Marked Chapter 7 - If My Heart Could Only Talk

JPOV

Closing the door behind me, I leaned heavily against it as I closed my eyes with a deep sigh. Thank fuck this day is over...I stood like that for a minute, just happy to be in the quiet of my own home and away from the craziness that had ruled the office today. I still wasn't quite sure what all had gone on. Mercury must be in retrograde or some shit. I rolled my eyes and pushed off from the door, taking my shoes off and putting them away.

After putting everything in their rightful places - keys, jacket, wallet, phone - I made a beeline for the kitchen and grabbed a beer, popped the top, and took a long pull before I'd even finished closing the fridge door. I wasn't quite in the mood to cook just yet, or even eat for that matter, so I took my beer and went to sit on the couch to just relax for a few minutes.

I closed my eyes as I rested my head against the back of the couch, holding my beer in both hands on my lap. Thoughts of the office kept creeping up, and I had to push them aside with effort. I didn't want to think about everything right now. Didn't want to think about the coding issues Eric had discovered in the new program we were putting together for one of our oldest clients - with only a week left before it was due. Or about the same goddamn idiot of a manager that called the office again over some bullshit thing. God help me, the next time he calls...

"Enough!" Running my fingers through my hair I grumbled, "It's rid-goddamn-diculous to let work bother me this way."

I took another long pull of my beer before placing it on the coffee table and taking my tie off. A small smirk tugged at the corner of my lips as the action reminded me that I had intended to call Edward today during my lunch. I'd managed to leave my ties at his place both Friday and Saturday and had wanted to see if I could stop by after work to pick them up. Once my tie was off and the top buttons of my shirt were undone, I grabbed my phone and dialed his number.

It kicked straight to voicemail, and the voice was definitely not Edward's.

"Hello, you've reached Edward."

I recognized the voice but couldn't place it immediately. What the fuck?

"This is Dr. Rodney McKay from Stargate Atlantis, and we're kind of busy trying to avert the next intergalactic crisis right now, so leave a message; we'll get back to you."

I snorted as I pulled the phone slightly away from me, staring at it incredulously for a second before putting it back to my ear, a Cheshire cat grin on my face as I waited for the beep.

Fucking Stargate Atlantis... who'da thunk...

I sat forward, resting my elbows on my knees, and rolled my eyes at myself.

"Hey Edward, gimme a call once you 'n McKay are done savin' the galaxy? If you can spare a moment in between crises, anyway."

I snickered as I hit the 'end call' button and tossed my phone next to me on the couch. I glanced at the clock, noting I had just enough time to make myself something quick to eat before the game was scheduled to start around seven. I turned on the TV for background noise, not paying too much attention to the prattling about the Olympics that was going on, though I vaguely noted that Phelps had won his first gold medal of the Games the day before. Well, good for him.

Grabbing my beer, I walked to the kitchen to try and figure out what to have for dinner. Opening both the fridge and freezer, I leaned against the counter and looked at the options as I sipped my beer. Damn, need to go shopping soon... I sighed. It looked like it was either pasta, pizza, or calling take out. Pizza it is, then. After checking the temperature, I put the oven on to pre-heat before going to change into something more comfortable.

I exchanged my suit for a pair of black lounge pants and a chocolate brown t-shirt with a tooled star on the chest and the word Texas underneath it. I grabbed another beer on my way back to the living room and sat down to watch TV. They were broadcasting from Beijing and were talking about the men's Gymnastics team taking the bronze when the oven beeped. It was only day three of the Olympic Games, and I could already tell I'd be tired of it all well before it was over. After putting the pizza in the oven, I switched channels to catch the beginning of the Boston game against Chicago.

I frowned slightly, wondering if Edward was going to call back, but was quickly distracted as the Red Sox got off to a dismal start. They had yet to get a hit by the time the oven beeped again, and I was muttering to myself as I went to pull the pizza out. The pan slid a bit as I moved to put it down, and I cursed, letting it clatter to the counter as I stuck the pad of my thumb into my mouth. As I was sucking on it to soothe the burn, I gave a soft moan, remembering the sight of Edward's lips as he'd done exactly the same thing - and then what those lips had later done to me.

