I Love You... As A Friend

Int. House Party - Night

Edward watched Jacob pull the girl up the stairs to a bedroom, and could almost feel Bella's light dim from the other side of the party.

He clenched his jaw as he saw Bella's lip quiver, just once, until she pasted on a very convincing smile to the girls she was talking to as she excused herself and started making her way to the basement. She was used to this.

Nobody in their friend group was officially dating, there tended to be hookups all around, but she had been in love with Jacob for years. Almost as long as he and Leah had been hooking up.

And Edward been in love with her even longer.

Putting down his drink, he followed her down into the dark, messy basement their friend Emmett called home.

Her back was to him, but he could see her fingers squeezing her elbows as she took deep breaths and tried not to cry. Again, she was used to this.

He reached out and pulled Bella to him, her back flush to his chest. She heaved a sigh of relief, and turned to push her face into his chest as she hugged him back.

Her smell always comforted and calmed him even as he wanted more. He sighed and pressed a kiss against her forehead, marveling as he always did at the notion anyone could be blind to her affections.

She took a deep breath and looked up at him. His heart stuttered at the vulnerability there. She turned out the light and pulled him over to the couch, sitting them down so they were leaning towards each other. She threw a leg over him and snuggled into his collarbone. His lips parted and he felt himself grow hard, and he reminded himself that he was supposed to be here for her.

"Why did you never ask me out?" Her small voice came, surprising him.

His heart skipped a beat as he thought about her question.

He looked down at her face, her bright eyes just visible in the dim light. She looked so beautiful, so perfect in that moment.

Leaning down, he pressed the softest of kisses against her mouth. Her arms tightened around him.

Pulling back, he looked at her questioningly. She looked into his eyes as her lips parted.

"Please?" She said, and pulled him back in for another kiss.

God, it was everything he'd ever imagined and more.

His hand pressed against the small of her back, against the sliver of skin exposed there by her top.

She sighed into his mouth and pressed closer to him, one hand fisting in his hair and one sliding up his chest.

He could do this for her, be this for her. She needed someone to show her how beautiful she was, that she was worthy of love.

His thumb caressed her cheek, and he slid his hand softly down her neck.

She pulled him down with her so he was hovering over her on the couch. She looked like an angel with her hair spread out and her chest heaving.

Taken, he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, her cheek, her neck, illiciting the sexiest moan he'd ever heard.

He felt her fingers moving under him and looked down to see her undo the last button of her blouse. Her shirt falling open, he watched in wonder as breasts he had been daydreaming about for years were exposed.

He licked his lips, mouth suddenly dry.

"No bra?" He asked.

She shrugged, eyes dark like he'd never seen them before.

"There's one built in to the shirt."

"That's absurd." He said, illiciting a giggle.

But he wasn't complaining as he reached down and pressed his hand to the soft skin between her breasts, feeling her heart quicken.