AN: Welcome back! This chap is a long one, so buckle up. So, you all wanted to punch Emmett. I hear you. He eventually gets better, I promise. Right now, he's being an asshole, and I can say that cause I don't mind cussing. It's part of my charm. Thank you all for reading and reviewing.

Thanks to Brina and May for pre-reading and being awesome. When I sent this chapter to them, both were sleeping, but they woke up and read for me so I can deliver this to you. I swear, do not deserve them.


Chapter Six

-Playing the Offensive-

"Well, your brother told me you were pregnant. Is that true, Isabella Marie? Did you make me a grandma?"

I shoot a hateful glare at my poor excuse of a brother, but he's standing there, just looking so smug, thinking he's right and everything. If I could reach that dumb face with a proper right hook, I would punch him. Everything has gotten out of hand so fast, and now I'm left floundering. What am I going to tell my mom? It's not like I could tell her I had a one-night stand with Edward and got knocked up. There's no shame in that, but Renee wanted more for me than motherhood, and she will assume that I've been behaving irresponsibly.

This is the worst nightmare I've ever had.

I try to make the best of a crap situation and deflect with humor. "But mom, you're already a grandma!"

She's not amused. "You know what I mean. What's going on, sweetie?"

"Honestly, this isn't how I wanted to tell you," I say with a tired sigh, rubbing my forehead as a migraine forms.

"So, he's telling the truth? You're pregnant," she says, and there's no anger or disappointment, just resignation.

"Yes, I am eight weeks pregnant."

Rose gasps, and the pieces come together as she takes in Edward's quiet, sober demeanor. "You and Bella?"

He says, "Yes."

The commotion between Emmett, Rose, and Edward begins. I'm only partly listening. From what I can gather, Rose is supportive, hugging Edward and lightly punching him on the shoulder, saying, "I knew you could do it, champ."

Emmett loses his temper and starts interrogating his wife. "You knew this was going to happen?"

Rose looks at him like, "Duh," but I miss what she says because my mom is trying to gain my attention.

"Hello, Bella? Sweetheart? Did I lose you?"

So, unfortunately, I had to turn away and walk toward the end of the porch. "No, mom. I'm here."

Emmett tried to follow me, but Rose held him back, giving me some privacy.

"Oh, dear! How did this happen?"

"Faulty birth control. It's a long story."

"Please tell me the father isn't Mike."

I chuckle. "No, if he were, this would be a different conversation."

She never liked my ex-boyfriend and didn't trust him. The whole tortured artist thing he had going annoyed her. When she heard that he cheated on me, it was more of a congratulations than a condolence.

At the time, I didn't appreciate the response.

My mom asks, "Can I ask who the father is?" Unlike my brother, she was attempting to handle the situation as delicately as possible.

I sigh heavily. "Mom, I can't do this right now." I hold out the phone so she can hear Emmett, Edward, and Rose arguing.

She exclaims, "Oh, boy!"

"I will come over on Saturday for dinner and explain everything."

"Okay, sweetie. Can I tell your father?"

I say, "He doesn't know?" in surprise.

She says, "No," and I now notice that her voice hasn't risen above a whisper. "He's upstairs."

"Yeah, you can tell him," I say, grateful that Charlie will have time to process before I see them on Saturday. "Break it to him gently, though."

"Of course! Bye-bye!"

"Bye." I hang up the phone, find my target, and throw it at him as hard as I could. It hits Emmett in the gut and falls on the porch floor. "You had no right to tell her!"

"Maybe not," he says, picking up his iPhone, which now has a cracked screen, thanks to yours truly. He huffs, "Nice," and then shoves it into his pocket.

"You know, when I found out about you and Rose getting pregnant, I didn't run to Mom about it," I say. It's true, too. They had waited nearly a month before coming clean, and Emmett couldn't be bothered to give me a day. "That was a jerk thing to do."

There's a brief moment when Emmett looks guilty, but he's too stubborn and prideful. "Well, I couldn't stand by and let our parents work their butts off paying for your college while all you're doing now is pissing it away."

"Oh, really?" I folded my arms over my chest and tilted my head in disbelief. "And how am I throwing it away? I'm graduating in May."

"Let's do some simple math here, Bella," he says. "You're eight weeks now. Where will you be at thirty-nine or forty weeks?"

"Being pregnant isn't a disability, Emmett. I can manage just fine with my classes and graduate with my degree."

"And you think being a single mother is easy?"

Edward emerged from the back of the porch, making his large frame visible. "Dude, don't do that. Don't act like I'm not here."

"No offense," Emmett put up his hands to ward Edward off, "but I know your track record, and I don't have high hopes that you'll pull through this time."

