A/N: Hello my lovely, loyal, wonderful readers! See, I told you it wouldn't be seven months between posts again! You guys deserved to share a piece of my post-vacation bliss. I am totally relaxed, enjoying the beautiful weather, and the writing just flowed on this one!

As always, I own nothing of Twilight. I do own a bunch of new Disney pins, a bunch of new bras and undies from my favorite cross-border store (Lane Bryant), and a pirate who replaced my 7 yr old son!

Enjoy!

EPOV

I squinted my eyes closed tighter against the invasive morning light, rolling over in bed, intending to snuggle into Bella's side, only to find the bed empty. The pillow still bore her scent, freesia, lavender and a hint of strawberries, but she was nowhere to be found. Throwing off the covers, I sat up and instantly regretted it as the pain in my head went from a dull ache to a pounding reminder of the previous night. Dropping my head back to the pillow, I glanced over at the clock on the bedside table and noticed a folded note next to a glass of water. I reached for it and had to blink my eyes a few times in order for them to focus on the writing.

Edward,

I didn't want to wake you, but I had to get back to my place and get ready for my shift at the bar today. Take the Advil and water I left for you, and go back to bed for a couple hours. Trust me, you'll feel better. I'll call you later to check on you.

Bella

P.S. You're really cute when you're drunk!

Smiling at her thoughtfulness, I reached for the tablets, chasing them with the entire glass of water. Although it quenched my thirst, my mouth still felt like the bottom of a birdcage. I sat up on the side of bed, slowly this time, and held my head in my hands, resting my elbows on my knees, staring at the floor, trying to recall the events of the previous night. The party was, I thought, a great success. A night of fun with so many new friends and co-workers was the perfect way to break in my new condo, and I was so grateful to Bella for suggesting it. I remembered watching her most of the night, in awe of how she handled all that food, and yet how relaxed and comfortable she looked in my kitchen. It was also nice to feel so accepted by her close group of friends, particularly Emmett and Jasper. For Jasper to include me in his conversation with Emmett about asking Alice to marry him, obviously one of the most important moments of his life, just made me feel honoured. I tried to picture that moment in my own future, and wondered if Bella would be that woman for me. Sighing, I shook my head, trying to clear the cobwebs for a few moments before finally standing up and negotiating my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I figured a hot shower and some food would do a body good, then maybe a workout to sweat out all the alcohol from the previous night.

I stood under the hot spray, my hands splayed across the tile, leaning my body in, letting the water cascade down over my head and shoulders, as my thoughts instantly went to Bella. It wasn't hard to recall the feel of her naked body here in this very shower with me, or rather, it was hard...very hard. Taking matters into my own hands, literally, I let my mind swirl with images of her, narrow rivulets of water sliding over her skin, the subtle curve of her neck, the swell of her breasts, the firm roundness of her ass in my hands as I thrust into her, her tiny hands clinging to my shoulders. All too soon I shuddered with my release, leaning heavily against the tile wall, trying to slow down my heart as it threatened to pound right through my chest. As my breathing returned to normal, I grabbed the bottle of shampoo, squirting some into my hand and working it through my hair into a lather.

As easy as it was to focus on the physical side of Bella, my emotions were just as intense. It was difficult to rationalize the depth of my feelings for her in the short time that we'd known eachother, but I couldn't ignore how I felt. I knew I was hopelessly falling in love with her, more and more each day. Already I was finding myself making future plans with her in mind, picturing us together on weekend getaways, holidays spending time with family and friends, even entertaining the faint idea of living together, marrying her, having children.

I hesitated at that thought. Would Bella be able to let herself fall in love again? Her tearful confessions the previous morning about James clearly showed me that her heart was damaged. While she was willing to let go and be with me in that moment, I knew there was still a mountain to overcome when it came to truly winning her heart forever. I would need to constantly be mindful of pushing her too far, too fast. If nothing else, I already knew I couldn't do anything to lose her.

The water suddenly turned cold, bringing my attention back and forcing me to hop quickly out of the shower. I towelled off, donning a pair of sweats and a department t-shirt before heading to the kitchen in search of coffee. Next to the coffee maker, there was another note.

