A/N: Guess who's back on their anti-depressants? This girl!

It's been a weird week for me, but hope this chapter finds you well. I wanted to get this one out sooner, but I was a little too in my head this last week. I hope this chapter doesn't suffer for it.

Anyway, happy reading!

5. Labyrinth

Uh oh, I'm falling in love
Oh no, I'm falling in love again
Oh, I'm falling in love
I thought the plane was going down
How'd you turn it right around
- Labyrinth, Taylor Swift

"Thank you for doing this." Angela thanked me, coming to stand next to me. We were in the back room of Book Nook where the book club was held. The space had been transformed for tonight with two straight-back chairs angled toward each other with a small table between them that held a pitcher of water and two mugs. There were a few rows of chairs in front of them, where a some members of the book club were already seated. A table with light refreshments had been set up, that some of the women had already taken advantage of.

We'd moved this meet and greet to the first Saturday in November so that all the women involved with the club could attend. I was going to be doing a question and answer session and signing as well. Even though I had been the one to suggest these things, I was nervous. It had been a while since I'd done something like this and it had never been a thing I excelled at.

I gave her a look. "You really don't need to keep thanking me." Angela had thanked me repeatedly since I offered to do this.

"I know, I know. I'll stop." She zipped her mouth shut, throwing away the key, but I knew that she'd thank me at least ten more times before the night was over. I knew her well enough now to know that.

Angela and Claire had quickly become some of my best friends. They were so full of life and in a way, reminded me of my sisters, probably because they acted more like sisters than friends. The two of them had grown up together, that combined with the six year age difference, had resulted in Angela treating and protecting Claire like she was the sister that Angela never had. The two of them bickered like my own sisters, and it helped numb the pain of being away from my family.

It was crazy to think I'd only been in Fontana a month. So much had changed in that time. I'd changed so much.

I still took my daily walks around the lake, before I got my day started, the cool, fall air felt like it brought me back to life every morning. Some days I wrote at the cabin, others at Two Beans in a Pod, people watching as I spent hours in the back corner bringing two characters to life on the page.

The people I'd met and the friendships I'd made were invaluable. I was surrounded by people that cared about me, that I cared about in equal measure. I'd put down roots that only continued to grow deeper.

It was getting easier with each day that passed. The depression was still there, and I knew that it always would be, but it didn't rule my life the way it used to.

"I think you have an admirer." Angela smirked, motioning with her eyes to the doorway, trying to be inconspicuous.

I followed her gaze to the doorway, where Edward stood, only looking slightly awkward in the sea of women he was surrounded by. He looked nice in a white button down and dark wash jeans. Seeing him standing there had my heart fluttering like the 'Good Morning, beautiful' text I'd woken up to.

Even though I'd just seen him yesterday when he joined me on my morning walk, it felt like ages. He'd been working some crazy hours recently and had even missed out on seeing Jacob's rendition of Monster Mash. We'd gone as a group to Billy's on Halloween night because they'd had dollar pumpkin beer that was as disgusting as it sounds and spooky themed karaoke. And while Jacob couldn't sing, his version of Monster Mash had brought the house down in fits of laughter. It also didn't hurt that it had been kind of late in the evening and most of the other people in the bar were drunk. I'd also gotten to meet Claire's boyfriend, Quil, who was a senior at Clemson. He'd come home for the weekend to surprise her and the two of them hadn't been able to stop touching the entire night.

"I'll be right back." I told Angela as I made my way over to him. Since the morning I told him about my dad, things had changed. He'd become my safe space.

Last week, when I'd had a bad day, having sunk deep back into the pit, so down deep that it had taken all of me to get out of bed that day, the first really bad one I'd had since I got here. I'd texted him that morning, telling him where my head was and that I'd woken up really missing my dad because I knew he'd understand. He'd texted me back throughout the day to check on me and every time he did, the string that seemed permanently attached to my chest, hummed. He'd shown up at my place that night after working a twelve-hour shift with a bag of Chinese takeout and Reese's Pieces candy because he knew they were my favorite. Seeing him standing on my porch, so obviously exhausted, but having come anyway, I bawled my eyes out.