God damn.

Why haven't you called, fucker?

Grabbing my pizza cutter from the drawer nearest the stove, I sliced the pizza and then slid half of it onto a plate before I tossed the cutter into the sink. I got a fresh beer from the fridge and then took my dinner back to the living room, cursing when I realized the Red Sox still hadn't done anything. I put my feet up on the coffee table, sighing as I waited for my food to cool enough that I wouldn't burn myself. I rested my bottle on the arm of the couch, my other elbow on the back of the couch as I played idly with my hair.

By the time the sixth inning was beginning with Chicago still carrying a perfect game, I was in a foul mood that couldn't entirely be blamed on the Sox - although they sure as hell weren't helping matters. My phone was still sitting silently on the coffee table, and I was beginning to panic a little. When had I let Edward become so goddamn important? Why did it matter if he called or not? We'd had one date.

Okay, so it was a really fucking fantastic date. But still...

With that thought, my mind began to drift, remembering parts of our date despite my best efforts to stay focused on the game. I stretched out on the couch, putting my hands behind my head as I looked up at the ceiling with the sounds from the TV ringing in my ears. I wasn't really hearing them, though. I was thinking about the way Edward had looked in that light gray suit with those goddamn red suspenders just drawing my attention to his chest. He'd made it incredibly hard to even leave the apartment in the first place, and then the way he'd teased and taunted me all night...

Alright, so I hadn't been entirely innocent, either. I knew I'd given him just as much hell as he'd given me - and the knowledge that he was just as affected as I was had only increased my desire. It was a vicious cycle that had made it continually harder to just relax and enjoy our date without ripping his clothes off, no matter where we were or who was around.

The unbelievable attraction I felt for him physically had been tempered by how he treated me, though. I'd never had someone...take care of me the way Edward had. When he'd held out my coat for me, I honestly hadn't known quite how to react, so I'd meekly put it on - and then gotten pissed the fuck off when he put his on without letting me help him. What did he think I was? Some heathen that couldn't return good manners? True, that sort of thing wasn't usually my style with the guys I dated, but that was because we just didn't have that sort of relationship.

Ruefully, I admitted that it was because I didn't let my relationships progress that far. But still, Mama had raised me to be a courteous Southern gentleman. I knew how to behave.

I frowned, studying the strange swirling patterns in the plaster of my ceiling as I tried to figure out why, exactly, Edward was so different. Somehow he had wormed his way into my life, already becoming more important in so many ways than any of the men I'd dated in the last seven years - ever since Paul. It was at once exhilarating and terrifying, and I just couldn't bring myself to let him all the way in.

Not yet.

I knew he was hurt by that, but I couldn't change it. I wanted to tell him so many things - the way I felt about him already, the way it seemed to be changing...growing. But I was afraid. Hesitant. Freaked the fuck out by the idea of giving another man that much power again.

I sighed, rubbing my eyes with the heels of my hands as I remembered our last moments together that night. I could tell he didn't want me to leave, and that was the first time all day I'd felt really antsy, like I needed to get out of there. I hated the look of disappointment on his face, but he hadn't argued. He'd just said he wished our night didn't have to end...and I agreed. The whole day had been fucking amazing, and there was a big part of me that just wanted to stay there forever.

And then there was the rest of me, the part that was all for self-preservation, that told me to run like hell.

I sighed, remembering the way I ran. Edward had been really cool about it, not making a big deal, letting me know I was welcome any time and that he'd really loved having me around. To be honest, it kind of made me feel like an ass for leaving, but I appreciated it at the same time.

Running my fingers through my hair, I tugged at it and then rolled onto my side, watching the game again. I pushed aside all the thoughts of Edward and how goddamn unbelievable he was and remembered that that - that pining over some guy, letting him control my happiness - was what had fucked me up in the first place.

