Chapter Four: Sex and Danger

I slipped my hands between my knees, tightening my thighs around them as I leaned back in the seat, closing my eyes and regulating my breathing. In and out in a steady rhythm that my heart was betraying with its stuttering beats. We had been in the car for almost twenty minutes, and every passing second was making my heart pound harder and quicker, the nervousness consuming every inch of me.

I was once again reminded of my cowardice and how much I didn't fit in with these people. Alice and I had no choice but to be friends. It was from the sandbox for us, but Edward and Jasper? They were in a whole other league. One that I didn't have the credentials to join. And yet, here I was, sitting passenger next to the dreamiest man on earth.

The fates may have smiled upon me, or I was about to wake up from this dream.

It had been such a quiet and calm ride that when Edward suddenly slithered his hand between my thighs, I startled so harshly, my legs gave way. Edward quickly took his opportunity to grab one of my hands and pull it over onto his lap. The roughness of his palm against mine soothed me in such a surprising way that I didn't mind the sudden gesture.

I looked over at him, but his eyes were on the road, his other hand on the wheel as he leaned back in his seat, perfectly at ease. He didn't look at me as he ran his thumb over the tops of my fingers, but a small smile played at the corners of his lips. I had to suppress a moan and cross my legs, that small gesture did more than just comfort me.

I cleared my throat and looked out the window, watching as we flew by cars and the lights that lit up the city whirred by in a beautiful strobe-like dance, almost distracting me from the beautiful man next to me. That was until the the car jerked around a corner causing me to fall into Edward's side from the quick movement.

I looked up at him as I righted myself, glaring at the smirk that graced his smug little face. He totally did that on purpose. I pulled my hand from his and huffed, crossing my arms over my chest, my eyes staring forward. I noticed that we were pulling into a packed parking lot, full of cars and people, the loud music coming from inside the building beating in tune with my heart.

My mouth dropped slightly, dry with nervousness.

"OMG, we're here!" Alice stuck her head between me and Edward from the backseat, her teeth shining under the bright neon lights overhead. Her loud voice caused a ringing in my ear, further agitating me.

I closed my mouth and rolled my eyes, pushing her face back until she fell into the backseat, still bouncing and clapping her hands in excitement. If she was going to act like that when we got inside, there was no way we wouldn't be carded, found out, and thrown out on our asses.

"We need to go around back," Jasper spoke up. He leaned between the seats and pointed in the direction Edward should go. "Emmett and his band are unloading right now, and we'll just go in with them."

Edward maneuvered his sleek car through the spacious parking lot jam-packed with people and headed for the side of the building. We stopped next to a large black van with the back doors wide open. Two men were unloading some equipment while a bodacious blonde stood off to the side with her arms crossed over her breasts, yelling at them to hurry up and to be careful.

Edward parallel parked next to the van with ease. He got out, along with Alice and Jasper climbing out on the driver's side, while I sat there, my nerves making my hands shake and my heart flutter dangerously fast in my chest. Was it possible to have a panic-induced heart attack? Because if it was possible, I was pretty sure that was what was happening to me now.

I watched Alice and Jasper walk over to the blonde woman, Alice hugging her around the middle. She gave a half-hearted hug back but smiled exuberantly at my friend. She and Jasper bumped fists before Jasper went over to the two guys in the van, grabbing an amp and carrying it over to the side of the building for them where more musical equipment was laid out. I looked around, my forehead scrunched in confusion. I had somehow lost sight of Edward. It wasn't until I looked out the side window that I found him, crouching next to my window with a small smirk on his face.

"You coming out?" he asked loudly, his voice muffled by the window between us.

I took a deep breath as I unbuckled my seatbelt before grabbing the door handle and pushing it open. Edward moved out of the way and then quickly stood in front of me. He held onto the roof of the car with both hands as he leaned in close to my face, once again taking my breath away. It was something he needed to stop doing before I lost all ability to breathe at all.

"Don't be scared. I'll protect you."

That smug smirk on his face and the raise of his eyebrow prickled at my agitation. I quickly turned my body and kicked my legs out, hitting Edward on the shins with my feet like a petulant child. He only laughed and took a step back, holding his hand out to me. I stared between his hand and his face for a moment before rolling my eyes and allowing him to help me out of the car.

He gripped my hand firmly, quickly pulling me into his chest. He leaned his head down so our faces were a mere inch apart.

"I mean it," he whispered, his eyes going from my eyes to my lips, and back again. "I will protect you."

I swallowed thickly, the sudden tense aura surrounding us speeding my heart rate back up. Edward used the hand that wasn't holding mine between our bodies, to push the car door closed. My breath hitched when he pushed me softly against the door, his body molding to mine shamelessly. He at least had enough decency to keep our hips separated.

I wasn't sure if I was happy about that or not.

His eyes staring into mine mesmerized me – I couldn't look away from him even if I wanted to. Edward picked up my other hand and brought each of them up and around his neck. I let them lay there limply, my body unsure of what to do. I felt so inexperienced compared to him. He trailed his hands down my sides causing me to shudder and my skin to break out in goose bumps.

"Are you cold?" he asked, his face slowly getting closer to mine.

I shook my head, my voice lost somewhere in the back of my closed throat. Edward smiled and leaned in closer, his soft lips ghosting over mine. Our eyes were locked in as much of an embrace as our bodies were. His hands trailed to the front of my pants, his fingertips dipping into the front of the tight leather.