We spent the night curled up on one of the couches with my back against his chest, his arms wrapped around me, and legs bracketing mine, we watched my comfort show Grey's Anatomy. He only mildly complained about the medical inaccuracy and improbability of whatever situation they'd found themselves in actually happening in real life. He'd made me laugh, distracting me from the dark clouds that had surrounded me all day.

He felt like home. He'd become the person I talked to every day and with each new thing I learned about him, the more I wanted to know. The more I craved.

"Hi." I said, once I was standing in front of him, a smile on my face. "I didn't know that you were part of the book club."

He smiled down at me with soft eyes. "I'm more of a silent member."

"Mhm," I eyed him suspiciously. "Have you even read the book?"

He laughed in response.

"But really," I looked into his eyes once he'd sobered. "Why are you here? This doesn't seem like your type of scene."

"I came for you." His words melted me as he took my hand in his. "I knew you were nervous, so I'm here for moral support."

I looked at our intertwined fingers. "I'm glad you came."

"I'll always be here for you." His voice was laced with sincerity, an emotion in his eyes I couldn't quite place, and it left me breathless.

"I should probably go back to Angela so get started." I started to pull away, but he tightened his grip on my hand.

"I have read the book by the way." He told me smugly. "And I do have a question."

"Oh?"

He leaned in close, close enough that his lips brushed my ear. "Are you as flexible as her?"

My blood heated at his question, remembering exactly what scene he was referring to. I gulped. "You read the book." Was the only thing I could say.

He chuckled darkly into my ear and I swear I felt his tongue. "I did. Are you going to answer my question?"

I cleared my throat. "I should get back." This time when I stepped away he let me, the look on his face saying that he thought he won this little game. "And yes."

He looked at me like he was confused, not expecting me to answer.

"I am as flexible as she is." I felt a certain level of satisfaction at his stunned expression, heat invading his gaze, as I turned away.

The event went better than I expected. While I'd been nervous when we'd first started, I immediately felt comfortable among these women who felt just as passionately about these characters as I did. It felt more like I was talking to a group of friends than a room full of strangers. A lot of the questions they asked were common ones that I had gotten before, like where I got my ideas and what my writing process was like. It was a question from Lauren Mallory, a young, blonde woman in the front row, who asked a question I'd never gotten before.
"Is there anyone in particular, like an actor of something, that you picture in the roles of your characters when you're writing?" she asked, her blue eyes big with anticipation.

I took a moment before I answered. "Usually, no. The characters form in my mind and that's how I picture them. But, recently, with the book I'm currently working on, there is a certain person I picture as the hero. They're not famous, though." My gaze caught a pair of smoldering emerald ones in the back of the room.

"Well," Angela announced, giving me a knowing wink. "I think that's all we have time for. Bella, I think I speak for all of us when I say this extraordinary experience. Thank you for taking the time to come here tonight."

I couldn't help but laugh. I knew she'd find a way to fit in one more thank you. "It was my pleasure. I would love to do this again."

"You did great." He complimented me once everyone had left, Angela locking the door behind them. "I don't know why you were so nervous."

"It's not usually like that," I replied. "It was the group. I'm usually more of a bumbling mess."

"I can't imagine you as a bumbling mess." He stepped closer so we were almost touching.

I wrinkled my nose. "You're a little biased."

"Maybe." He shrugged, shameless.

I smiled. "Would like an autograph, sir?" I teased.

"I want something from the author, but an autograph."

My heart started to pound. "And what would that be?"

"This." His voice was whisper soft when he replied, leaning down to kiss me.

My hands came to cup his jaw as he kissed me. I lost track of how long we stood there, but when he pulled away, we were both breathing heavily.

"Come back to my place?" he asked, fingers stroking my cheek.

I didn't even have to think about it. "Yes, I'll come back to your place."

"Do you have to get your car?"