Doesn't matter if he calls or not.

My traitor smile betrayed me when it appeared as the phone picked that moment to ring. I sat up, putting my feet on the floor and moving my bottle to the coffee table as I leaned forward to pick up the phone. I made him wait a second, staring at the Edward Masen flashing on the screen until I hit the answer button just before I knew my voice mail would pick up.

"Hello?" I asked as if I didn't know exactly who was calling.

"Hey...Jazz?" I heard him grunt as something rustled - something that sounded suspiciously like a shirt being pulled over his head.

Fuck me. "Yeah. Edward?" I rolled my eyes at the silly game but played it anyway.

"Hey..." His voice was softer now, and I felt myself smile in response. "I'm glad you called. I was actually going to give you a call tonight, but the shoot I was helping Kate with lasted for fucking ever. I just got home."

"Oh..." I couldn't stop my smile and then realized I'd just been sitting there silently for a moment, so I cleared my throat. "Oh, hey -"

"Can you hold that thought for a sec?" He asked and waited until I agreed. Then I heard the phone drop before other noises came through the phone - ones that sounded very much like a belt unbuckling and a zipper lowering. I distinctly heard a drawer open and close and then a few more grunts before he picked the phone up again. "Sorry about that."

"Slipping into something more comfortable?" I teased.

He laughed. "I was, in fact. Want to come over?"

My eyes flashed to the clock before I even had time to really process what he'd said. Fuck. "I wish." And I did. "But I have to work early in the morning...I'd end up having to turn around as soon as I got there."

He muttered something that I didn't quite catch, but I was reasonably sure he was pouting that I should call in in the morning. The thought made me grin. "Actually, I was calling to see if I could come over tonight, but..."

"God damn it." This time his curse was clear, though it was obviously not meant for me as it was said under his breath. "You were, huh?"

"Yeah..." I explained that I'd left a couple of ties at his place, and I was touched - but unsurprised, really - when he told me he'd found them and hung them up for me. I was learning quickly that he was a man of unexpected depths and that he really did pay attention to what made people tick. It was...incredibly different from most of the men I'd known.

"Well...I'd invite you over tomorrow, but I'm helping Kate again, and after that clusterfuck tonight, I have no idea when I'll be home. Working with paid models...I swear." He broke off into a stream of profanities that made me grin. When he lost steam at last, he said, "How about Wednesday? Could you come over for dinner? My treat, though."

"You paid last time," I protested, though I was smiling broadly at the thought of seeing him again. I rolled my eyes at myself.

"Don't worry. I won't be buying."

"You're cooking?" My eyes widened as my eyebrows climbed toward my hairline.

"Of course. Don't you remember what I said about treating you right?"

I did, and the smile on my face was proof, but I felt vaguely uneasy for some reason. Something about the level of comfort and familiarity was throwing me off, so I cleared my throat and teased him again. "I thought that was just so you could have your way with me."

"Maybe so..." He laughed, and then his voice was lower when it came through the phone again. "And maybe I'm not finished with you yet."

I inhaled lightly through my nose, sitting back on the couch. Fuck. That had not gone as planned. I scanned the room, looking for something - anything - to change the subject. My eyes fell on the TV just as J.D. Drew swung, knocking the ball into the gap in left-center field. "Go, baby, go!" I hopped up off the couch, intent on the screen before I heard Edward laughing.

"What are you watching?"

"The Sox game."

"Shit! I totally forgot they were on..." I heard him barreling down the stairs, and then the sound of his TV came through the phone. He flipped through channels until I heard the same commentary, and then he flopped down on the couch, asking me what he'd missed. I filled him in, and we ended up watching the rest of the game together, chatting idly and yelling at the TV. I heard the rattle of bottles as Edward got a beer from his refrigerator, and I decided it sounded damn good, so I pulled another out for myself. By the time the game ended with the Red Sox pulling out an impressive 5-1 victory over the White Sox, I realized with a start that I really didn't want to get off the phone. I didn't want to let him go.