"That's bullshit. Those other relationships have nothing to do with my feelings for your sister or this baby."

"Yes, well, I know my sister, and she's incapable of taking on this level of responsibility."

"Excuse you?!" I couldn't believe my ears. "That's not true."

"Oh, come on, sis, who are you trying to fool?"

"You're such an insensitive…" I pause as my mind goes blank. Rose is standing behind her husband, mouthing something to me. I say it, "Prick!"

Emmett is stunned by my first curse word since ninth grade, but he bounces back. "Oh, I'm a prick? Why? Because I'm calling you out on your shit?"

"What stuff? The fact that I accidentally got pregnant?"

"No," Emmett says, getting down to look me right in the eye and saying slowly and deliberately, "because you screwed my best friend over to lock him into a relationship with a kid."

My throat felt tight as my brother leveled that hurtful accusation at me. My mouth hung open in shock.

Rose admonished him, tugging on his sleeve.

Edward says, "You're out of line," and he was trying not to lose his cool, but his best friend was making it hard. "Don't treat your sister like that."

"Yeah, she's my sister," Emmett says as he stands to his full height and turns to face Edward. "You knew she was off-limits, man, but you did it anyway! And then you had the fucking nerve to call me the next day and brag about it? Brag about screwing my sister?"

"You watch your goddamn mouth," Edward growls and he's two seconds away from swinging.

"All right, that's enough," Rose says, gently pushing Edward back into his chest and grabbing her husband's shirt collar. "Emmett, you've been enough of an asshole to last you a lifetime. Now get inside."

"Babe, I can't believe you're taking their side," he complained.

Even though Rose is diffusing the situation, I need to get away and take a walk. My mind is made up, and before anyone can stop me, I'm off their porch, walking through their yard, and heading eastward down the street. Where am I going? I have no idea. But if I stayed any longer, I might have killed Emmett. Why is he being such a jerk? Is it because he has some weird claim about Edward? Like, I can't have him or something? All I know is if any other guy knocked me up, Emmett would've been more supportive – or, at the very least, not a complete tool.

"Bella! Wait up!"

I spin around and see Edward jogging up after me. Even now, as mad as I am, I still want to kiss him. Goodness, what is wrong with me? Do I always have to want him like this?

Edward doesn't speak when he catches up; he only hugs me.

I burrow my face into his warm chest and let it go. "Why did you tell him?"

Edward squeezes me tighter and sighs tiredly. "He backed me into a corner and demanded that I stop seeing you. I told him that wasn't happening. He asked me why you were so special."

I scoff and roll my eyes. Of course, Emmett would minimize me to keep his precious Edward all to himself.

"I told him why. He guessed the rest."

"Why does he have such strong feelings of hatred towards me?"

"Ssh, honey. Emmett doesn't hate you. He doesn't trust me."

I pull away, just enough to look up at him but not enough to be out of his arms. The statement confuses me. "What do you mean he doesn't trust you?"

Edward glances around and spots a diner at the end of the block. He rubs his hands up and down my arms. "You're freezing, Bruiser. Let's go get you warmed up and have some grub."

I nod, allowing him to tuck me under his arm and lead us toward the promise of food.


Eagle Diner is a historic Forks hangout. For generations and generations, it has stood as the staple of the town and hasn't changed in fifty years. It looks and smells the same – even the people here don't change. The small-town feel and familiarity surprises Edward. He hasn't been back to this diner since his graduation night. The staff and customers remember him, and countless people come to our table asking for autographs and pictures. They don't think it's weird that we're together; everyone remembers little girl Swan following the Cullen boy around.

I know this because they tell us this as an opener to the conversation: "You've got that same stray cat following you, EC." Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle.

I'm not too upset and am taking it in stride. After tonight's chaos, I will let other things that don't matter roll off of me like water.

Edward asked, "What looks good, Bruiser?" as he flipped through the menu.

"The combo breakfast looks good."

Edward peers up at Gladys and gives her his Cullen smile. "That sounds good." He says, pointing to the menu. "Two combo breakfasts and two coffees. One regular and one decaf."

Gladys says, "I'll be right back with those coffees." And she takes our menus.

As soon as she was out of earshot, I leaned across the table toward him. "How did you know about the caffeine thing?"

"I read it in this book. Did you also know that you shouldn't eat raw food or shellfish?"

"I've heard something like that. What book did you read it in?"

"After you told me that we were going to be parents, I went out and bought several books. Things like "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and "1001 Baby Names."

He's just too darn cute, and I smile at him, which increases the redness in his cheeks. Now I understand why he makes such a big deal about my blushing; it's the best thing ever.

