Friends with Benefits

Chapter Sixty-Eight

Things I own: my sanity (though, that's debatable at times), not enough time to write and incredible friends and family!!

Things I don't: Twilight, Edward and Bella (Damn. It.)

Chapter Sixty-Eight

EPOV

I woke up early, worked out and went to the office. I spent most of the morning researching and going over the findings of our private detective for Phil's case. In the afternoon, I was in the courthouse, filing motions and whatnot for various cases assigned to the firm. Once I was done, I went back to the office, working late into the night, leaving just before midnight.

When I got home, I saw a note on the dry erase board from Bella.

Dinner will be at 6:30, tomorrow. Can you pick up a bottle of wine? Also, Alice wants to go out clubbing on Saturday for Jasper's birthday/Valentine's Day thing. She demanded that we both go. Emmett's going, too. I know you hate clubs, but it'll be fun. Dancing...alcohol...watching idiots try to fornicate on the dance floor...

Miss you...

Bells

I rolled my eyes at the club, but made mental note to pick up some wine. Bella was right. I did hate going to clubs. The amount of people and their disgusting habits made it an unpleasant experience. The last club I went to was about six months ago. I was out with some guys from the firm. They were trying to hook up and dragged me out with them. When I went to go to the bathroom, I saw an associate who is no longer with the firm, having some pretty raunchy sex with a random girl against the wall of smelly men's room. I left shortly after that, the image of the woman moaning while the guy plowed from her behind seared onto my brain. Plus, it was a cruel reminder of the lack of sex I was not having.

Climbing up the stairs, I checked on Bella. She was in her bed, her ankle elevated while slept. Her injuries had healed, but she still had some pain in her foot from the bone chip. The orthopedic doctor that my dad recommended said that she might have to have surgery to remove it. She was working with a physical therapist to avoid that, but she was in a great deal of pain, having to take ibuprofen almost daily.

Crouching down next to her bed, I caressed her cheek. I had missed her. So much. Even though we were living underneath the same roof, it was definitely a strained relationship. Being with her sexually awakened something inside of me. I didn't see Bella Swan with knobby knees, braces and bad frizzy perm. I saw the woman. The woman that I now loved very much. I was terrified that if I told her, she'd panic. I was terrified to let go of what we had, even as emotionally unsatisfying as it was for me. I could show her that I loved her while she slept in my arms after we had sex.

But I don't want sex. I want to make love to her.

"I love you, Bells," I whispered into the darkness. She hummed contentedly, leaning into my hand that was still caressing hercheek. Kissing her forehead, I ducked out of her room. I felt like some sort of creeper, but I can't help my heart. It knows what it wants. It wants Bella.

The problem is trying to get her to realize that she wants me, too. I know she does. When we capture eyes during sex, there's emotions swirling in there. It's not just randomly fucking.

Stripping out of my clothes, I lay down in my bed. I tossed and turned until my alarm was supposed to go off. I was going to go to the gym. Instead, I stayed in bed, listening to Bella do her morning routine. She was talking on the phone, presumably to Jasper or Alice. She was mentioning the club, saying that she left me a note but hadn't heard from me about wanting to go. She prattled on all throughout her morning routine, leaving shortly before seven.

Dragging my sorry ass out of bed, I took a quick shower. I had a few meetings with clients and the afternoon was going to beat the courthouse, but my schedule was pretty open today if no fires needed to be put out. I had to devise a plan. A subtle plan.

A plan to win, woo Bella.

Could I do it?

I certainly hope so, but it would require patience, determination and love. But was I willing to risk losing my friendship withBella in order to have a lifetime of happiness?

The answer to that question terrified me more. I wanted her so much that I was willing to risk our friendship. If things go as I planned, she would be more than just my best friend. She would my life partner. My lover. My best friend. And if my deepest wishes came true...

My wife.

A/N: Edward isn't giving up. He's devising a plan. Dinner is up next followed by the time at the club...what will happenthere? Will Bella meet someone? Will Edward? Leave me some!