What the fuck, man?

That was probably a sure sign that I needed to hang up the phone right the fuck then, but I didn't. I changed the channel, turning it back to the Olympics. "Oh, hey...the men are about to swim." I heard Edward snicker. "What?"

"Nothing..." I could hear the grin in his voice as he changed the channel. "Was just talking to Kate about Michael Phelps earlier." He went on, explaining Kate's infatuation with him, and when I asked if he didn't find him attractive, he said, "Don't get me wrong...the man's got killer abs, but...nah, not my type."

I refrained from asking what his type was because I could just see where that conversation would go, but it made me smile all the same. We cheered on the Americans together, screaming as Lezak snatched the win out from under that French bastard Bernard. As we watched the four swimmers celebrating, I finally couldn't resist. "So which one them is more your type?"

"Them, who? The swimmers?"

"Yeah." I chuckled, taking a sip of my nearly-empty beer...my fourth of the night.

"Hmm..." He paused for a moment, and I could just imagine him tilting his head, maybe running his fingers through that messy hair. "I guess...Cullen Jones? He's the closest anyway."

I frowned, sitting up with my elbows on my knees as I leaned in to get a closer look. The guy he mentioned was thinner than the others but still built, and I could definitely see the appeal in the way his chest narrowed to his waist while his swimsuit hinted at the deep V leading from his hips. "Ehh...no offense, but you did notice I'm...you know...blond and have blue eyes, right?"

He laughed softly. "I meant his build, Jazz...I thought that's what you were asking."

I smiled again at hearing him call me "Jazz." It was stupid, I suppose, but Ang was the only one who'd ever really called me that - most of the guys called me "J" - and I just liked the way it sounded coming from him. It made me feel special or some shit. Of course, that thought made me roll my eyes.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

I could practically hear him roll his eyes. "Your type? You're not getting away with not answering now."

"Damn it." I tilted my head, studying the men on the screen. They were still hugging and cheering, and I found myself looking for the one who always drew my eye. "Damn it," I cursed again.

"What is it?" He was smiling, I could tell.

"Does it have to be one of those four?"

He laughed quietly. "Not at all. I want to know who you're attracted to, so if you have someone else in mind..."

You.

The answer was immediate, on the tip of my tongue, and I swallowed it, taking a deep breath before I spoke again. It wasn't like he didn't know I found him attractive - hell, he could've been deaf, dumb, and blind on our date and still sensed my arousal - but I didn't want to say it. Too much power. Instead, I answered his question. "Ryan Lochte."

"Lochte...Lochte..." He muttered to himself, and I laughed when I heard him typing. "Shit, that guy? Fuck."

"What is it?" I chuckled.

"You like some definition, huh?" He laughed quietly, groaning as I imagined him stretching. "Guess I need to get back to the fucking gym."

"I think you're looking pretty damn good, actually." I felt the heat on my cheeks and blamed it on the alcohol as I took another pull from my beer.

"You're not so bad yourself." Edward's words were flippant enough, but his voice was lower, husky, and I could tell there was more he wanted to say. I was torn, wanting to know what was on his mind and at the same time wanting to run the other way. Instead, I just looked at the clock and saw it was nearly eleven. I sighed.

"You gotta go?"

"Yeah...work comes early." I bit the inside of my cheek, suppressing a yawn as Edward said he understood and told me to get some sleep.

The last thing I heard was, "See you on Wednesday..." and I hung up with a smile.

The next day was quieter, thank God. Whatever had upset the scales had been set to rights again, and I was grateful for the reprieve. I'd gone to bed right after I hung up with Edward, though I'd had trouble falling asleep, my mind going a mile a minute. When I'd finally passed out, it seemed as if my alarm woke me up only minutes after, and I was dead on my feet.

