Edward Masen lounged in his beat-up swivel chair, one hand resting on the edge of his scuffed desk, the other holding a joint that burned lazily between his fingers. His apartment wasn't much—just a one-bedroom crammed with mismatched furniture and indie crap he'd collected over the years. Posters of old bands and faded movie prints lined the walls, pinned up without frames, corners curling from neglect.
The air was thick with the smell of weed and incense, the latter barely doing its job. Bowls, grinders, and a collection of lighters cluttered the coffee table in the living room, surrounded by an army of empty beer bottles and half-finished glasses of whiskey. But the space was oddly cozy, a haven of blankets and cushions thrown haphazardly across the worn-out couch and the floor.
Behind him, his friends sprawled in various states of annoyance. Jasper leaned back against a mountain of throw pillows on the floor, a cigarette dangling from his lips, while Emmett rummaged through the fridge, muttering something about all the food being gone. Jake on the other hand dws half hanging off edwards bed, smoke drooling from his mouth.
"You're hopeless, man," Emmett called out, slamming the fridge shut and grabbing a beer from the counter instead. "Seriously, how many times do we have to tell you to get this shit done?"
Edward glanced over his shoulder, his dark eyes half-lidded and amused. "I'm working on it." He waved vaguely at the open laptop in front of him, the screen displaying the same untouched document it had for hours.
"Working on it?" Jasper snorted, taking a drag from his cigarette. "You've been sitting there, staring at that thing, for what? Three hours? Your idea of working is just getting high and hoping inspiration strikes."
Edward grinned, leaning back and blowing out a slow plume of smoke. "Exactly. And guess what? Inspiration's on its way. Any second now."
Rosalie, perched on the armrest of the couch, raised an eyebrow as she swirled a glass of wine in her hand. "It's not 'on its way,' Edward. It's lost, just like your sense of time and responsibility. You've got less than twenty-four hours to turn that pitch in, and if you miss it, don't come crying to us."
Edward rolled his eyes, flicking ash into a stained ashtray on the desk. "You all sound like my parents. Relax. I've got it under control."
"Do you, though?" Jasper asked, gesturing to the chaos of the room. "Because all I see is someone procrastinating with a joint and a bad playlist."
The music, a low-fi indie mix, crackled through an ancient set of speakers, adding to the haze of the room. Edward sighed, turning back to his laptop with a lazy shrug. His friends weren't wrong, but he wasn't about to admit it. The truth was, he couldn't focus, couldn't shake the nagging feeling pulling at the back of his mind.
On the corner of his desk, buried under a few crumpled receipts and an old Rolling Stones magazine, was a folded card. Its edges were soft and creased, a faint coffee ring staining one corner. Edward reached for it, flipping it over in his hand, his thumb running across the embossed lettering.
"What's that?" Emmett asked, noticing his sudden distraction.
Edward paused, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Nothing important." He tossed the card back onto the desk, but his mind lingered on it, a spark of curiosity lighting in his chest.
It wasn't nothing. And Edward knew it.
Edward leaned back in his chair, the joint perched between his lips as he stared at the card for a moment longer before blowing out a cloud of smoke. He brushed it aside, burying it back under the mess on his desk like it didn't matter.
But Jasper wasn't letting it go.
"Speaking of nothing important…" Jasper drawled from his spot on the floor, flicking ash into an empty beer can. "What's up with that girl from the bar? Bella, wasn't it?"
Edward's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before he masked it with another drag. "What about her?"
"Oh, come on." Jasper leaned forward, elbows on his knees, a sly grin tugging at his lips. "You don't just stumble into a hookup like that, again, and not tell us the story. She was like smokin' hot. I'd crawl through broken glass to suck the cock of the last man who fucked her typa hot." Edward laughed and threw an old newspaper at him, which he skillfully dodged, giving him a wink. "And, my good man, that's not like, not your usual 'drunk groupie who follows you home' kind. She actually looked like she had standards. What'd you say to her to get her to drop them?"
Edward exhaled slowly, the smoke curling upward as he gave a half-shrug. "Shut the fuck up, first of all, and I didn't say much. She dragged me off, must be my charm boys."