I opened my mouth to tell him to stop, but as soon as my lips parted, he swooped his head down and stole away my words as well as my breath with a kiss so passionate, that there were no words for it. My breathing was ragged against his lips, my hips moving backward, trying to get away from his fingers, my body warring with itself, both accepting his advances and denying him simultaneously. And all too soon, or not soon enough, he pulled his fingers from the waistband of my pants and his lips from my own, but not before biting my bottom lip gently enough to drive me crazy.

He leaned his forehead against mine. "Do you know that you make me insane?" His voice was rough and breathless, hot and harsh against the skin of my lips. He groaned lowly and pushed away from me, grabbing my hand before I could respond to his words. Which I was grateful for because I didn't know what to say.

He led me over to where Jasper and Alice were standing next to the beautiful blonde woman. She smiled when she saw Edward and lifted her hand up for him to slap. He did so roughly before pushing her on her shoulder playfully.

"Asshole," she laughed. Her eyes landed on me, narrowing slightly. "Who's this?"

"This is Bella," Alice spoke up. "She's my best friend in the whole world." Alice turned to me. "Bella, this is Rosalie. Edward's sister."

My eyes widened slightly. I took a closer look at the bodacious blonde in front of me. She was tall, not as tall as Edward, but very tall for a woman, and her blonde hair had some darker pieces throughout it that matched the mess on Edward's head, her eyes were a paler green than Edward's, but her face was just as striking, both soft and hard.

Rosalie scrunched her nose and shrugged. "I didn't get a choice in the matter, so don't hold it against me," she joked light-heartedly, her thick-lipped smirk just as crooked as Edward's.

"N-nice to meet you," I stuttered out. For some reason, meeting Edward's sister made me nervous, and it wasn't just because she was kind of intimidating. Not that she did anything to intimate me, she actually seemed very kind. She just had that vibe about her, that vibe that warned others that she wasn't one to mess with.

"You too, girly," she responded kindly, her fingers going to her belt loops. She pulled her jeans slightly and I could see the top of an intricate tattoo. Something else she and her brother had in common. An affinity for ink.

"I'm Emmett!" A booming voice shouted from the van. I jumped slightly, looking over at the giant man who was holding some wires in his hands. "I'm Rosalie's bitch."

Rosalie snorted. "And don't you forget it."

"I'm James," said another man as he walked by us, heading for the van. He jerked his thumb behind him. "That's Laurant."

The one who they called Laurant smirked at me as he walked by, his eyes shamelessly taking in my perked-up breasts in the corset I wore. It made me uneasy, but I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. I waved shyly at the men before crossing my arms over my chest nonchalantly, doing my best to hide my God-given feminity. I looked at Edward, unsure of what to say or do with all of these new people. Edward looked down at me and then slipped his leather jacket off. He walked behind me and set it over my shoulders, squeezing before he walked in front of me, bending at the knees to bring us to eye level.

"You looked cold," he smiled as I slid my arms through the holes, the jacket comically big on my body. Once my arms were through, he reached for the zipper and zipped me up. I felt slightly better in the cocoon of his scent mixed with leather.

I hugged my arms around my middle and let Edward pull my body to his side. He wrapped his long arm around my waist, and I had never felt safer or more protected. It was such an odd feeling. Not because I felt safe, but because a stranger with an affinity for kissing me inappropriately made me feel that way. Again, my mind wandered to my parents, and I wondered how upset and disappointed they would be with me. They liked their picture-perfect carbon copy daughter, and I was doing things that would make them have an aneurysm.

So, why wasn't I feeling shame? Uneasiness, yes. Shame, no.

Edward definitely didn't make me feel shameful.

"You ready to head inside?" Edward asked, thankfully pulling me from my thoughts.

I nodded and held onto his arm just a bit tighter as he led me into the club through the back entrance, behind Emmett, Rosalie, James, and Laurant. Jasper and Alice followed behind us. She was still bouncing with excitement and Jasper was trying to get her to cool it down a bit.

Good luck to him. Alice was a force all her own.

Edward stopped walking, everyone except for us and Alice and Jasper heading toward the big stage on the opposite side of the room. "We're gonna go up there," he told me pointing to a circular staircase past the bar. "Are you ready?"

I took a deep calming breath and blew it out, trying to forcefully expel the knots that were gathering in my stomach. After doing those three more times, I looked over to Edward who had an amused look on his face.

He leaned closer to me. "I've got you, Angel." His voice sounded like crushed velvet and silk, wrapping around me like a warm caress. My eyes fluttered at the sound as desire ran through my veins, scorching me from the inside out. No one person should hold so much power over another.

After I caught my breath, I nodded. "I'm ready," I said, my voice tight. I wasn't really, but we needed to get going before I changed my mind and called an Uber to pick me up and take me back home like the chicken shit I really was.

As we walked, I tried to distract myself, looking around the spacious building. There was a large wraparound bar close to the front entrance with two very attractive and scantily clad women pouring drinks behind it. The further into the bar we got, I noticed some pool tables set up where men and women were laughing, drinking, and smoking. There were booths lining the walls and tables and chairs on the floor. We maneuvered our way through them, passing by an elevated stage full of musical equipment where Emmett, Rosalie, and the other two were setting up.

I took everything in with wide, curious eyes. The only thing I had to compare this to, was what I had seen in movies and TV. The real thing was so much different. So much more… terrifying. I felt like a mouse trapped in a maze with a hungry cat stalking me. That feeling wasn't helping with my nerves one bit.

Edward took us all the way to the back, stopping at a circular staircase. He turned to me, tugging me forward. He let go of my hand, and I felt an immediate coldness from the loss of contact.