Mike noticed and, with a quirked brow, silently asked if I was okay. After reassuring him that I was just tired, he made sure to get me coffee, and he ran interference for me the rest of the day. As always, he had my back.

On my way home, I stopped to grab something to eat. I didn't even bother doing take out, choosing instead to just hit up my favorite diner for a burger and fries. Not the healthiest, but I wasn't in the mood for anything else, and it was quick and easy. Once home, I called Emily to check in with her. We didn't talk for very long as she was busy studying and, quite frankly, I was too tired.

Wednesday was an odd mixture of quiet and busy. Everything seemed to happen in waves, without much rhyme or reason to it. There were several calls from clients with problems or just checking in on the status of programs we were developing, and then there were periods where the phones were quiet and everything was caught up. It made the day pass quickly though, and before I knew it, I was heading out the door.

Edward had called me around lunch time to confirm our dinner date, asking if I was coming straight from work or going home first. Normally, I would have gone home to change first, but I couldn't resist the chance to see him sooner rather than later, so I said I'd come straight over. I tried to get him to tell me what he was cooking, but he refused to let me know, saying he wanted it to be a surprise.

When I got to his place, I had to take a moment to gather myself, feeling filled with nervous energy, and I wasn't entirely sure why. I knocked on the door after taking several deep breaths. As soon as Edward opened the door, I felt all my nerves melt away as I took in the genuine smile that spread in his face when he saw me.

By way of greeting, he stepped forward and grabbed my tie, pulling me to him. His kiss was short, but no less intense for it. He hummed against my lips, and I chuckled as he murmured softly, "Mmm, been waiting all day to be able to do that."

With that, he gave me his crooked grin as he straightened my tie back up, and all I could manage was to chuckle and shake my head. I couldn't shake the feeling of longing and rightness that his words evoked in me, and it left me more than a little unsettled again.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me inside after him, leading me back to the kitchen. As we neared it, I took a deep breath, and my mouth instantly watered at the smell of chili and cornbread - and another smell, though I couldn't quite place it - that invaded my senses. The images that came to my mind with the smells were those of home, stopping me dead in my tracks as soon as Edward had released my hand to pull something out of the oven.

I watched him, unable to find my voice as I tried to figure out whether he had done this on purpose, or if it was a coincidence. Words he had spoken to me on another occasion came to my mind: I don’t do anything if I can’t do it well.

Edward turned around after having placed something on a cooling rack on the counter, and all I could see was that it was a cobbler. After taking in another deep breath, I realized that it was peach. He'd made peach cobbler.

How the hell did he know that that's my favorite?

He looked at me, and I thought for a moment that I saw a flash of uncertainty in his eyes before he stepped up to me.

Chili, cornbread, and peach cobbler. Haven't had those since I was home... No one ever seems to make it quite like Mama does...This should be interesting.

Edward cleared his throat lightly as he placed his palm to my cheek. "You alright?"

I smirked lightly as I nodded. "I'm...peachy."

He rolled his eyes at the horrible pun, kissing me lightly on the lips.

"Go on outside; I'll be right there. Table's all set."

I nodded. "Need me to take anything out?"

He grinned as he shook his head. "Nope, you just go and relax. I got it."

Shrugging, I kissed him lightly before I turned toward the patio. I didn’t even really see the pantry door as I passed by it. My mind was elsewhere, remembering other dinners, so similar and yet so vastly different from this one. It wasn’t my family I was thinking of, though – it was Paul.

“Hey, babe?” The sound of his voice from the dining room made me smile. I loved it when he called me that.

“Yeah?” I answered, brushing my hair back from my forehead as I stirred the sauce for the spaghetti. I’d never been much of a cook, but I’d learned a little when I went away to college – and a lot more in the last couple of months I’d spent living with Paul.

“Can you bring me a beer?”

I tapped the spoon on the side of the pot and put it on the spoon rest, careful not to make a mess. I’d been used to dorm life, whereas Paul was older, established, and infinitely neater than what I’d known for the last two years at school. He didn’t have a place where he crashed at night – he had a home. And he’d moved me across the country to live in it with him.