"Bullshit." Emmett cut in, flopping onto the couch with his beer, but Edwards' silence only confirmed it. "She wanted to fuck you?"
Jake rolled his eyes, swirling the beer in his can upside down and tapping it in Edward's direction. "You're all idiots. Maybe she liked his brooding, messy aesthetic. Women eat that tortured artist shit up."
Edward snorted, his smirk returning. "Maybe she did." He leaned forward, stubbing out his joint in the ashtray. "She asked me to join her. One thing led to another."
Jasper's eyebrows shot up. "That's it? She asked for you, and you what - swept her off her feet with your charm?"
"Something like that," Edward said, reaching for his drink and avoiding Jasper's gaze.
"Bullshit," Jasper shot back, his grin widening. "You're leaving something out."
Edward took a long sip, leaning back in his chair again. His friends knew him too well. He wasn't going to admit that Bella had been the one to leave him speechless. There'd been something about her - something he couldn't get enough of. Like she didn't buy into his usual laid-back, devil-may-care attitude. She'd seen right through it, and somehow, instead of walking away, she'd stayed and even played with it. She was damn feisty, and he loved her attitude.
"Fine," Jasper said, breaking the silence. "If you won't spill, at least tell me this: you gonna see her again?"
Edward hesitated, his fingers brushing against the edge of the desk where the card lay buried. "Who knows, man, she's got her shit going on." he said, his tone casual but clipped. "She didn't seem like the type to stick around."
"That's because you're the one who never sticks around," Jacob said without looking away from the tapestry swirling on the wall by Edwards front door.
Edward didn't respond. Instead, he grabbed the joint he'd stubbed out, relit it, and took another slow drag. He wasn't about to admit that Bella had left him with more than a lingering memory of her lips and her laugh. She'd left him curious.
And Edward Masen hated being curious.
He'd been with enough women, stuck his dick in a fair few, but rarely he'd felt a connection.
But he'd be a damned liar if he didn't want to see her, and it was driving him insane not knowing if she felt that too. Or if he was just good sex for her. He'd take it. Like Jasper said, she was hot.
His ragged blonde friend raised an eyebrow, studying Edward like he was trying to claw the truth out of him with just a look, it seldom worked but he was nothing if not persistent. Or annoying. "You're full of shit," he finally said, leaning back against the pillows. "You wouldn't be this quiet about her if she didn't get under your skin."
Edward snorted, the sound low and dismissive. "You've been reading too many romance novels, Jasper."
"Yeah, okay," He replied, smirking. "But you're still dodging the question. What was it about her? She must've been something if you actually remember her name. Her pussy that good?"
Edward threw another paper, narrowly dodging the guitarists head.
"She had a vibe," Edward muttered, taking another drag off the joint. He exhaled slowly, the smoke hanging in the air like a shield. "That's all."
Emmett laughed, a loud bark of sound that made the bottles on the coffee table rattle. "A vibe? You mean she wasn't wasted and didn't think your rat's nest of an apartment was charming? Man, if that's all it takes to impress you-"
"She wasn't like that," Edward cut in, sharper than he meant to. The room went quiet for a beat, his tone slicing through the usual haze of their banter. He leaned back, rubbing the back of his neck as if he could brush the moment away. "She just… wasn't like the others, okay? Drop it."
Jacobs eyes flicked up from his can, narrowing slightly as he studied him. "You're deflecting. That's new."
Edward shrugged, but the tension in his shoulders didn't ease. He didn't want them speaking shit about her. Not right now, he had stuff to do and this was a distraction he didn't need. They weren't even anything, fucked a few times and had coffee. That wasn't dating. That was desperation of him wanting to cling onto her tits, because holy shit they were magnificent. "She's just someone I met at a bar. End of story."
Jasper exchanged a look with Emmet before shaking his head, grinning. "You're so bad at lying. If it was 'just someone,' you wouldn't be this touchy about it."