Edward shrugs. "Anyway, they're pretty informative." He has his hands on the table, and I cover them with mine.

"Thank you for being here."

He says, "I'm sorry tonight didn't turn out how we hoped." His thumb peeks out and caresses my wrist. The gesture gets my heart racing, but it seems like a subconscious move on his part. "I knew Emmett would be upset, but I expected a little more from him."

"I don't know why he acted like you and I being together is the worst thing ever."

"It's because Emmett thinks he knows the type of man I am."

"Which one are you talking about?" I raise an eyebrow. "A womanizer?"

"Yes, and I'm not going to lie to you, honey. I've dated a lot of women."

Inwardly, I cringe, while outwardly maintaining a flat expression. The thought of him with other women kills me, but I want to know Edward - good and bad.

"And if I'd known you and me were going to get together one day, I would've been a lot more mum with Emmett," he says, shaking his head. "Shit, if I'd known...I would have done a lot of things differently."

When I was seventeen, I visited Rose and Emmett at their house and walked in on Emmett facetiming Edward. They were talking about a girl Edward was dating in college. It crushed me to hear Edward describe the things he had done with her, but what I remember most was that he wasn't crude or disrespectful; he was just detailed.

"Anyway, he's just looking out for his baby sister."

I scoff. "That wasn't looking out for me; that was annihilating me."

Edward smiles weakly.

"I'm not stupid—nor do I think having this baby will be easy. I know the life I'm giving up to be a mom. But I feel this is the right thing to do. I can't explain it."

Edward says, "I know we're skipping a few steps and going straight to family, but I'm here 110%. You can count on that."

We're still holding hands, and it feels right with him. I'm in love with him, but does he love me? Of course, that's silly. I think, laughing at my naïve heart. Edward may like me, but love? That might be a stretch.

"Bella, I need to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"Why did you take off that morning?" he asks. "You said you wanted more from me... but then I can't stop thinking about what you told Emmett. The 'loser' line."

My face and neck burns, and another wave of anger toward my stupid brother resurfaces. "I didn't say that. He's just trying to mess this up."

Edward's expression is tense, as if he's trying to protect himself. "Then why leave?"

"I didn't think you liked me," I admit lamely, but it's a tired excuse and untrue.

He says, "I thought I made it pretty clear how much I like you." And I'm sure he's thinking about the Moscato, the mirrors, and holding me in his arms all night.

"You did, but I got inside my own head and filled it with doubt. It was best for me to end it before I got hurt."

Edward nods, his thumb still stroking my skin, reminding me he was more than just there with me. He's committed. "There's something you need to know about me, Bruiser," he says. "I don't make it a habit of pursuing women I only want for one night."

"You're also my brother's best friend," I say, offering another lame excuse to justify my cowardly actions.

"We both decided, before doing anything, that it was worth the risk."

"I know, but I figured you were just saying that," I say, and Edward raises a brow as if he doesn't get my meaning. "You know, to get into bed with me."

He understands now and moves to get closer to me, and I reflect him like a mirror. When he speaks, his voice is low but harsh. "You actually think I'd fuck over a friendship for a piece of ass? Is that how you see me?"

"I don't think that now, but two months ago? I didn't know, Edward. I hadn't seen you in eight years, and every time I did see you on TV or in magazines, you were with a different girl. What was I supposed to think? I mean, those women were so pretty. How could I even compare?"

"Those women can't hold a candle to you, honey. Besides, believe it or not, most of those women I don't even know. They were just thrown in the pictures with me."

"Did you not date any of them?"

Edward leans back in his seat but keeps his hands intertwined with mine. "Nope, not a single one," he says. "Before you, I didn't do much of anything. Just played football."

I narrowed my eyes. He didn't flinch or look away. "You can see why I find that hard to believe."

"Why would that be difficult to believe?"

"Umm, have you seen yourself?" I ask, waving my hand over him. Edward laughs. The way his eyes crinkle is adorable. I make a mental note to make him laugh more. "And you've always been a player," I say.

"Maybe in high school or college, but just because it's easy doesn't mean that's the type of guy I want to be. These last few years, I've been sick of the whole scene. These women don't want me; they only want EC—the Football God, Edward Cullen."

My previous words come back and bite me on the butt. Back then, I only knew him as that; now, he's so much more.

"I'm sorry."

Edward smiles tenderly at me. "You should have called."

The regret of not calling him hits me hard. Edward deserves more than what I've given him. I was so scared of being hurt by him that I didn't care if I hurt him in return.

"If I had the chance to do it again, I would call you."

He says, "I know." His eyes soften, and his smile is so genuine that I know he believes me.

