be back with him next week, and I'm sure he won't disappoint ;-)

A couple of housekeeping items:
1. My other story "Behind The Ivories" is up in the poll of the Top 10 Completed Fics of 2022 on the Twifanfiction Recs blog. Voting is open until Feb 24. I have a pinned post with voting links and other nominees (congrats, everyone!) in my FB group, LaMomo's Lair.
2. Nominations for the Twific Fandom Awards are also being announced later today and voting for Round 1 opens tomorrow. I'll have a pinned post in LaMomo's Lair for this as well.

Until next Saturday!