Coffee's all ready to go, just turn it on. Figured you'd need it!

Miss you already!

Bella

A smile flickered to my face. I'd have to repay her kindness, tonight if I could, if she wasn't too tired after work. I retrieved a travel mug from the cupboard as I waited for the coffee to brew, the heavenly aroma wafting through the kitchen as I split a bagel and popped it in the toaster before slathering it with cream cheese and raspberry jam. Finally when the coffee pot was full, I poured my mug, screwed the cap on, wrapped the bagel in a paper towel and donned my coat and shoes before grabbing my keys, wallet and phone. Balancing the bagel and coffee, I typed out a quick text in the elevator with one hand.

You are a goddess. Rough start, but feeling much better thanks to you.

Heading to the station for a work-out. Can I see you later? What time are you done?

E

By the time I reached my car, my phone chimed with a return text.

Not too busy, Mike says I can bail early. Want to have a late dinner at my place? Say 7? I'll bring home some apps if you want to pick up beer?

Ugh, the thought of more alcohol at this point was nauseating, and I quickly sent back a text stating such. She was quick with her reply.

Oops! Yeah, I guess you're still reeling from last night! LOL Don't worry, I'll take care of you, poor baby!

Now that I could handle!

Although it was a different shift working at the station today, I recognized a couple of the guys from my recruit class when I arrived and we chatted for a few minutes while I munched on the bagel, my stomach thankful for fuel after last night. Paul and Jared were gloating over a house fire they had fought the previous day, rubbing it in that I was now the only probie who hadn't seen a fire yet. Apparently I had a white cloud over my head, and was quickly becoming the joke of the department. I tried to laugh right along with them, but truth be told I was itching for some action. At least the conversation quickly turned to the upcoming calendar contest. They weren't looking forward to getting on stage in front of a crowd any more than I was, so I was in good company there. We exchanged some ideas on songs and such, and I finally had a rough plan for my performance. Now there was the matter of getting into the gym to buff up whatever I could.

Stepping onto the treadmill, I set the speed and incline slightly lower than normal, my whole body protesting as I began a slow jog. Not that I considered myself a huge drinker, but I would have to lay off the alcohol until the contest if I was going to have any hope of putting in a good showing. Maybe I could pass my ideas by Bella that night, see what she thought.

BPOV

Posters around the bar advertised the upcoming calendar contest, and I smiled, inwardly doing a little happy dance at the idea of seeing Edward flaunting it on stage. The bar was quickly selling out of it's allotment of tickets, and I made sure to grab three for Rose, Alice and myself as I waited for the guys in the kitchen to prepare the order of appetizers to take home for dinner. Edward has just sent a text, letting me know he was just pulling up outside my house, and I sent a reply that I was leaving shortly to join him.

My truck engine protested as I tried to eke out just a little more speed on the way home, eager to see Edward again. I felt a little ridiculous considering I had just seen him that morning, but I couldn't deny that every minute spent away from him was filled with longing. It felt good though, knowing my fragile heart was mending, with every gentle touch or word from Edward. In such a relatively short time, he had opened up a part of me I thought was closed forever, and deep down I knew I was falling in love with him. With any other man, this thought would have been enough to send me into a full on panic, but somehow Edward made it feel simple and right. I felt secure trusting him with my heart, and I hoped he felt the same.

Pulling into the parking spot, I smiled as I spied Edward sitting on the front steps, leaning casually against the railing. He waved and stood up, jogging over to my truck as I opened the door. Grabbing me around the waist, he pulled me into a swift hug, burying his nose in my hair and breathing in deeply.

"Mmmm, I missed you," he mumbled before pulling back and dropping a kiss on my temple before capturing my lips in a brief but searing kiss. I was already short of breath when we finally broke apart. What this man did to me!

"Missed you too," I replied, my smile widening, matching his as he reached behind me into the truck, retrieving my bag and our food.

"This smells awesome! I am so ravenous right now!" he exclaimed.

I swatted his arm playfully as he turned towards the house, kicking the door of my truck shut with his foot.

"That will teach you to overdo it on the booze, mister!" I jokingly chastised him.