Gladys brings out our food, and reluctantly, Edward and I separate. However, the food looks fantastic.

"There's nothing like having eggs, bacon, and pancakes at nine o'clock at night," I say, and Edward chuckles as I make a show of popping a piece of bacon into my mouth and then moaning in exaggerated pleasure. "Mmmm, mmm. That's good."

"If this is how you act when eating bacon, I will make bacon for you every morning for the rest of our lives."

It was such a casual remark, but it's been a long time since I've felt his lips. I can barely remember his taste. My foot rubs his leg under the table, and I smile.

A forkful of eggs stopped short before his mouth, and he cocks an eyebrow. "Yes, Bruiser?"

"Do you want to get out of here?"


Edward and I left Forks and went back to Seattle after dinner. It was a bit of a drive, but there was no reason to stay overnight at some hotel, and I really needed distance from my family. Edward followed behind my crappy Honda Civic in his expensive, luxurious Mercedes, but we stayed on the phone talking for three hours. It's incredible how much you can get to know somebody when there's nothing but a blacktop in front of you. Edward told me about buying his parents a condo in Chicago and a lake house in Tahoe. He asked me about college, and I told him about my internship. It starts in late June, but if I contact them early enough, I might be able to push it into September. That would at least give me six weeks or so after the baby is born to rest up and bond with him or her. Our conversations flowed easily, and I felt more comfortable talking to him when I couldn't see him. It's those green eyes and that damn smile that got me all flustered.

Coming into Seattle, we stopped at my apartment instead of driving downtown to his penthouse. It's late, and convenience wins. Mainly, though, I'm eager for him to see my home. It's never been more exciting to watch him wander around my living room. He looks massive in the tiny space. The ceilings are low, so he has to duck his head some. Having him here makes me nervous and self-conscious. Edward's touching my pictures and knick-knacks, and the whole scene feels surreal.

Will I ever get used to having EC in my life?

As soon as I think it, I feel horrible. Edward doesn't need to be worshiped by me; he's human, just like everyone else, and putting him on a pedestal sets the guy up for failure.

"So, what do you think?" I ask, fidgeting by the doorway as Edward glides a finger over one of my treasured paintings. It's a copy of Claude Monet's "Japanese Bridge."

He says, "It fits you."

I bite my lip and look down at my feet. "Is that a good or bad thing?"

"It's a good thing."

I smile shyly and fidget more. The silence looms, and I need a distraction. "So, I know it's late, but do you want to hang out and watch a movie or something?" I ask.

Edward nods. "I would like that."

"Me too," I said as I picked up the remote from the coffee table and turned on the TV. It displayed Netflix. "Here's the remote," I tell him. "You choose the movie."

He says, "Okay."

We both get comfy on my small loveseat of a couch, our bodies smushed together, and he throws an arm over my shoulder. My body reacts strongly to his touch, but I try to calm it down by focusing on the flat screen. I wasn't sure why it occurs to me now, as Edward was going through the catalogue of movies, but the night of our date, he sent his car for me, and I never stopped to think how he had my address.

"I have a weird question for you," I say.

He hums, "Hmm," as he squints and narrows in on his movie choice.

"How did you know where to send the car to pick me up?"

Edward's ears redden, and his Adam's apple bobs. He rubs the back of his neck and hesitates before answering. "Um, what?"

Now I'm suspicious, and I angle my entire body toward him. "I never told you where I live, so how did you know?"

He sets down the remote on his lap and sighs. "Okay, so..." He clears his throat, looking incredibly nervous and handsome. "Um, your cat...died."

I shook my head, stunned. "Flurries?"

"Yeah, well, you know, we still follow each other on Facebook," he says slowly, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

"Your long-abandoned Facebook profile from high school?"

He shrugs. "It's not abandoned. I just don't post."

"You have three friends on there. Me, Em, and Rose."

"It's still active, though," he defended. "When I got drafted, I had to get rid of all the riff-raff. It doesn't mean I don't log on and see what you're all doing occasionally."

I smile. "Are you saying you stalked me?"

"No, no," he says, getting all high-pitched, and starts cracking his knuckles. "I just saw your post about Flurries and felt bad."

It doesn't make sense to me. How does Flurries dying two years ago have anything to do with him knowing where I live?

Edward saw my confusion as he tried to put things together and sighed again, almost resignedly. "I knew how much you loved that cat, so I called your mom and asked for your address to send you a package of condolences."

My jaw drops. "Shut up!" I only received one gift basket after Flurries died, which was massive. Of course, the sender was anonymous, so I had no idea who to thank. "You're the one who sent me that beautiful flower arrangement and chocolate-covered fruit basket?"