Edward ignored him, turning back to his laptop and pretending to type something. But his mind wasn't on the blank document in front of him. Instead, it drifted to Bella - her sultry eyes, her long long legs, the way she gripped him, how she tasted on his tongue, the way her moans sounded like ascending to heaven.
She was his own personal brand of heroine.
He craved her.
He ached for her, every damn second he was awake and felt truly pathetic.
Edward shifted his hips awkwardly.
"You're thinking about her," Jasper said, breaking the silence again, his voice smug.
"I'm thinking about how much I want you to shut up," Edward replied, not looking away from the screen, ignoring the sensation growing in his jeans.
He needed a shower, a long cold soak would do it.
"Sure you are," Jasper shot back, settling into the pillows. "Let me know how that works out for you."
Emmett cracked open another beer, still chuckling. "Place your bets now, folks. I'm giving it three days before Edward caves and goes looking for her."
Edward rolled his eyes, reaching for his drink. "You've got way too much faith in my attention span."
"Or maybe," Jacob piped up, "she's already gotten under your skin, and you just don't want to admit it."
Edward didn't respond, he sat there stewing for a moment. Staying silent, took another hit from his joint, and let the low-fi playlist fill the quiet.
But even as he tried to lose himself in the haze, her name echoed in his mind broken by a tapping sound. He furrowed his brows.
What was that?
It happened again.
The knock on the door was light at first, almost hesitant, but it cut through the haze of conversation and music in Edward's apartment. He glanced up from his laptop, brow furrowing. Visitors weren't exactly common, especially this late.
Jasper looked over from his spot on the floor, cigarette dangling between his fingers. "Expecting someone?"
"Nope." Edward pushed back his chair with a low creak and stood, stretching as he made his way to the door. He wasn't in a rush, it was probably a neighbour asking for something stupid like a lighter or a bottle opener.
When he swung the door open, he froze.
Bella stood there, clutching the edge of the doorframe like it might stop the floor from tilting under her feet. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair a wild mess around her face. The sharp edge of sensuality he remembered from the bar was noticeably dulled, replaced by an awkward, almost vulnerable energy.
"Uh, hey," she slurred, blinking up at him with unfocused eyes. Then her gaze flicked past him into the apartment, and her expression fell. "Oh shit… you have people over. Fuck, I'm sorry."
Edward glanced over his shoulder. Jasper and Emmett were staring, wide-eyed and curious, while Jake leaned against the back of the couch, his lips twitching in amusement. The room felt too loud, too full, all at once.
"It's fine," Edward said, stepping into the hallway and closing the door behind him just enough to muffle the chaos inside. "You good? You look… well, not great."
Bella let out a dry laugh, immediately wincing as if the sound hurt her head. "Thanks for that. Really doing wonders for my self-esteem." She shifted on her feet, pulling her leather jacket tighter around her. "I didn't think you'd have company. I'll just, uh, go."
She turned to leave, but Edward caught her arm gently, his fingers brushing against the worn leather of her jacket. "Wait. What are you even doing here?"
"I…" Bella hesitated, avoiding his eyes. "I don't know. I shouldn't have come. Sorry. It's stupid."
Edward's grip softened, but he didn't let go. Something about the way she stood there, her usual sharp edges dulled, made him pause. She looked like she was trying not to fall apart.
"It's not stupid," he said, his voice softer now. "Just… talk to me. What's going on?"
Bella finally met his gaze, her eyes glassy but searching. "I had a bad night," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
The words hit Edward harder than he expected.
"You're here now," he said, stepping aside and holding the door open. "Come in."
Bella hesitated, glancing past him at the muffled noise of his friends talking and laughing inside. "I don't want to ruin your night."
"You're not," Edward assured her, his tone firm. "Trust me, they'll survive."
After a long pause, Bella nodded and stepped inside. The room went quiet as she entered, her presence instantly drawing everyone's attention. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest, clearly uncomfortable, and avoided making eye contact with anyone.
"Well, well," Jasper said, breaking the silence with a slow grin. "So is this, Bella."
"Shut up, Jasper," Edward snapped, his voice sharper than usual. He grabbed a blanket off the couch and draped it over one of the chairs. "Sit down. I'll get you some water."