I shook my head. "I rode with Claire." She lived up the road from me, so we'd ridden together.

"You look beautiful tonight, by the way." He complimented me as we made our way out of Book Nook, stopping by the counter so I could pick up my coat.

I looked down at the simple black dress that I'd bought on sale at the local Belk. It had thin strap and low cut back, so it wasn't the most practical for the cool November weather, but it made me feel pretty when I put it on. "Thank you. You always think I'm pretty, though."

He held the door open for me, "That's because you always are."

-IS-

His house was a ten-minute drive from Book Nook. While it was two-story, it was on the smaller side with a white painted brick façade. The lawn was perfectly manicured, as well as the bushes that sat beneath the front windows. A one car garage was attached to the house, that he opened with the garage door opener. A lamp in the front window was the only source of light as we parked.

"Not what you expected?" He asked, throwing the car in park and cutting the engine.

I shrugged my shoulder. "I don't know what I was expecting."

"Would you like to come inside?" he asked, giving me an out if I wanted.

Sitting here in his garage, the nerves started to invade. I knew what walking into this house meant. "Yeah, I would."

We got out of the car, and he came around to meet me, taking my hand as he led me to the door that went into the house, pressing the button to close the garage. The house was dark as entered and he flipped on the light, revealing his kitchen that opened up to his dining area.

I walked further into the space, taking in the dark wood cabinets and granite counter tops. It wasn't perfectly clean, there were a few dishes in the sink and a box of cereal sat on the counter next to the fridge. The door closing behind us was loud in the quiet of the house and I turned to look at him. He was standing just inside the doorway, taking his coat off and he then hung on a hook next to him.

"Can I take your coat?" He stepped toward me, his hands coming to the opening of my coat. I nodded and he helped me remove it.

"Your kitchen is nice." I told him while he hung up my coat next to his, running my hand along the granite.

"Jake and some of the guys from his shop helped me redo it. They also helped me with the bathrooms." He looked around the space. "My intention was to flip it and sell, but after all the work I put into it, I couldn't bring myself to."

"When did you buy this place?" I looked at him over my shoulder as I walked further into the house, coming to the dining room.

"2020 when the housing market was so good." He followed me, his eyes watching me as I made my way through his space. "It gave me something to do during quarantine so I wouldn't go crazy." He stopped in the doorway, letting me explore on my own. "The dining set was my mother's."

"It's nice." The oak table reminded me of the one in my grandparents' dining room, the dings and scratches on the surface, adding character.

"Most of the furniture was my parents'." He commented, scratching his neck. "After we sold my childhood home, we put the furniture in storage. When I moved in here, I pulled out the things I wanted." He shrugged. "I liked the thought of having a piece of them here."

"That's what I like about the cabin. It was exactly how my dad left it." I gave him a smile when his eyes met mine, letting him know I understood.

I made my way from the dining area and into the living room, the warm light from the lamp that sat on a table under the window, giving just enough light to see. This was the room that looked the most lived in. The older looking leather couch sat in front of a fireplace that had a TV hung above it, with magazines on it, along with some unopened mail. A blanket was thrown haphazardly over the back of the couch, and I found it endearing. A narrow bookcase filled to the brim with CDs caught my attention and I walked towards it.

"You really love music." I commented, taking in all the different genres and artists. I heard him walking toward me, but I was too preoccupied. "Can you play an instrument?"

"Not a note." His finger pushed some hair behind my ear before tracing the shape.

I took a breath, turning to face him, taking a step back that caused me to bump into the table under the window, the lamp wobbling slightly before it righted itself.

"Should," I swallowed. "Should we have the talk?" My nerves were boiling over. I really was becoming that bumbling mess that he didn't think I could become.

"Okay." He replied simply, hands going to his pockets.

We stood there in silence, and he just watched me, being patient, letting me take the lead.

"It's just… it's been. I haven't…" I wrung my hands nervously. "I haven't since my last relationship ended… four years ago." Casual sex had never been for me. The thought of being that vulnerable with someone I didn't know made me uncomfortable. "I've had physicals since then and I'm clean. I just… haven't wanted to."