He says, "It's no big deal," as he picks up the remote, clicking out of Netflix, and starts searching through my Disney Plus.

I nod, not wanting to push him but internally smiling to myself.

A few minutes later, Edward finally found the movie he wanted. He grinned at me as his choice popped up on the screen, and he immediately clicked play. The film was John Carter. I saw it with Edward and my brother in the theater. Emmett hated that our mom forced him to take me, but Edward said nothing when I tagged along. He sat by me and shared his popcorn and M & M's.

I remember how our fingers kept touching as we reached into the bucket.

He asks, "Do you remember seeing this movie?"

"I do."

"How old do you think we were?"

"Let's see...it was ten years ago, so twelve and sixteen. You were nice to me when Emmett treated me like the plague."

Old habits die hard, apparently.

"You were a sweet kid, and I didn't have a sister until you came along."

There's the rub, and it feels like a dagger to the heart. Did he really think that way? It's not like I could ask him about my seventh-grade dance and what he had said to Emmett about it - I wasn't supposed to be listening. So, now, I'm back to square one, believing that my crush on him was one-sided and that he always saw me as a little sister.

"What changed?" I ask.

"What do you mean?"

I ask, "When you left for college, did you see me as a little sister?" Edward nods but looks confused and has no idea where I'm going with this. "But you don't see me as one now. So, what changed?"

He says, "You grew up." As if that point should be obvious. "That's what changed. The last time I saw you, Bruiser, you were fourteen. I saw you as a kid because that's what you were."

"You know," I say, touching his thigh, "I never saw you as a brother."

Edward chuckles and shyly rubs the back of his neck. Even his neck and cheeks turn a beautiful shade of red. "Yeah, I got that."

"Are you blushing, Edward?"

He scoffs and gently elbows me away. "No."

I poked his cheek and neck. "You are! Blushing boy."

"I'm not blushing," Edward says, playfully grabbing me and tucking my body under his arm. "Shut up and watch the movie."

"You're so cute when you blush," I tease him.

"Oh, that's it, you're going down, Bruiser!" That's when he launches his attacks of tickles. He knows where I'm the most sensitive, too. I arch my back as his fingers go for my sides, under my chin, and around my thighs. I'm laughing and twisting, trying to get away, but he's bigger and stronger, and I have no choice but to call a truce.

"Okay, okay! I take it back. You weren't blushing!"

"Good," he says, and somehow, in our teasing, tickling, and wrestling, I am lying flat on my back with Edward on top of me. His lips are inches from mine, and we're both breathing hard. It wouldn't take much for me to lift my head and press my mouth to his, but he removes himself before I can. "Um," he says, nervously running his fingers through his hair, "do you have anything to drink?"

I say, propping myself back into a sitting position, "I have coffee, juice, beer, or water."

He says, "Water's fine." His eyes are fixed on the screen, not on me.

"I'll be right back," I said, standing from the couch.

Edward said, "Okay," pausing the movie as I entered the kitchen.

The thermostat might have read seventy-eight degrees in this house, but I was sweating profusely. My face and chest were flushed with arousal, and I didn't know how to return to normal. If he tickled me again or dared to breathe near me, I would attack that man and bang him senseless. I'm so tightly wound sexually. It had been two months since I'd had that kind of release.

Ugh, he's driving me crazy.

I couldn't even get two water bottles out of my darn fridge without thinking about popcorn and buttery fingers.

Oh, that one was amazing; I smile to myself and reminisce.

I was twelve, and shortly after watching that John Carter movie, I dreamed about him slipping down my jeans and curling his long fingers deep inside me. It was one of my first sexual fantasies, and I had it on constant replay for months. It was replaced by another when he accidentally grabbed my boob while wrestling over a game controller. That one led to a full-out fantasy that lasted through my freshman year of college.

"What makes it so awkward?"

I whirl around and see Edward standing a few feet behind me. His hands are shoved in his pockets, and he's looking at the floor.

"I have no idea," I say, taking the two water bottles out and hitting the fridge door with my butt to close it. "I guess we're just nervous."

"You know what they say about being nervous," Edward says as he comes around the kitchen island and takes the water bottles out of my hands. He sets them down on the counter. "It's just two clicks away from being excited."

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and then places that hand on my neck. My pulse is racing beneath his palm. The tingles are everywhere, and it's getting to a point where I might die if he doesn't kiss me.

Edward whispers, "You're so beautiful." His eyes zero in on my mouth.

I bite my lip, turned on by his words, the simplicity of his touches, and the way he can't seem to look away from me.