Bella sank into the chair, cheeks burning as she tried to ignore the curious looks from everyone in the room. Edward disappeared into the kitchen, and Jake, to his dunk credit, offered a polite smile. "Rough night?" He enquired.
Bella nodded, too embarrassed to speak.
When Edward returned, he handed her a glass of water and crouched in front of her, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "Drink this. And don't listen to them, they're idiots."
Bella managed a weak smile, taking the glass from him. "Thanks."
Edward leaned back on his heels, watching her carefully. "You want to talk about it?"
She shook her head, her fingers tightening around the glass as she glanced at his friend's curious expressions. All watching her intently. It put her on edge. "Not right now."
"Okay." He stood, glancing at his friends. "You guys can go now."
Emmett blinked. "What?"
"You heard me," Edward said, crossing his arms. "Night's over. Get out."
Jake rolled her eyes but didn't argue, grabbing his coat and smacking Edwards shoulder on the way past. Jasper smirked as he got to his feet, tossing his cigarette into the ashtray. "Have fun," he muttered under his breath, earning a glare from Edward, Emmett quickly followed suit, swiping another can before leaving with a wink, and making a crude gesture with his cock.
Once the door closed behind them, the apartment fell silent. Edward turned back to Bella, his tone softer now. "Okay. Now it's just us, you good?"
She looked up at him, her shoulders relaxing just a little. "Better now," she admitted quietly.
Edward grabbed a cushion and dropped it onto the floor in front of her chair, sitting down with his back against the coffee table. "Want another drink to take the edge of?"
Bella considered his question, her fingers idly tracing the rim of the water glass in her hands. "Maybe," she said after a pause, her voice quiet but steady. Then she set the glass down on the table, leaning forward slightly. "But... not right now."
Edward tilted his head, watching her with that unreadable look of his. The smoke in the air from earlier lingered faintly, mingling with the faint scent of her perfume, a pleasant mix of something floral and warm. He nodded, leaning back on his palms, giving her space to speak or not, whichever she needed.
"I don't even know why I'm here," Bella admitted, her voice softer now, as if the words were meant more for herself than for him.
"You don't have to explain," Edward said, his tone even, calm. "Everyone's allowed to have bad nights. Ask those guys who were just here, I've had my fair share."
She met his gaze, something flickering in her eyes, relief, maybe. Or gratitude. "Thanks for not making this weird," she said, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Edward smirked, reaching up to rub the back of his neck. "Give me time. I'm great at making things weird."
Bella laughed, a soft, surprised sound that warmed the room more than the blankets or cushions ever could. Her smile lingered for a moment, and then, before she could think twice, she slid off the edge of the chair and into his lap.
Edward stiffened, his hands instinctively going to her waist to steady her as her thighs slipped either side of his. "Uh, Bella?" he said, his voice low and cautious.
She rested her forehead against his shoulder, her breath warm against his neck. "Don't freak out," she murmured slowly, pronouncing each syllable delicately.. "I just… I don't want to sit over there anymore."
His hands stayed where they were, hovering like he wasn't sure if he was supposed to move her or let her stay. "Not freaking out," he said carefully. "Just… surprised."
"Don't be," Bella said, her voice muffled against his hoodie. She tilted her head slightly, her cheek brushing his collarbone. "This is nice."
Edward let out a breath, his shoulders relaxing as he adjusted slightly, making sure she was comfortable. "Yeah," he said finally. "It kind of is."
They sat there for a while. Her heart beat pounding against his chest. Edward felt the tension in her body ease gradually, her breathing slowing as she let herself relax against him. He didn't push her to explain, didn't care to. Instead, he let the moment stretch out, unhurried and strangely peaceful.
"Edward," Bella said eventually, her voice soft and hesitant.
"Yeah?"
She pulled back just enough to look up at him, her eyes meeting his. "I didn't think you'd let me in."
Edward's lips quirked into a small, crooked smile. "Guess I'm full of surprises."
Bella's gaze lingered on him for a moment before she nodded, her expression softening. She didn't say anything else, just rested her head back against his shoulder, and Edward tightened his arms around her, holding her steady like she was something fragile and precious.