My heart was swelling as I pulled a beer from the refrigerator and opened it, tossing the cap into the trash on the way to the dining room. I smiled at the sight before me – his suit jacket was folded over the back of one of the chairs while he sat at the end of the table, reading the paper. He didn’t glance up as I walked toward him, and I heard him muttering to himself as he frowned at something he was reading.

“Here you go, baby.” I put the bottle on his placemat, remembering not to put it on the wood this time, and leaned down, kissing his cheek. He finally looked up then, his eyes flickering to me as he smiled briefly.

“Thanks.” He took a long pull from his bottle, his gaze returning to his paper. I forced away the ridiculous feeling of disappointment I felt when I didn’t receive any other greeting. He was a busy man, important, and I tried to remember how stressed he was with work when all I had to do was go to class and study. Don’t be stupid, I thought. Still, I couldn’t shake the sting of rejection as I walked back to the kitchen to serve our food.

I shook my head as I stepped through the door, shoving the memory away as my eyes fell on the table. He had set it, as he said. What drew my attention was the pitcher of what looked to be tea in the middle of the table. It was nestled in some sort of ice bowl to keep it cool, but the sight of it – and the obvious differences between Edward and Paul it seemed to symbolize - warmed me from within.

No fucking way!

I walked up to the table and grabbed the pitcher, pouring myself a little of the beverage. Lifting the glass to my lips, I took a tentative sip and blinked.

Sweet tea! And good sweet tea at that.

Edward walked up with a serving dish, and the smell of chili wafted by me as he placed it on the table. He grinned at me as he saw me holding the tea. His eyes searched mine. "So...is it up to your Texan standard?"

He tilted his head to the pitcher I had just put down. Hooking my fingers through his belt loops, I pulled him closer and kissed him hard before grinning at him.

"How'd you manage all this?"

His eyes twinkled even as he gave me a slightly sheepish grin.

"I may have googled a bit to find out a few things here and there. I figured you might like a taste of home; you sounded like you missed it the other day."

Pecking his lips, I murmured, "Thank you. And yes, the tea is up to snuff."

He grinned, a look of satisfaction on his face as he spoke. "Have a seat, I'll be right back."

As he walked back to the kitchen, I poured us both some tea before taking my seat. I loosened my tie, opening the top button of my shirt. I watched Edward as he came back with a basket of cornbread cut up in squares in one hand and a small butterbell in the other. He set both items down next to a serving dish with beans that he had brought out presumably before I had arrived and surveyed the table, likely making sure he had everything before he took a seat opposite me.

He grinned and gestured to the food. "After you, Jazz."

I took a moment to look at the spread he had laid out for us before smiling at him. It all looked amazing, and I could not quite wrap my head around the fact that he had gone through all this trouble, just for me.

I grabbed the serving dish with the chili and ladled a good portion into my bowl before passing it to Edward. After taking a piece of cornbread, I held out the basket to him. I took a sip of my tea while I waited for him to be done, watching him as he buttered his cornbread lightly.

He looked up at me and smiled, waving the piece of bread to me. "You going to eat, or just sit there and watch me? Not that I mind your eyes on me, but..."

Grinning, I rolled my eyes at him. He watched me as I took my first bite. I let out a soft moan, closing my eyes as the flavors hit my tongue. I couldn't quite figure out what meat he had used, but the flavor was richer than any beef I had ever had, and the spices must have been fresh as they were too savory to be otherwise.

After a couple of mouthfuls, I blinked, my eyes suddenly watering as the heat began to build more and more, and I actually had to take a gulp of my tea to dampen it some. It had been a very long time since I'd had a chili this spicy - not since I'd lived back in Texas, at least. Never had I come across a place up here that made it properly, anyway.

"Holy hell! I didn't think you Yanks liked your food quite this spicy!"

Edward - who had watched me while I enjoyed his food - grinned, wiping his mouth with his napkin before speaking.