Edward smiles, gripping the other side of my neck with his free hand, and holds me firmly. He leans forward and kisses me. I hold onto his waist as he slowly backs me into the counter. His lips are hungry, attacking mine relentlessly. Every thought I ever had escapes me. The only thing I can focus on is Edward's tongue and how it feels against mine.

It's alluring, and my brain malfunctions, wanting so badly to swear.

Things escalate as Edward's hands move from my neck and caress my breasts. The sensation is so much more tender and sensitive than anything I have ever felt before. It catches me off guard, and I jerk away. He takes it as rejection and jumps back.

His eyes fill with sudden regret. "Fuck, I'm sorry. I'm pushing you again, aren't I?"

Oh, my! This boy. He looks so cute, all worried and blushing again.

I can't help but laugh. "No, it's not that. My boobs are just more tender than usual. It just caught me by surprise."

The tension in his shoulders eases, and he smiles. "I was worried that I'd turned you off."

I grab him by the shirt as my reply and yank him back to my lips. This time, I'm taking control. Edward grunts and leans into me, and his weight pins me to the counter, making it impossible for me to escape - as if I would want that.

Edward's excitement is palpable, and I can feel every inch of him pressed against my stomach. I don't want him to misinterpret anything, so I place his hands on my breasts. They're still tender, but I was ready this time, and it feels incredible. All my thoughts are on the way he's kissing me and the way his body molds into mine perfectly.

I'm aching for this man, and I can barely stand it.

My fingers unbuckled his jeans, and he slipped his hands up my shirt and under my bra. I moan at the skin-to-skin contact, and my nipples peaked. He groans, kissing me harder and shoving his pelvis into me. It's becoming a painful tease. Our hearts are pounding, our minds wild, and our lips swollen.

Edward pulls away when my hand goes under his boxer briefs. "Are you sure about this, honey?" he asks the question, and will respect my choice if I put the brakes on it; but his whole body is saying, Please want this as much as me.

So, I take us out of our misery and step back into his arms. "I want you."

He closes his eyes and presses his forehead against mine. "You want me?"

"More than anything else."

"Thank God," Edward exhales, breaking into a relieved smile.

How can such a beautiful man want me this much?

All these years, I saw him as untouchable. That was one thing that I had always craved but never been lucky enough to have.

I peer into Edward's green eyes, and his pupils dilate. He grabs my waist roughly and jerks me into him. His mouth crushes onto mine, and he's kissing me hard, making me weak in the knees. I'm falling. He wraps an arm around me, and he's so strong, holding me close to his chest. My tiptoes hover on the floor; I'm safe and protected, and I let myself melt into him completely.

He only breaks away from my mouth to grunt out a sentence. "Where's your bedroom?"

"Over there," I say, trying to regain strength in my legs to stand, but Edward catches on and picks me up in a bridal style.

He says, "You just tell me where to go," and starts walking us toward the living room, but he doesn't need my help to find his way.

When he reaches my bedroom, he gently lays me on the bed and peels off his jacket and shirt. The sight of him, bare-chested, freezes me as I'm overwhelmed by memories of our night together. I still can't believe the boy I've only ever loved is in my room.

"You're so perfect." I say in awe. "How are you mine?"

Something flashes across his face, and he bends toward me, our eyes connecting. "Bella," he whispers, his voice hoarse. "I...I lo..." He doesn't finish; instead, he takes the sides of my face and kisses me, his lips pressing urgently against mine.

I clasp his wrists as he leans forward and lays me back in bed. Our tongues languorously come together, savoring the feel and taste of each other. When he pulls away, I'm drunk on him and unsure if I can even remember my own name.

Edward gestured toward my sweater. "Can I?"

I sit up as he pulls it over my head, tossing it to the side. He unhooks my bra, and I'm intimately exposed to him, but I don't cover myself. His intense, wanting gaze makes me feel sexy and beautiful.

No one has ever made me feel this way before.

Edward cups my left breast as his lips found mine again. His touch was gentle, not squeezing, but caressing. My nipple hardens, and his thumb rubs it, sending a pleasurable shock and tingle through me.

I have an intense hunger, and it overwhelms me.

I'm determined to feel him. My hands work his belt and the button on Edward's jeans, pushing them, along with his boxer briefs, down his thighs. We're still kissing, and now he's holding both my breasts as I take him into my hand.

Edward jerks a little under my touch.

He's so hard and ready. The thought of his size and girth is intimidating, but tonight, I don't have any alcohol in my system to cloud my judgment. Every inch of him, I feel, and I'm not sure whether I'm nervous or excited.

I stroke him, and that got his attention.

He pulls away slightly to look me in the eye. "It's dry."