I looked up expecting to see disgust, revulsion, some equivalent emotion. What I found was kindness and understanding.

He took a step forward, holding his hand out to me. "May I?"

I slid my hand into his, letting him pull me closer to him. His other hand came to cup my cheek, thumb running along my cheekbone.

"How long has it been for you?" I asked, not able to look him in the eye.

His thumb came under my chin, bringing my face up so I was looking at him. "Eight months."

"Oh." I replied, a little surprised.

"Not what you expected?" An amused smirk came to his lips, my embarrassment flaring.

I groaned, burying my face in his chest so he couldn't see my humiliation.

I felt his chest shake, his lips brushing against my hair. His arms came around my waist, hugging me to his chest, chin resting against the top of my head. We stood there like that for a while, before he said: "We don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Or don't feel comfortable doing."

I closed my eyes, twisting the fabric of his shirt between my fingers and told him the truth. "I want you so bad it hurts."

He released a breath, his arms momentarily holding me tighter. "Bella." When he said my name, his voice was deep gravel, igniting the fire. He wanted me. "Look at me please?"

The look on his face when I did, had my mouth going dry. His eyes were impossibly darker green, the pupils blown. He looked feral, like a predator stalking their prey. A spike of arousal went through me, causing my thighs to clench.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

I watched his Adams apple bob as he swallowed thickly. "Do you want me to take the lead?"

My heart sang at his question. Somehow this man always knew what I needed. So, I nodded.

He smiled softly. "Would you mind saying it out loud?" The fingers of one of his hands threaded themselves in the hair at the nape of my neck, making me shiver. "I want to make sure everything is clear between us."

It was my turn to swallow. "Yes. Yes, that's what I want."

He kissed me then, his mouth taking mine in a bruising his. Gone were the gentle kisses I'd grown accustomed to from him. In their place were harsh nips to my bottom lip, his tongue dominating mine. The fact that he couldn't control himself only served to turn me on further. I whimpered, my fingers burying themselves in his hair, trying to bring him closer. It wasn't enough. God, it wasn't enough.

He pulled away, his lips centimeters from mine. "Would you like to see the rest of the house?" His question wasn't expected, but somehow it was perfect.

I smiled. "I'd like that."

He took my hand, leading me toward the staircase that sat by the front door. The stairs creaked as we ascended, showing their age, and all the while, he held my hand.

"This is the first bedroom," he said once we got the top of the stairs, pointing to a door on the left. "It's also my home office."

I looked into the room, the light from his desktop computer was the only source of light.

"Second bedroom." He pointed to a door on the left once we'd walked a bit further. "It will be a guest bedroom, but right now it's empty." We walked a little further. "Main bathroom." We got to the end of the hall, where he flicked the light on in his bedroom. "Master bedroom." He stepped aside, leaning his shoulder against the door jamb, letting me inside.

I walked cautiously into the room. The bed was in the center, the bedspread mussed, and it made him seem more real in that moment. The nightstands on either side held matching lamps and I could tell that he slept on the left side because an empty glass and a book sat on the table. The dresser sat in front of the bed, another TV above it.

He walked by me, his fingers brushing my back in a way that was erotic because it was so innocent. "And master bath." He turned the light on, once again, letting me go first.

I took in the space. A standing shower was on the left with a rainfall shower head. The counter housed his and her sinks, but the soaking jacuzzi on the right side of the room under a window of frosted glass was what dreams were made of.

"Oh my God," I said, walking over to the tub, leaning against the side. "I could live in this tub."

He looked at me, stalking slowly toward me and my heart started to pound. He leaned down, kissing me softly. I bit my lip as he brushed kisses along my cheek, to my ear.

"I want you." He whispered, nipping my ear. "I haven't been able to think about anything but you for weeks." His tongue ran along the shell of my ear. Another nip of his teeth. "You've haunted me, Bella."