I looked at my empty hand and then back up at Edward, confusion written clearly on my face.

"After you, Angel," he said softly when our eyes connected. And there was that damn nickname again. It sent a thrill throughout my body whenever he looked me in the eye and said that one little word.

Angel.

Gah, I was a swooning little schoolgirl. I seriously needed to chill out before I made a fool of myself.

Not wanting him to see the effect he had on me, I quickly turned toward the stairs, grabbing the railing. I pulled myself carefully up the steep and narrow steps. I could feel Edward close behind me and it was making me feel self-conscious and thrilled, simultaneously. I had to focus on my feet to make sure I didn't fall – he was far too distracting.

The stairs led to a small area that had a comfy-looking couch, padded chairs, and a little table set up between them. It was obviously a VIP area. I halted on the last step of the stairs, a rope with a restricted sign hanging from it, stopping me from going any further. I balanced on the top step, unsure of what to do.

Edward reached around me, his warm body pressing into my own and causing my breathing to pick up dangerously, as he pulled the hook that was attached to the rope off the railing. He let it drop to one side and then his hand trailed down my arm to the back of my hip. He gave me a small nudge forward.

"Go ahead."

I lifted a shaky leg and took the last step up, losing my balance slightly and teetering to the side. I gasped when one of Edward's arms encircled my waist, pulling me flush to his chest and lifting me off my floundering feet. I could feel the hard lines of his chest and abdomen against my back, even through the thick leather of his jacket. I just kind of dangled there like a ragdoll, unsure of what to do until he set me back on my feet once he was off the stairs himself.

Edward walked ahead of me and over to the couch. He plopped down on it, his long legs bent at the knees and his hands clasped on his lap. He looked at me expectantly, his head cocked to the side. I shuffled my feet, crossing them at the ankle as my fingers pulled on the long, thick sleeves of his jacket.

I was getting nervous again. I needed something to distract me from the man on the couch who looked like he wanted to eat me in the most pleasurable of ways. I quickly looked behind me to see if my friend could save me but Alice and Jasper were nowhere to be found. We were all alone. Again.

I gulped down the thick lump in my throat.

Images from the bathroom earlier and of the night before on his bed played in my mind like a movie with pristine detail, bringing the harshest heat to my cheeks. I lifted my hands to my cheeks, covering them self-consciously. When we were alone, things tended to happen. Things that I liked, but I shouldn't do.

"You just going to stand there, B?"

I breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of my best friend's voice behind me. She stepped around me and fell into one of the chairs. Jasper followed quickly behind her, lifting her into his arms. He sat on the chair and plopped her down on his lap wrapping his arms tightly around her waist.

I took a deep breath in, glancing at Edward. He was still looking at me with a smile fighting for dominance around the corners of his mouth. When I still didn't make a move to sit down, Edward patted the spot next to him, raising a challenging brow. It was almost as if he was daring me to take a chance. A chance on what, I wasn't sure. He seemed to always be challenging me. Something told me that he wanted to see how far he could push me, and I wasn't sure how I felt about that.

Still, my feet moved of their own accord, and I sat down, as close to the opposite arm of the couch as I could get. I crossed my leg over my knee, leaning into my corner. I chanced a glance at the sinful man next to me. He had his eyes narrowed, facing forward. He was upset again.

I sighed and removed his jacket from my body, the club was hotter than it was outside. I set the jacket between us and went back to my safe spot. I hated upsetting Edward, but I was at war with myself. I was at war with what I thought was right and what I really wanted to do. I didn't like the position I found myself in, but I couldn't say that I didn't like that that position was next to Edward.

I peeked over at him as he grabbed a cigarette pack from his jacket pocket, and pulled out a thin, white tube. He lit the end of it before bringing it to his frowning lips and taking a long pull. When he pushed the smoke out, that familiar smell of weed permeated the air around me. I scrunched my nose up, not particularly fond of the smell unless it was being blown in my face by Edward.

Which made me pretty sick.

"Share," Alice sang, reaching her hand over to Edward.

Edward rolled his eyes, taking another drag before holding it out to Alice. He snatched it back before she could grab it, laughing softly to himself as he did it two more times. He finally let her have it and she grinned at him.

"Thanks, jerkface," she grumbled, sticking her tongue out at him.

I shook my head when Alice took in a long drag. I just didn't understand how my best friend became a pothead. Like, when did that happen? I looked over at Jasper when he took the joint from her fingers, my eyes narrowing. He was obviously a bad influence on her. Not that Alice was Miss Innocent to begin with. But she had never done drugs before. It made me wonder what other paths Jasper might lead her down. And that thought piled a whole new level of anxiety onto my shoulders.

"You seem upset."

My eyes darted over to Edward. He still had that frown marring his perfect features. I shook my head at him, searching for my voice since it seemed to enjoy playing hide and seek when I was around Edward.

I attempted to clear the ball from my throat. "I'm not upset," I lied.

Edward pursed his lips, his eyes staring intently into my own. After a moment, he slowly slid his body into the spot next to me, his arm going behind me and resting on the back of the couch. He leaned down closer to my ear, his breath sending a shiver down my spine.

"Did you know that you're a bad liar?" he asked with a hint of amusement in his tone, mixed with something else I couldn't place. "Terrible, actually."

"I am not lying?" I responded indignantly. He was always calling me out on lying, and even though I was lying, I didn't like that he could see through me and always felt the need to say something about it.

I pulled back, locking eyes with him. He looked even more amused when I scowled at him, his tongue pushing into his cheek from the inside. I leaned my body as far back and away from him as I could, his presence causing that annoying fog to overtake my mind when I was trying to be irritated with him.