"I can fix that," I say, and he watches me intently as I lean forward, softly touching the tip of my tongue to his head. There's a salty taste of pre-cum, and I trace the head over my lips.

Edward groans loudly and closes his eyes. "Fuck, honey."

I take him into my mouth and push him to the back of my throat, holding him there. I slowly pull him back out, sucking and licking on the tip. I repeat the process, moving faster, creating more suction as I go up and down, making my mouth as tight and wet as possible.

Edward has a sturdy grip on my hair but doesn't try to take control. He's only rocking his hips with the steady pace I've created.

He mumbles, "You're so good at this."

The friction and pressure, and the fluid, circular motions of my wrists drive Edward crazy. He's moaning and twitching. I can feel him getting close. I double my efforts: stroking, licking, and sucking. But Edward refuses and pulls himself away.

I pout, staring up at him with a sad puppy-dog face.

He chuckles and pushes me back onto the bed. "Not tonight, honey," he says. "That's not how I want to go."

"You can't come and rally?" I ask, taking off my shoes and removing my jeans and panties.

"Not since I was a teenager," he says, grabbing my clothes from my hands and throwing them over his shoulder.

"Come here and kiss me."

"Yes, ma'am," he says, but then his eyes flick to mine, and there's a look on his face. "Can I taste you?"

My heart speeds up at the thought of his mouth on me. I can't speak what I want, so I nod and scoot myself up in the bed.

Edward slid down until his knees were on the floor. He puts his hands between my thighs and spreads them open. His eyes remained fixed on mine and never left. He places his lips just above my nub. My breath hitches as he teases me with the tip of his tongue. Nudging my legs farther apart, he kisses me deeply.

"Oh, my goodness," I whisper, taking handfuls of his soft and wild hair.

Edward's as forceful as if he were kissing my mouth. He slams his tongue into me and devours every inch, licking and biting – nothing is off-limits to him.

I groan, "Mmm, yes, Edward. Right there. More."

He groans and curses as he inserts a finger into me.

My long-awaited fantasy is finally happening. My heart races, my breathing quickens, and my mind spins out of control as his mouth and tongue set everything inside me ablaze. As he focuses on my nub, another long finger slides inside me, and then he pushes them both in deeper, curling them and hitting that spot.

Clutching the sheets and trying to will myself to calm down, it's not working. This beautiful man hums as he eats me out, and the vibration it creates is insane; but I'm a glutton for punishment.

"Oooh, yes!" I cry, but my breathing is so labored and shallow that I'm lightheaded and close to passing out.

Edward reaches up and pinches my nipple to bring me back. I look down and see only his eyes. He's latched onto me, and I can't handle it anymore. That visual sends me over the edge.

"Oh, my…yes!" I scream out and buck my hips. "I'm coming. I'm coming."

The pleasure hits all nerve endings, and every part of me tightens and clamps down. My legs snap closed and trap Edward's head. He holds my hips as I move them up and down to ride his tongue as my orgasm peaks.

Edward eases off as his efforts slow; when my limbs relax and release him, he pops up his head. I can barely see him; my vision is blurred, but he looks smug.

I giggle. "You seem pretty proud of yourself."

His eyes are bright, and the whole lower part of his face glistens. He says, "You have no idea how much I like doing that."

I held my arms out to him. "Come here. I want to kiss you."

Edward crawled atop me, slowly and carefully eased his weight onto me, and brought his mouth to mine, kissing me.

I hum and lick my lips. "You taste like me."

Edward's eyes widen, and his penis twitches. There's this crazy arousal, and he grunts out his next words. "You are so fucking hot."

"I'm hotter inside."

He attacks my mouth again with much passion and need. I'm trying to keep up with his frenzy, but he overpowers me, taking control of my lips and tongue. We're making out in a way we never have before, and blindly, we glide our hands along each other's bodies. Things are heating up and progressing more and more, and I widen my legs as he adjust his body, falling into place. The tip of his penis is right at my entrance, and I wiggle my hips to ease him in, but Edward freezes.

His eyes snap to mine, and there's a sudden look of panic. "I don't have any condoms on me."

"Oh, baby," I touch his face and smile, "we're way past all that."

"Touché," he says, blushing from embarrassment.

I raise my head and kiss his perfect lips. That's all it takes for him to relax back into me. He grabs my thigh and shifts my leg up. This gives him the room to put his pelvis directly against mine. I'm drenched, waiting for him to slide inside. He reaches between us and grips himself, slowly caressing the tip up and down, spreading the slickness. It feels good, but it's maddening.

"You're such a tease."

His eyes burn into mine, but he doesn't stop, and his smirk says it all. "I want to make this moment last as long as possible."