Bella didn't give him time to think. One second, she was looking at him with those heavy-lidded eyes, her cheeks flushed with alcohol. The next, her lips were on his - soft, warm, and completely uncoordinated.
It was messy, her mouth moving against his like she didn't know how to pace herself, like she was chasing something. Edward stiffened under her, caught off guard, his hands instinctively going to her sides, though whether to steady her or push her away, he wasn't sure.
"Bella-" he tried, his voice muffled against her insistent kisses.
But before he could finish, her hands pressed against his chest, pushing him back. He lost his balance, landing on the carpet with a surprised thud. Bella followed, sliding down with him, her knees straddling his hips as her weight pinned him to the floor.
"Ugh," Edward managed, his breath hitching as her lips found his again.
But she didn't wait. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as her mouth moved against his, frantic and unrelenting. The scent of her flooded his senses, making it hard to think, let alone argue.
He was already partially just from her sitting on his lap, and now he aching for her, yet again.
His hands hovered at her sides, unsure, torn between stopping her and pulling her closer. The press of her body against his, the heat of her skin through her clothes, it was overwhelming, intoxicating.
"Bella," he tried again, his voice breaking as she kissed the corner of his mouth, her lips grazing his jaw.
She paused then, just long enough to look at him, her face inches from his. Her eyes were glassy but intent, her breathing ragged. "What?" she murmured, her tone equal parts frustrated and vulnerable.
"You're drunk," he said, his voice soft but firm. His hands settled on her hips, holding her in place but not pushing her away. "This isn't… You're not thinking straight."
Bella frowned, her brows knitting together as she processed his words. "I know what I'm doing," she insisted, though her voice wavered slightly. "I wanted to come here. I wanted you."
Her confession hit him like a punch to the gut, leaving him breathless.
"You'll regret it," he said, his voice quieter now, almost pleading.
"I won't," she shot back, her fingers still tangled in his hair.
Edward swallowed hard, his hands still firm on her hips, keeping her steady above him.
"Bella," he started, his voice thick, strained.
But the way she looked at him, so sure, so desperate, made something snap inside him. Before he could think better of it, his hands moved, sliding up her sides, feeling the soft curve of her waist beneath his fingers. She shivered at his touch, her breath hitching as her hands tightened in his hair.
Besides, neither of them have been sober the last time they'd fucked. It was pure instinct.
"You don't know what you're asking for," Edward murmured, his tone low, almost a growl.
"I do," Bella whispered, her lips brushing against his as she leaned closer, grinding into his stiffened member. "I know exactly what I want."
Her words were the breaking point. With a groan that rumbled deep in his chest, Edward surged up, capturing her lips in a kiss that was no longer hesitant. It was hungry, consuming, the kind of kiss that made everything else fall away.
Bella gasped into his mouth, her fingers gripping his shoulders as he pulled her closer, his hands roaming her back, her thighs, everywhere he could reach. She moved against him instinctively, her hips pressing down into his, and he couldn't stop the low moan that escaped him.
"God," he rasped, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes. They were dark, dilated, and completely focused on him.
"Don't stop," she pleaded, her voice breathy, her hands slipping under his hoodie to touch the bare skin of his chest.
"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice softer now, his hands stilling on her hips.
Her answer was immediate, a firm, unshaken nod. "Yes."
That was all he needed. With a sudden burst of movement, he flipped them, pinning her gently beneath him on the carpet. She laughed, a surprised, breathless sound, her hands reaching for him as he leaned down to kiss her again.
It was slower this time, deeper, as his hands explored her body, slipping beneath her shirt, brushing against the soft skin of her stomach. Her legs wrapped around him, pulling him closer, and he groaned against her lips, his control fraying with every second.
"Tell me if you want to stop," Edward murmured against her neck, his voice rough and uneven.
His fingers slowly slid her jacket off and tossed it somewhere out of sight.
"I won't," Bella promised, her fingers trailing down his back, pulling him impossibly closer. "Just fuck me, Edward."
So he did.
;)