He glanced over at me, grabbing me around the waist, pulling me close as we casually walked up the steps. I quickly unlocked the door and headed into the house, leading the way to the kitchen, where I motioned for Edward to put the food on the counter as I grabbed a couple of plates and cutlery, placing them on the breakfast bar before turning back to the fridge for drinks. When I turned back around, Edward was already digging into the bag, pulling out the food.

"Wings? Oh, woman, you certainly know the way to a man's heart!" he stated, digging in heartily. I rolled my eyes and reached back into the bag for the potato skins and salad to go with the wings. I portioned out some of each onto our plates as he continued to inhale the chicken wings, pausing only to lick the honey garlic sauce from his fingers. I managed to snag a few for myself and we ate in joyful silence, his groans of approval occasionally interrupting, followed quickly by my giggles. I was just finishing my salad when he leaned back on his stool, hands rubbing his stomach, a satisfied grin on his face.

"That was perfect!" he breathed out in a sigh. I couldn't suppress the laugh that bubbled up.

"Oh yes, nothing like greasy bar food to combat a hangover," I giggled in reply.

He leaned over and pecked me on the cheek. "Perfect," he whispered again, gazing into my eyes for a moment before he got up and started collecting the dishes.

"You, my dear, are in for some serious pampering tonight for taking such good care of me," he stated over his shoulder as he ran water in the sink, depositing the dishes, squirting dishsoap in after. I finished my salad, and leaned my elbows on the counter as he grabbed my plate, watching him wash the dishes, the muscles rippling across his back under his t-shirt. I offered to help dry, but he would have none of it, insisting that I just relax. When he was finished, we headed into the living room, sitting on the couch, where he sat at the end, pulling my feet into his lap.

We chatted about my day at work, his brief visit to the station and the upcoming calendar contest, all while he massaged my feet, making the stress of the day melt away. He wanted to get my opinion on some ideas he had for his performance, and I offered some different suggestions of things to avoid from previous years disasters. He was grateful for the advice, admitting that he was nervous at the thought of having to get up in front of a bunch of screaming women.

"Don't worry, baby. Alice, Rose and I will make sure we have front row seats. Just keep your eyes on me and you'll be fine," I assured him. He leaned over, pulling me into his lap.

"I only have eyes for you, Bella," he whispered before kissing me full on the lips. I was shocked, though, when he pulled away shortly and motioned for me to stand up as he followed me off the couch. He went to retrieve his bag by the door before returning to me.

"Let's go to your room," he stated quietly, a mischievous grin playing on his face.

"Wow, you don't waste time, do you?" I mocked in horror, turning towards the hall. He followed quickly behind me as I made my way to my room, turning on my bedside lamp and turning around, only to find him leaning on the doorframe, his eyes roaming the room, taking it in. I walked slowly over to him, placing my hands on his chest as he wrapped his arms around my waist. His kiss was gentle, tender, passing from my lips, trailing slowly across my cheek and down my neck. I arched myself into him, tilting my head to the side, allowing him better access. My pulse was already racing when his hands trailed their way from my hips up my sides, as he tugged at my shirt, raising it over my head. His hands returned to my shoulders, gently pushing my brastraps down, his fingers ghosting back up my arms before tracing a path across my collar bone down to my breasts, goosebumps rising on my flesh as he went.

His breathing picked up as he made quick work of my bra before trailing his fingers down to my jeans, popping the button before letting me shimmy them off while he pulled his own shirt over his head, discarding it in the growing pile of clothes on my bedroom floor. Standing there is my panties, I was about to go for his pants when he stopped me, turning me around slowly.

"Go lay face down on the bed. I said I was going to pamper you, remember?" he whispered in my ear, nudging me towards my bed. I snuck a glance back at him over my shoulder, and he was all smiles, shirtless, naked chest and looking very yummy. I whimpered in reply, pouting my lips, but he insisted, pushing me gently.

"Fine," I huffed in reply, flopping down on the bed, burying my head in the pillow. I heard him fumbling around in his bag before I felt his weight dip the bed, and then his knees on either side of my hips, straddling me. He sat back and I heard a lid popping before his hands were on me, slick and warm.

"I thought you could use a massage," he said softly, brushing my hair off my neck. "You took good care of me, now it's my turn to take care of you."