Edward reached out, his hand pushing some tendrils from in front of my eyes, his skin touching mine so lightly that I had to fight to keep the shudder from overtaking my entire body. He pressed his warm palm to my cheek, narrowing his eyes.

"Why do you keep pushing me away? You flap around more than a fish out of water." He frowned deeply, the lines around his eyes becoming pronounced. "Are you playing games with me?"

I took a sharp breath in. "I am not playing with you."

I truly wasn't. I just didn't know what the hell I was doing. And it was hard to be with Edward with a gargantuan lie hanging over my head like a black cloud ready to downpour on me. There was a constant fear of a storm brewing and that made things so much harder than they needed to be. Not to mention all these warring emotions inside of me that made me feel like I was going to combust.

His palm traveled to my hair, tucking my hair behind my ear and pulling on the strands lightly. "You better not be."

"What do you want from me?" I asked, desperation clear in my tone. I was so out of my element here. What could this literal God want from me?

"Haven't I been clear?" he asked, somewhat amused and somewhat confused, his brows crinkling together. When I didn't say anything, he sighed and thumped his forehead against mine softly, his fingers tightening in my hair in the most pleasurable way. "I don't want anything from you except for a chance."

"For what, though?" I was near begging. I felt so foolish. So young. So damn stupid.

"Can't we figure that out later?" he asked, squinting his eyes. "Can't we just let things be? Let them progress naturally without mapping it out. The best things happen spontaneously, don't you think?"

I nodded, licking my dry lips. This man had such an effect on me, that I could barely handle it. My hand lifted to wrap around his wrist. He brought his lips closer to mine, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Are you going to run away from me again tonight?" He asked suddenly, mint and marijuana wafted across my face, making my brain shut down temporarily.

I felt like we kept going in circles, having the same conversation over and over again. And it was my fault. All I could do was stare up at him, my eyes fluttering and my mouth opening and closing uselessly. I had no words for him. Edward loosened his grip on my hair and leaned back, giving me more space to breathe my own air. I sucked in a deep breath, shaking the cobwebs from my head.

"Well? Are you?" he asked again, this time sounding impatient.

When I finally found my voice, I said the first thing that came to mind, "I'm not going anywhere."

Edward smirked at that. "I'm going to hold you to that, Bella."

Edward held my eyes for a moment longer before finally releasing his grip on me. He stood up from the couch and walked over to the railing where Alice and Jasper were already standing. The sudden sound of an electric guitar cut through my hazy mind, making me jump.

I blinked a few times, trying to get ahold of my faculties.

"Bella!" Alice shouted over the loud music playing and my eyes darted over to her standing next to Jasper by the railing. "Come on, they're starting!"

I got up from the couch and walked slowly to the other side of Alice, my eyes going down to the stage where the band was jumping around, playing their instruments. Rosalie walked up to the microphone letting out a long scream that sent chills down my spine. Her voice was crushed velvet and silky sex, just like her brother's. It must have been a family trait.

"They sound amazing!" Alice screamed over the loud bass, shaking her hips to the beat. Which I had to admit was quite catchy. Even I wasn't immune, swaying slightly with my hands holding onto the railing.

"They're fuck-awesome," Jasper yelled back, grinning down at Alice. He pulled her closer to his side, swaying his own hips with hers playfully.

I watched the band play a few sets with a genuine smile on my face. The only live music I had ever experienced before was at church. This was something entirely different. It was exciting and heart-thumping. It was fun and freedom. It was everything I had been denied my whole life. After the third set, I felt warmth on my right side and looked over at Edward as he leaned down on the railing, clasping his hands in front of him. His black-inked arms bulging out of a gray muscle shirt momentarily distracted me from the music.

My eyes couldn't stop their wandering, peering through the gap of his loosely hanging muscle shirt. I could see that his chest was heavily tattooed as well, but what made my eyes nearly pop out of my head was the silver bar through his nipple.

That had to hurt.

The man really had a thing for needles piercing his skin. And I couldn't say that I was complaining. He was such a delicious sight. My gaze traveled from his exposed chest up to his face. My eyes widened when they locked in on his. He smiled that little half-smile of his, raising his brows at me. I averted my eyes back to the stage, focusing all of my attention on the band playing and trying to ignore the heat filling my cheeks and the thunder in my chest.

Edward chuckled next to me, making my cheeks grow even hotter. I quickly covered them with my palms. It was quickly becoming a habit in his presence. I was once again reminded that Edward was completely aware of what he did to the opposite sex. Or maybe just what he did to me seeing as I wasn't very subtle. I wondered if that was one of the things that made Edward like me. That he could read me so easily. That I could stroke his male ego with a simple blush on my cheeks.

I might as well of had thought bubbles over my head with how obvious I was.

I tried to ignore Edward for the next few songs, but he was making it extremely difficult. If his hip wasn't bumping into mine, then his arm would slide across mine causing my skin to break out with goosebumps. It seemed he was on a mission to drive me insane. And with the way my heart was pounding out an uneven rhythm in my chest, I'd say he was succeeding.

"Aren't they awesome?" Alice yelled in my ear, leaning in close to me from my other side.

I looked at her smiling face and forced a smile of my own, nodding. They were great, but there happened to be a man next to me that was far more interesting. And he was doing everything in his power to make sure I paid more attention to him than the music.

Alice looped our arms together, pulling me closer to her side. "Are you having a good time?"