I moaned at his words, and I didn't wait for him. I gripped his face in mine, bringing him into a kiss. He matched my desperation only for a moment before he slowed it down, our lips becoming a smooth synchronization than the war I wanted.

I was dying. He'd stoked the fire endlessly and didn't seem to be in any hurry to put it out. He was turning me into ash.

His hands gripped the back of my thighs, lifting me easily from where I'd been leaning against the tub. I gasped, my lips breaking from his at the motion, my legs wrapping around his waist. He smiled. I leaned my head back on an exhaled breath when his lips found my neck, leaving open mouthed kisses as he walked us into his bedroom.

He placed me on the bed, and I reached for him as he came to rest between my legs. He was too far away, and I needed him closer. So much closer. Our lips met again, moaning as his tongue stroked mine. With fumbling hands, my fingers started to work open the buttons on shirt. I didn't get very far though. Edward's hands came over mine, stretching my arms over my head, fingers threading through mine.

"Don't rush me." The desperation in his voice was the only reason I didn't protest.

The kiss he gave me then was slow and I squeezed his hands. I was crawling out of my skin, and he was going too slow. It was exquisite torture.

Goosebumps erupted across my skin when his hands slid from mine, the tips of his fingers trailing whisper soft along the skin of my arms, toying with the straps of my dress once they met the fabric. His lips broke from mine then, and I took in a deep, gasping breath as he placed soft, sucking kisses along my jaw, gently nipping when they made their way down my neck. My hands buried themselves in his hair, pulling hard, harder than I should, but he just moaned in return. His tongue gently laved my collarbone. Until this moment, I didn't know that was such an erogenous zone for me and I tilted my neck back to give him better access. The fingers of his right hand toyed with the zipper on the side of my dress before slowly starting to undo it. I sat up to help him slide the straps down my arms, letting the fabric pool around my waist, leaving me naked from the waist up. Due to the back of the dress, I hadn't worn a bra.

He sat there on his knees on the bed in front of me, his throat working as he swallowed, eyes drinking me in.

"Every time I think you couldn't get more gorgeous; you prove me wrong." His fingers made a trail of fire between my breasts as they ghosted along the skin there. His words of praise settle in my chest, wrapping around my heart.

"I think I'm dying." I gasped, his head leaning down to capture my nipple. I moaned, the sound coming from deep within my chest.

"Never." His mouth went to my other nipple, tongue circling it, sending sparks of pleasure between my legs.

"Edward, please." I begged. I was begging and I didn't care. "Just… please."

"I won't let you die, Bella." He brushed his lips against mine. "I'll always take care of you."

There was a double meaning there, I knew it, but my muddled brain couldn't decipher it because his hand made it's way between my legs and started stroking my clit through the fabric of my panties, scrambling my thoughts further.

"Is that what you needed?" he asked, his hand continuing to work between my legs.

I nodded, opening my legs wider to give him better access, groaning when his hand stopped its ministrations to pull on the bottom of my dress. I lifted my hips to assist him in ridding me of it. He threw it over the side of the bed where it fluttered to the floor, followed by my heels.

Not able to take it anymore, I sat up, starting to work the buttons open on his shirt. This time, he didn't stop, his fingers working with mine to rid him of his shirt that quickly followed my dress to the floor. His breath hitched as I traced the planes of his chest down along the soft ridges of his abs.

"Bella." He spoke softly and I met his eyes with mine. He was looking at me like I was the most precious thing he'd ever seen, his eyes filled with emotion. Leaning down, he kissed me, guiding me to lie back on the bed, fingers hooking into the sides of my underwear, sliding them down my legs.

My head tilted to the side, giving him more room as his kisses went down my neck. I let my hands explore the warm skin of his back, running my fingertips down the line of muscle along his spine until my fingertips met the top of his jeans, lightly dipping below the fabric.

Edward took his time making his way down my body, leaving gentle kisses on neck, shoulders, and chest. All the while watching as he made his way between my legs.