"Okay," I sigh blissfully and vowing to let him do whatever he wants.

Edward doesn't waste a second and every touch of his is poignant. He massages my swollen, sensitive nub with the head of his penis, sending a thousand electric pulses through me.

It tingles, and I'm pleading, "Mmm, more, baby. Please."

"You're so sexy when you beg."

I want to be angry at him for torturing me, but he's not stupid and uses that moment to push into me, fully and deeply.

"Oh!" I exclaim loudly.

He watches me intently as he moves in and out, slowly but surely. "How does that feel?"

"Mmm, it feels amazing!"

"That's a good girl," Edward says, taking my nipple into his mouth, licking and biting.

My back arches off the bed, allowing him to plunge deeper into me. "Yes! Right there!" I scream at the top of my lungs.

He tries to silence me with a kiss. "You're being too loud, honey."

"I can't help it," I whisper.

Besides, who cares if my neighbors hear me?

Edward grips my neck for leverage and moves his hips sensuously. He's starting to lose control too. "So good."

Our moans and whimpers are feeding off each other. The closer he gets, the more it turns me on, and vice versa. The kisses are sloppy and hectic now. Everything feels animalistic and rough. The goal is to feel that big, earth-shattering O. I clench and tighten around him. Edward feels it, and that heightens the sensations for him. He pulls out, rubs my nub, and then thrusts back in with force. He's relentlessly hitting that spot, over and over again.

I feel it building again. "Oh, baby. I'm coming."

"Fuck!" Edward groans, closing his eyes tightly, and together we both come - hard.

He's pulsating and throbbing within me as my body contracts around him. When the waves subside, my limbs turn to Jell-O, and I go limp. Edward doesn't stay on top of me for long. He rolls off, but never too far, and pulls me back into his chest. We're both drenched in sweat, panting, and completely exhausted but satiated.

I exclaim, "Wow!"

"Wow, indeed."

"Is sex supposed be always this good?" I ask.

"It's always good with you," he says.

"We've only been together two times."

"Then I guess we're two for two."

I playfully slap him on the chest. "You're incorrigible."

He grips my hand and holds it firmly to his chest. His heart is pounding and beating so fast. "You're amazing, Bella," he whispers.

The air between us grows thick and the L-word is on the tip of my tongue. For him, our relationship is still new, and he'll never understand that in my mind, we've been together for ten years. So, I don't say it out loud, just continuously in my head: I love you, Edward. I'm so in love with you. Please one day love me.

"So, you want to finish John Carter," he asks, poking me gently in my side.

"No," I say, quickly following it up with yawn. "I'm really tired now."

The conversation's direction throws him off, and he assumes that I want him gone.

"Oh! Okay," he says, starting to sit up. "I guess I'll take off then."

"No! Don't leave!" I panic and throw my arms around him. "Stay here and sleep with me tonight."

Edward chuckles, laying back down and holds onto me tightly. "You've twisted my arm."

I close my eyes and smile. "I bet."


In the morning, I am awoken by a pounding and consistent knocking on my front door. It's faint from the room, where I'm still wrapped in Edward's arms, naked and in my bed. He grunts and shifts but hasn't fully awakened yet. I pray that if I ignore the person at the door long enough, they'll eventually give up and go away. Not even a second later, the knocking stops. See, that's what I thought. I snuggle back into Edward's chest, nice and cozy, allowing myself to drift back to sleep. It's warm here and I'm in heavenly bliss.

Until...

"Rise and shine, beautiful!" Alice exclaims as she storms into my bedroom.

My eyes and Edward's immediately open. He abruptly sits up, startled and confused by the sudden and loud disturbance. The thin bedsheet slips down and off him, exposing everything. Alice stares in disbelief at me, but mostly, she ogles the naked God in front of her.

I glare at the intruder and cover him back up. "Why are you letting yourself into my house?"

Probably because she lets herself in all the time, I gave her a key. Ugh, why today, though?

Alice doesn't even hear me. All her focus is on Edward. She smiles at him and does a flirty, bashful wave. "Good morning."

Edward chuckles and gathers more of my blankets to cover himself as he tries to look presentable. "Good morning," he says. "I would shake your hand, but... you know." He gestures to his bare chest and the sheets. "You must be Alice. Bella's best friend."

Alice leans against the doorframe, her expression smug, like the cat that had eaten the canary. "Yes, I am," she says. "And you must be Edward Cullen. Bella's baby daddy."

Edward's hand slips under the covers and he grasps mine. He squeezes gently, indicating we're a team. "Yes, ma'am. I sure am."


AN: Whew, that was a doozy! More of Alice in the next chapter. She's definitely going to be a huge part of this story.