"You're always taking care of me, Edward," I argued over my shoulder. "But it feels amazing."

He continued his ministrations, starting with my shoulders, neading my neck, and then easing down my back. His touch was gentle but firm, his fingers working out the knots in my muscles, pausing every so often to add more oil, the warm scent of vanilla invading my senses, only serving to relax me further. As his hands dipped lower, he hooked his fingers in the waist of my panties and dragged them off before returning to massage each leg. He took his time, paying close attention whenever my body flinched or resisted, working that area over again until I was so relaxed and mellow, my eyes were drooping. I was pretty sure I was close to dozing off when I felt him shift and disappear from the bed for a moment before he returned, crawling slowly up my body. One hand reached under my belly, gently rolling me into him, my back to his chest.

His hand trailed up and down my side, tracing lazy patterns over my hip. I felt his lips brush feather kisses over my shoulder, nuzzling my neck with his nose, his breath tickling my ear. Snuggling back closer to him, I realized he was naked, having stripped off his jeans and boxers, his growing erection pressing into my backside, eliciting a groan from him as he gripped my hip tightly, stilling my movements. Having none of that, I arched my back, pressing myself back into him further.

"Bella," he growled huskily, nipping at my earlobe, sucking on the sensitive skin just below my ear. He rocked his pelvis, grinding himself against me slowly. His hand travelled up my arm, and he laced his fingers with mine before pulling both our hands down to my breast, softly kneading, my body responding instantly to the eroticism of my own fingers joined with his, my nipples hardening at the first touch. Letting him guide our movements, I closed my eyes and focused on the feel of my skin, the heat radiating from his hand, through mine, mirroring the heat growing inside me. Once again, he took his time, an excruciatingly slow journey across my stomach, down over my abdomen, circling my navel with our joined fingers. Pulse racing, breathing already erratic, the trail he left across my skin was like a wildfire burning desperately out of control, searing the landscape in its wake. My senses were overwhelmed, begging, pleading for release, yet he continued his torturous pace, across my hip and down my outer thigh.

"Please, Edward," was all I managed to pant, too caught up in the sensation to form a coherent thought. Without missing a beat, he brought our joined hands to my core, still grinding himself against me from behind, now letting his fingers join in the rhythm. Knowing my body already, he knew exactly where to touch me, to stroke me, where to lead with a light touch and where to add pressure. Having my own fingers alongside his was a new experience in pleasure, bringing me to new heights. When I could no longer focus, he gently let my hand fall away and plunged his fingers inside me, causing me to cry out, my body tensing as waves of bliss washed over me.

I was still reeling from my orgasm when he manoeuvred himself and entered me slowly from behind, pushing himself into me until he was fully encased in my still-pulsing heat. I heard him hiss, pausing, his fingers gripping my hip tightly before he withdrew and plunged into me again. I arched my back, giving myself over to the different pleasure of this new position. His other arm snaked under the pillow, up around my shoulder, pulling me tight to his chest as he tightened his grip on my hip, pumping in and out of me slowly. Surely his fingers would leave marks on my skin, but I welcomed the dull pain as it mingled with the mounting euphoria. His teeth grazed my shoulder, and I twisted my head towards his, our lips meeting in a frenzy of fire, passion driving our tongues together, as the world exploded around me. I heard him cry my name as he came, pulling me tightly to him, clinging to the edge before falling into an abyss of pure ecstasy.

We laid that way together, peacefully as we both came down off our beautiful high. His fingers returned to their lazy circles on my hip, his lips dancing across my neck and shoulders.

"You are so beautiful, Bella, and so precious to me. Amore mio, ti amo," he whispered, so softly I barely heard him.

I shifted slightly, looking at him over my shoulder lazily. "What does that mean, Edward? Amore mio, ti amo."

He met my gaze, stroking his fingers gently down my arm. He hesitated a moment before replying. "Amore mio means my love. Ti Amo means...I love you."

A/N: Gasp! Did he just say what I think he said? Um, yeah. Wonder how she'll react?

Love reading all your reviews, it really keeps me motivated, and my mind in, ahem, appropriate places, considering I'm surrounded my little boys most of my days! So, pretty please, keep them coming?