"I am," I replied honestly. This definitely beat staying home and watching the same old shows on repeat while stuffing my face with pizza and chips while my dad snored on his recliner and mom hummed while she knitted yet another blanket that would no doubt take up more storage space. I loved my parents dearly, but getting out and having fun was incomparable.

"Yay!" Alice bounced on her tippy toes. She released my arm and threw herself into Jasper's waiting embrace. I shook my head, laughing quietly to myself. I had never seen Alice so clingy on a guy before. She PDA personified, but not lovey-dovey. Jasper was clearly different to her than all the other guys she had loved and left.

I was happy Alice was enjoying herself and I was even happy that she found confront in Jasper, even though there was a lie that needed to be rectified. But I couldn't say that I wasn't happy to be there with her. When she went on her adventures, I would usually stay back and wait for the stories so I could live vicariously through her.

Tonight, I was making my own story.

When the band called for a short break, I backed away from the rail and walked over to the couch letting myself fall into it. I sighed, crossing my legs and clasping my hands on my thighs.

"We're going down to see Emmett," Jasper said turning to Edward who was still hanging over the rail. "You two coming?" He cut his eyes over to me briefly.

Edward stood up straight, his body turning to lean his back and elbows on it. His eyes found mine and he raised his brow at me.

I shook my head. "I think I'll stay up here." I wasn't exactly keen on the idea of going back down there with all those strangers. Plus, my legs were tired from standing for so long. Sitting on the couch seemed like the best option for me.

"Are you sure?" Alice asked, taking a hesitant step closer to me, her face expressing uncertainty.

Before I could say anything, Edward's crushed velvet voice cut in. "I'll keep her company. You two go on ahead."

My eyes darted over to Edward. His gaze was already focused on me, that little half-smile that drove me wild pulling his face up on one side. When I said I was a mouse in a maze, I didn't realize that Edward was the cat stalking me. But that's very much what it felt like when he looked at me that way. I could feel my lunch swirling around my stomach as the idea of being alone with Edward again made my cheeks blaze hotter than the sun.

Alice raised a quizzical brow at me. "Is that cool?"

I looked between her and Edward a few times and then nodded quickly, clearing my throat. I didn't want to hold her back from having a good time, and some sick part of me was dying to be alone with Edward to see what he would do next. "Yeah-yeah, I'll be fine. Go have fun."

Alice grinned and grabbed Jasper's waiting hand. He let her lead the way down the stairs and too soon I was left alone with Edward. I curled further into the couch, studying my newly painted white-tipped nails. I could see Edward approaching me from my peripheral.

When the couch dipped next to me, I gulped down the nervousness that was trying to choke me. Edward sighed and leaned back on the cushions, his arm going to the back of the couch, behind me once again. His fingers played with a few strands of my hair for a moment before he finally spoke.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked after a minute.

My body went still. "Talk about what?" I hedged.

Edward dropped his arm from the back of the couch, wrapping it around my shoulders. He easily turned my body so that I was facing him, tucking me into his side. I looked up into his dark green eyes. The intensity of his stare made my mouth go dry. I could spend eons with Edward and still never understand how he could have such an effect on me.

"Let's start with why one second, you seem to be into me, and the next, you can't get away from me fast enough."

I shook my head. "That's not true," I lied pathetically.

Edward snorted mirthlessly. "Stop lying to me, please."

I looked down at my lap, but Edward quickly tilted my head back up with two fingers underneath my chin, forcing our eyes to meet once again. He reached out with his free hand, running his finger over my temple so gently, that I could feel my body swooning and turning to mush.

"Just tell me what's going on in that head," he prodded with a kind smile.

I let out a hard breath and rolled my eyes. I couldn't tell him everything, thanks to Alice, but I could at least let him in on some things. Maybe if I did that, I could make sense of all these warring emotions and thoughts I had. Or at least lessen the guilt I felt.

I stared up into his fathomless eyes, momentarily stunned by them before I collected myself and my thoughts. I readjusted my position to face him more comfortably, my leg sliding next to his on the couch.

"I just have never… um, I've never been in a situation like this, you know? I've never been pursued like this, and I don't know how to handle it because you're so… uh, you're so…"

"Sexy?" he asked with a playful smirk and an exaggerated wink.

I snorted and grabbed his hand from my chin. "Persistent" I deadpanned.

He wrapped his fingers around mine and set our hands on his leg as he scooted closer to me. That sinful tongue of his slithered out to lick his bottom lip setting my body on fire. If he wasn't careful, he would reduce to me nothing but ashes.

"I know what I want," he told me with a shrug.

"And you want… me?" I needed clarification.

It was his turn to roll his eyes. "We went over this already. I told you why I like you, Bella. And I want to see where this can go. I'm not here for bullshit or wasting time. I truly want to see where this leads because I have never felt so drawn to a woman in my life. And I mean that."

"So… you're attracted to me?" I asked stupidly.

Edward tilted his head, pursing his lips. "Obviously."

"And?" I persisted. I needed more than that.

Edward sighed, slamming his shoulder into the couch, his hand tightening around my fingers the tiniest bit. "What do you want me to say? I told you I feel drawn to you, I'm attracted to you, I wanna see where this can go. I don't make promises because I don't know if I can keep them. But I will say that I haven't stopped thinking about you since last night and spending today with you has been fucking amazing. And soon, I want to spend the day with just you."

He leaned his head back and regarded me warily. "Can you please stop questioning my motives and just let yourself feel and have a good time?"

I nodded stiffly. "It's just there's so much that –," I cut myself off before I could out myself and Alice. I quickly changed tactics. "Th-there's just so many differences between us."