I bit my lip at the sight of him shirtless between my spread thighs. The look of predatory desire was a sharp contrast to the soft stroking his fingers were doing up my thighs, hissing when his fingers found my center, getting coated in my wetness. I was so turned on that it was almost embarrassing.

"Fuck." I heard him saying, whimpering when his fingers brushed my clit. So close to what I wanted, but not quite there.

"Please," I beg, bucking my hips toward his curious fingers, my eyes pleading with his. I'm so aroused that it actually hurts. He had me at his mercy, he was stoking the fire inside me hotter and hotter, and he knew it. I clutched the bedding in my hands, getting lost in the sensation of his lips kissing on the inside of my thigh.

"Edward, please!" I begged. "Please… oh!" My plea died on my lips at the feel of his fingers spreading me apart and his tongue sweeping along my slit.

My body melted into the mattress as I gave myself over to the pleasure of what he was doing to me. His tongue teased my entrance, then licked its way to my clit where he lightly swirled his tongue around the bundle of nerves, making me mewl in response. He was working me into a frenzy and I writhed on the bed beneath him, my fingers gripping his hair. My back bowed of the bed when he sucked my clit into his mouth, causing me cry out his name.

"Fuck!" I cried when two of his fingers slowly started to enter me, curling them up, hitting a spot inside me that made me almost come off the mattress.

He worked me like this for what felt like hours, bringing me to the brink with fast flicks of the tongue to my clit, then bringing me back down with languid strokes along my folds. I bit my lip when a third finger entered me easily.

"Edward." I moaned. It was getting to the point that I couldn't take it anymore. He'd brought me to the brink and refused to let me fall over the edge. My hips flexed off the mattress as his fingers manipulated my G-spot in a way he only ever had. I didn't know that it could be like this; that it could feel this good.

"Please," I begged, at my breaking point. It was too much. "Please, please."

Having mercy on me, he threw me over the edge by bringing his mouth back to my clit, sucking it between his lips. I screamed as I came, lights flashing behind my closed eyes. My legs shook like leaves as I tried my hardest not to clamp them around his head. He was making me feel so good.

When I came back to earth, a light sheen of sweat covering my body, I used the hand still buried in his hair to drag him up my body, kissing him with everything that I was worth.

"Please." I spoke against his lips, my hands working on his belt. "I want you."

"You'll have me." He was just as breathless as me.

Standing from the bed, he took his shoes off and they fell to the floor with a soft thud. I watched as he undid his pants, his thumbs hooking into the sides of them and his boxer briefs, shoving them down his legs. My breath hitched when he was finally naked before me. Why did he have to be so perfect everywhere?

His knee came down on the mattress as he crawled back on the bed, covering my body with his own.

"Please. I can't wait." I stroked his cheek.

Kissing me softly, he reached over to his bedside table, taking out a condom, ripping it open with his teeth. I peppered kisses along his jaw, my tongue dragging along his stubble as he sheathed himself in the condom. I spread my legs wider, giving him more room to settle between them.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"I'm sure." I nodded. "Edward, please."

He came to rest on his forearms on either side of my head, his full weight on top of me, consuming me in a kiss. I sucked in a breath as he started to enter me, stretching me and filling me in a way I hadn't been in a long time. The slight burn was a bit overwhelming.

"Okay?" he asked when I made a sound of discomfort.

I nodded, "Just give me a minute."

He stayed still, waiting for me to give him the green light. Once I did, he gave a shallow thrust that had him entering me deeper than before. He kept this rhythm until he was fully inside, his hips resting fully against mine so there was no space left between us and I gripped his shoulders, overwhelmed.

"You feel so good." He whispered into my cheek with trembling lips. "Can I move?"

"Please."

He pulled back, giving a slow, firm thrust back in that had me gripping his shoulders tighter, nails digging into his skin. The second thrust had me losing my breath. This wasn't normal. He wasn't supposed to be good at this. He wasn't supposed to hit places inside me that made me see stars. He wasn't supposed to make me feel like my soul was leaving my body. Sex in real life wasn't supposed to be this good.