Edward shrugged one shoulder and sighed long and hard. I could tell that he was getting tired of convincing me and that scared me more than I wanted to admit. He closed his eyes tightly for a moment, breathing harshly through his nose, before opening his eyes and staring at me with little to no emotion. The sudden switch made my head spin and my heart race.

"Look, if you don't want to do this, then tell me now and I'll have Jasper drive you back to our place and you can go home. But if you do want to do this, then stop with the insecurities, shut your mouth, and kiss me because I'm not playing games with you."

My eyes widened at his commanding tone. He was giving me an option on top of an ultimatum. I could either give in, quit questioning everything, and kiss him, or we would be done. Just done. No more convincing, no more kissing, no more Edward...

The thought of us being done, the thought of never kissing him again… tore me to pieces, and I couldn't handle it. Panic settled in my chest, prickling me from the inside out.

I looked into those dark green eyes once more before lifting my trembling hands to his cheeks and licking my lips. He did the same, a smile playing at the corners of his lips as we both leaned in. Edward reached up with one of his hands to grab one of mine, moving it to the nape of his neck, his other hand going around my back, crushing my chest and stomach to his.

There was no chaste kiss to check boundaries, there was no questioning tongue that was seeking purchase. He dove straight in, his tongue behind my teeth in a second, swirling around in the most dizzying ways. His hand that was wrapped around mine trailed down my arm and twirled through the locks hanging loosely down my back, tugging roughly.

I could feel the heat light up my face, and other places. He tugged harder until I let out a small cry and leaned back. He took the opportunity to climb over me with my back against the arm of the couch. His legs moved frantically, separating my knees and nestling his hips between them.

He was a heavy weight on top of me, and I could feel him everywhere.

I was overwhelmed, turned on, freaked out, and so very hot, all at the same time. All I could do was hold onto him for dear life. My fingers tangled in his wild hair, my other hand grasping the back of his loose shirt.

Over the bass of the music, I could hear Edward's groans and growls mixed with my moans and cries of pleasure. When his hips started a steady rhythm against my most sacred place, my eyes popped open, my hands going to the front of his shoulders and chest, pushing him away from me.

He made an irritated sound but sat up, still kneeling between my open thighs. I looked up at him and noted the red swell on his lips, the pink splotches on his cheeks, and the wild way his hair stood up. He was the most inhumanly beautiful vision I had ever seen in my life and I pushed him away.

He leaned his arm on the couch, bringing his face closer to mine, his intoxicating breath wafting over my face, making me even more dizzy. "You okay? Was that too much?"

I nodded my head, my words contradicting the motion. "No," I squeaked out.

Edward smiled cutely. "You don't have to lie to me. Ever. We'll go at your pace," he said with promises in his tone. I knew that Edward would respect my boundaries, even if he really didn't want to. I peeked down at the bulge in his pants, my blush getting even hotter. Yeah, he really didn't want to stop.

I smiled up at him despite my embarrassment. "Thank you."

Edward chuckled and shook his head. He grabbed my hands and pulled me back into a sitting position. I leaned against the arm of the couch, crossing my shaking leg over my trembling knee, almost hugging the arm of the couch to keep myself upright. I watched as Edward grabbed a joint and a little blue lighter from his jacket pocket. He sat back on the couch, and lit the joint, pulling from it deeply before blowing the big cloud of smoke high into the air.

I watched him as if he was the most fascinating creature I had ever seen. And he probably was. He smoked half before pulling the cherry off with his thumb and forefinger, his fingers twisting it closed. He put it back in his jacket before turning to me.

"I have to kiss you again," he said shamelessly.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I only nodded. He bit his lip, smiling, his hands reaching over and wrapping around my waist. I squeaked in surprise when he quickly and deftly pulled me over and had me straddling his thighs in no time at all. I looked down at him with wide eyes, unsure of what to do in this new position.

His hands trailed up and down my thighs, the feeling of his touch through the leather making my eyes roll involuntarily.

"Kiss me," he whispered, tilting his chin up, his hands splayed on my bottom and distracting me.

My hands hovered over him for a moment before settling on his chest.

I took a deep breath in, licked my lips, and leaned down toward his face. One of my hands came up to cup his chin as my lips softly touched his. He did nothing to deepen the kiss, letting me have full control. I pressed my lips harder against his, causing him to groan and lift his bottom off the couch, pushing his most private, and very hard, place against my center.

I gasped and pulled back, my eyes wide on his.

"Sorry," he smirked, moving his hands to the backs of my knees. "Proceed."

I leaned down again, this time getting bolder with my advances. I licked his bottom lip before biting down on it gently and then pulling it into my mouth and sucking. It made a popping noise when I released it.

"You're playing with fire," he growled, his hands going back up my thighs to grab my bottom in a gentle grip.

Something about that turned me on and flipped a switch inside of me.

I pulled the sinful man closer to me, bending my head down to latch our lips together so hard our teeth clacked against each other slightly. Edward's hands splayed across my bottom, pulling me closer to him, the bulge in his pants rubbing against my clit felt like licks of fire. I wrapped my arms around his neck so tightly I was surprised he could still breathe, but with the sounds he was making, I wasn't too worried about his oxygen. I ground my hips harder on his lap, enjoying the feelings it elicited inside of me and making him groan so deeply I felt it where our chests touched.

Suddenly, our lips made a popping noise when Edward pulled me away from him, his hands wrapped around my upper arms.

I panted, my confused gaze on his face. He quickly pushed me off of his lap, sitting me down next to him. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. I was about to ask him what happened when I heard the sound of feet thundering up the stairs.

"Eddie, my dude," Emmett climbed the steps with a grin on his face. He looked between Edward and me a few times, his brow raising and a smile fighting for dominance on his lips. "Oops?" he chortled making my cheeks pool with blood, heating my face in a much different way than Edward had previously.

"Hey, Emmett," Edward greeted him unenthusiastically. He looked like he was trying very hard to compose himself. The way his nostrils flared slightly, and his eyes blazed, made my thighs clench once again.

I must've been sick in the head if angry Edward turned me on that much.

"Move it," Alice pushed past Emmett. Her comically small body pushing the giant bear out of the way would have been funny, had I not been so embarrassed and turned on.

Alice had her hand in Jasper's. She pushed Jasper into one of the chairs and then climbed onto his lap. She looked over at me, her eyes widening, and I knew it was clear to everyone what Edward and I had been doing.

I covered my cheeks with my hands, peeking over at Edward. He looked at me with a small smile, his eyes looking amused at my reaction to being caught. I looked away from him as I tried to steady my breathing.

The things this man did to me…

Emmett fell into the chair next to where I was seated and turned his head to Edward. "Got any bud?"

Edward reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out that same pack of cigarettes. When he opened it, I couldn't help but look over curiously. It was filled with joints, no actual cigarettes in sight. He pulled one out along with a lighter and handed it over to Emmett before stuffing the pack back in his pocket.

Emmett lit the end, taking a long drag in and holding it. He grinned at Edward as he blew out the smoke. He looked at me again, then back to Edward, chuckling to himself and shaking his head. It was weird how someone could say so little and yet so much at the same time.

Edward only glared at him as he leaned back on the couch and let his arm drop behind me. I jumped a little when his hand grazed my backside. I quickly looked over to Alice who was already watching me with a smug look on her face. I knew what she was thinking. And it pissed me off that I did exactly what she wanted me to and all it took was Edward invading my senses.

Edward-induced stupidity was a real thing and it was dangerous. He made me lose complete control of my faculties. He bent me to his will and molded me to his body so perfectly that I hardly stood a chance.

I shook my head, trying to clear it. I was still hazy from that mind-blowing kiss. I was once again reminded that Edward held way too much power over me. I willed my hormones to behave for the rest of the night – I couldn't let myself be drawn in by Edward when I knew that this could only end in disaster.

So why was I allowing it to get so far?

I peeked over at the object of my adoration and obsession. He looked way too pleased with himself as he leaned close to me. I didn't know what he expected from me, but my heart constricted at the thought of me telling him he couldn't have it – whatever it was. He wanted me and I wanted him, and in a perfect world, that would be all that mattered. But there was so much more to this than he knew. And I had a feeling there was more to this than even I knew.

"We have one more set to play," Emmett said as he stood up after a few minutes. He handed what was left of the joint to Edward. "You guys gonna be here when I'm done?"

"That's the plan," Jasper answered distractedly as Alice trailed her fingers down his face and over his lips.

"Then stop being lame and join the party, bitches," Emmett called over his shoulder as he ran down the stairs, making the whole platform shake from his heavy footfalls.

Edward took a few puffs off the joint before using his fingers to pull the cherry off. He set the joint behind his ear and stood up at the same time Jasper and Alice did. He held his hand out to me giving me an expectant look.

I looked between his hand and eyes, weighing my options. I could either stay up here all by myself like a party pooper or I could follow Edward down to the main floor and attempt to have a good time. One more look at Edward's expectant face and my mind was made up.

I bit my lip nervously and slid my hand into Edward's. He wrapped his fingers around mine and pulled me up onto my feet quickly. He didn't let go of me as we followed behind Jasper and Alice on the narrow staircase. My free hand gripped onto the railing to keep myself from falling down.

I wasn't the most poised on my best days, and with Edward's taste on my tongue and his scent swirling around my head, I needed the extra help.

We made our way over to a table in front of the stage. The men sitting there looked over at us and then quickly got up from their seats and walked to the other side of the bar without a backward glance. Jasper and Edward didn't even say anything to them, and they didn't look surprised when the men moved out of their way.

Okay… that was weird.

Edward let go of my hand and pulled a chair out for me. When I sat down, he took the spot next to me. Alice and Jasper sat on the other side of the table. Cheers erupted around us when the members of the band ran back on stage. I cringed into myself when the loud electric guitar played a chord so close to my ear, it was almost painful.

I gasped, startled, when Edward wrapped his arm around my abdomen, pulling me closer to his side. I could feel the nervous energy course through my body from being around so many strange people. I had serious social anxiety. I wasn't sure if Edward could tell, but his thumb started running soothing circles on the skin bared between my pants and corset. He didn't let me go for the rest of the hour as we listened to the band play. I gradually got more comfortable, even enjoying myself and the music. And especially Edward's attention. I found myself leaning back on him, my head in the crook of his neck, listening to the beautiful humming sound coming from his throat, and the vibration of it on my cheek.

Rosalie held up two fingers, flashing the peace sign as the applause started to die down after their last set. Emmett and Rosalie joined us at the table just as a gorgeous blonde woman came over with a tray full of shot glasses. She sat them down and smiled at each of us, her eyes lingering on Edward.

My own narrowed at her.

"Hey, there," she cooed, leaning over our table, her ample breasts on full display. "How have you been?"

Edward hummed low in his throat, his eyes avoiding hers and her breasts. "Good. You?"