"Are you okay?" His voice quivered as he continued to move inside me, sweat gathering on his brow. He looked otherworldly.

I pushed some of the hair back from his forehead causing him to close his eyes momentarily at the contact. "I'm okay." I was more than okay. I felt like I was dying, but for a completely different reason now.

"Does it feel good?" I could tell he didn't ask just to be sexy. He cared about me getting just as much pleasure as he did, and that was the sexiest thing I'd ever experienced in my life.

"So good." I wrapped my arms around his neck, bringing him fully down on top of me, and that was the little extra bit I didn't know I needed. "Don't stop. Please, don't ever stop."

"Never," he gripped the back of my knee, hitching it higher on his hip, making him go just a bit deeper. "I'll never stop."

There was that double meaning again, but I'd completely checked out at this point, and I couldn't quite grasp what he meant. It was right there, but I just couldn't get to it.

"Edward." I gasped, panic edging my voice. The fire that had built all night was finally reaching its breaking point. It was going to consume me whole, burn me to the ground until there was nothing left.

"I'm right here." He took my hands in his, raising them above my head. "I've got you. Just let go."

I couldn't have held on if I tried. It started in my toes, slowly seeping up my legs until it settled low in my belly, where it flared out, taking me under.

I cried out, but I don't know if I actually said anything. I'd experienced orgasms before, but all of them paled in comparison. It wrecked me in the best way possible, and it maybe should've scared me, but it didn't. I let it consume me whole, take me under completely.

Edward's thrusts had become a deep grind, prolonging the searing pleasure for far longer than I thought possible. My hand shook as I ran it through his hair, the silky strands damp between my fingers. He kissed my palm as I ran hand down his cheek. The look in his eyes was overwhelming.

He'd stopped his movements as I came down and I knew he was waiting for me. He was waiting to make sure I was okay before he let himself go.

I arched my neck up, taking his lips in a searing kiss. The groan he released in response sent a bolt of arousal straight to where we were connected. How was it possible that I still wanted him? That I still wanted more?

"Take me." I breathed against his lips. "Let yourself go." I took his bottom lip between mine, lightly pulling it with my teeth. "Take me. Take all of me." A desperate sound I couldn't place left him then, as he took my mouth with his and I whimpered.

When he pulled back, his hand gripped my chin, making me look at him. "All of you?"

The string gave a sharp tug and I finally understood the double meaning. "All of me."

He kissed me, his tongue seeking entrance that I gave willingly, and he started to move. Taking my body with his, giving me as much back as I gave him. Resting his forehead against mine, he sped up his movements, his hand going to the headboard for leverage. I placed kisses wherever my mouth could reach. His neck, his face, his lips, everywhere.

Impossibly, I felt the tingles of another orgasm starting to build and I arched my back, not sure if I could take another like the last. But there was nothing I could do. Everything he did felt too good.

"Again?" he asked, surprised. I whimpered when he gave particularly hard thrust, my nails clawing his back, toes curling. "Again."

"Just like that. Don't stop." The desperation in my voice was evident. I was so close. I was almost there.

And he didn't. He kept going, wringing another climax from me that was somehow stronger than the first, before he came on a shout.

We collapsed in a heap on the bed, a tangle of sweaty limbs, lips brushing together as we panted.

"That was…" I started but wasn't able to finish. I didn't have any words for what that was.

He smiled softly. "It was."

"Edward…" I was flayed open, the words on my tongue, but they wouldn't come.

He placed his finger on my lips, the soft smile back on his face as his eyes searched mine. "I know." I swallowed. "But not until you're ready."

My hand wrapped around the back of his neck, bringing his lips back to mine, showing him with my actions how much he meant to me. The thought on repeat in my head making me hold him tighter and kiss him deeper.

We were falling in love.

A/N: I've really fallen in love with these two.

Just a few more chapters and my little baby fic will be over. It's kind of hard to believe.

See you next chapter.