"Oh, just a bit lonely without your company," she grinned, her eyes traveling down his arm, her smile falling slightly when she saw that it was around my waist. She pursed her lips, licking her teeth before standing up straight. "We'll talk later, Edward."

With a flick of her pristine hair over her shoulder, she spun on her heel and headed back over to the bar. I watched her until I couldn't see her anymore, my hands clenched into fists. Jealousy coursed through me, and I couldn't understand it. It was a feeling I wasn't particularly accustomed to. I didn't want to make a big deal about it, because I was sure Edward had many women in his past.

He was focused on me now.

I hoped.

Edward squeezed my waist until I looked up at him.

"She's no one," he said, his eyes showing nothing but honesty. "Just someone I used to know. She isn't relevant."

Before I could answer, Emmett slammed his hand down on the table. "Who's taking a shot with me?" Emmett asked us, picking one up and breaking the tension around the table.

Everyone but me and Edward grabbed one and I was relieved that Edward wasn't going to be drinking. I wouldn't get in the car with him if he had even one drink. I was taught better than that. Although I seemed to be doing many things I was taught not to do.

But that was neither here nor there.

While everyone at the table threw their drinks back, Edward pulled me even closer to his side, the side of his slightly stubbly face nuzzling my neck, tickling me, and making me giggle despite myself and my recent insecurities.

"Dance with me, Angel." It wasn't a request, and he didn't give me any time to reject him. He picked me up off my chair and set me on my feet, tugging me to the floor where a few people were dancing to the rock music playing over the speakers.

He grabbed my hips when we got to the middle of the floor, pulling me close to his body. He started moving his hips to the beat and I just stood there awkwardly, looking around at all the people, my face blazing hotter and hotter. Edward leaned down until our faces were barely an inch apart.

"You have to move your body," he whispered close to my ear, causing a shudder to run down my spine.

I met his eyes shyly.

"I can't dance."

Edward chuckled.

"Everyone can dance with the right partner." He grabbed one of my hands and quickly spun me around, so my back was to his front. His fingers wrapped around my waist, and he pushed my body to sway to the music, our hips moving in tandem. I leaned back into him, breathing harshly when he pushed into me, the bulge in his jeans pressing into my lower back.

"Just like that," he whispered close to my ear. He moved one hand to my stomach pushing me further into him and making my eyes flutter. I had to fight to keep them open.

My body swayed with his, my brain on autopilot. I reached one hand up and knotted my fingers with his on my stomach. My other arm leaned on his, my fingers wrapping around his wrist. I felt like my body would just float right off the floor if he let go of me. It made me tighten my hold on him, gripping him so tightly, I wouldn't be surprised if I was cutting off his circulation.

He didn't seem to mind either way.

I was finally getting into the motion and moving without Edward's help when he suddenly stopped, his body going stiff behind me. He grabbed my arm almost too roughly and spun me until I was behind his body. My eyes widened and I peeked around him in time to see a giant of a man walk up with two equally muscular guys flanking his sides.

Edward's hand tightened painfully around my arm. I tried to get out of his grip but he held onto me like a vice. The sudden tension in the air was palpable and frightening, causing me to shake as I tried in vain to release his grip on my upper arm.

"Edward, I thought that was you," the man in the middle said, his voice antagonizing.

"The fuck are you doing here, Jacob?" Edward spat out venomously. The sweet and adorable man from earlier seemed to be long gone. He was replaced with someone I couldn't recognize.

"We came to see the show," he responded in that same tone. He craned his neck, his eyes finding mine, a sickening smile marring his face. "This your girlfriend?"

"She's nobody," Edward spat coldly, pushing me further behind him. I recoiled, his words were like a slap to the face.

His grip became impossibly tighter, and I hissed in pain. He let go of me when Jasper and Emmett walked over. Jasper pulled me from behind Edward and pushed me toward the front of the bar, away from Jacob and the two guys who were eying me in a way that made shivers run down my spine.

Jasper leaned down close to my ear, urgency clear on his face. "Alice and Rose are waiting for you by the door. It's time for you ladies to leave."

I looked over to the door and saw Alice standing there with Edward's sister. Alice looked just as confused as I felt. But not nearly as terrified as I was. I looked at Edward, but he refused to take his eyes off the Jacob guy. My brain was screaming DANGER and when my feet finally caught up to my brain, I walked as fast as I could away from the scene unfolding and grabbed Alice by her arm, dragging her out of the bar.

"I'll drive you two back to the guy's place," Rosalie said as she hurried to catch up with us.

She pulled out her keys and hit a button on the fob. A red convertible beeped, announcing its presence. All three of us veered in its direction. Rosalie quickly hopped in the front seat while I got in the back and Alice slid into the passenger seat. Rosalie sped out of the parking lot like it was on fire, skidding onto the road and zooming by a yellow light, barely acknowledging the cars that honked at her.

After a few minutes, I couldn't handle the loaded silence anymore.

"Does anyone want to explain what the hell just happened?"

I met Rosalie's eyes in the rearview mirror. She shook her head before looking back at the winding road ahead of her.

"No," was her only response.

That one word held finality. I wasn't going to get any answers out of her. I sighed, resigned, and leaned back on the seat, closing my eyes, and waiting to get back to Edward's so me and Alice could head home and get out of whatever mess was just made.

x!X!x

Longest chapter so far because you guys are awesome. I couldn't believe how many people showed interest in my little story. I hope you continue to read and review because there is more to come. The more you reviewed, the more I wrote, so keep that in mind, please!

Question: If this story was recommended to you, where did you find it?

Question: What do you think about Edward and Jasper facing off with Jacob?