"What, too hot for you, Mr. Whitlock?"

I grinned and shook my head. "Hell no, just wasn't expecting it. It took awhile for the heat to build. Sign of a good chili."

I winked and was rewarded with a look of pride from him. He seemed pleased to have gotten my approval, something I was more than happy to give him. "Best damn chili this side of Texas. What meat did you use?"

He took a sip of his tea before answering me, "Buffalo, actually. More flavor than regular beef; thought you'd appreciate it, being a good ol' Texas boy."

He smirked as he said it, and I started laughing.

"It's really good. I'm impressed. Again."

We talked about the shoot he had been helping Kate with as well as how things were going at work for me. When we were done, I helped him clean up in spite of his protests. I just grinned at him as I said, "Deal with it. It's the least I can do since you cooked for me. Besides, this way we can move on to dessert quicker."

He chuckled, holding up his hands in defeat. "Alright, alright."

It surprised me a little at how easily we ended up working together. It had never been that way with any of the other men I'd been with, and it actually felt...nice. After the last dishes were done and put away, Edward turned to me with a sly grin on his face. He leaned against the counter and pulled me close to him, skimming my jaw with open-mouthed kisses.

I closed my eyes, tilting my head slightly, and hummed. He placed a soft kiss below my ear. His voice was husky as he whispered, "Ready for that dessert, baby?"

I groaned when I felt his hands slide down my back to my ass, squeezing it lightly. Fuck, he doesn't play fair...

He continued running his hands along my ass, kneading it lightly as he pulled back to look at me with a crooked grin. I cleared my throat, silently wondering whether I could have him for dessert instead.

"Depends."

I pressed closer against him, placing both hands on the counter on either side of him, effectively trapping him. He raised an eyebrow in question. "On?"

Dipping my head, I ran my nose along the shell of his ear, grinning as I noticed his shiver.

"On what's for dessert."

I nipped at his earlobe before sucking on it, eliciting a moan from Edward with a soft, "Fuck," as he pulled me closer still.

Chuckling softly, I whispered huskily in his ear, "You're not the only one that's cornered the market on teasing, Edward."

I heard him mutter a "Goddamn..." as I pulled away, only to have him grab hold of my face. His eyes were intent on mine for mere seconds before he crashed his lips to mine, kissing me fiercely. We stood there for long minutes, the kiss gradually becoming less frantic and more sensual.

Humming softly, Edward pulled away and, with a soft sigh, he put his hands on my hips. He smiled at me as he said, "As much as I'd like to do more, there is a perfectly good peach cobbler that I'd hate to see go to waste."

I chuckled. "Perfectly good, huh? We'll see about that."

I gave him a mischievous grin as he scowled slightly. I knew he had put a lot of effort into tonight, but I just could not help teasing him a little. It helped offset the nerves that threatened to bubble up every time I let myself think on how comfortable things were with him, how...familiar.

It was the familiarity that was the most unsettling to me. I wasn't sure why everything was so natural, and my thoughts always went back to Paul and how things had gone with him. That was not somewhere I wanted to be again. Ever. But at the same time, I could not resist the pull to Edward. There was just...something.

He huffed a little, feigning offense, but the smile tugging at his lips negated any worry I might have had of actually offending him. I stepped aside and leaned against the counter.

"Need any help?"

His eyes twinkled as he said, "Not with dessert, no."

Yeah, I can guess what you'd want to have help with instead.

I chuckled as I let my eyes roam over him and shook my head. I watched as he plated some cobbler for each of us. He walked over to the freezer and turned to me, his hand on the door. "Oh...do you want some vanilla ice cream with it?"

"Mmm, sounds good."

He nodded, pulled out the tub of ice cream, and gave us each a scoop before putting it back in the freezer. Grabbing a couple of forks, he handed one to me and then gave me my plate. "Come on, let's go sit outside again. It's too nice to stay in here."

When we got back outside, we took our seats again. I took a bite of the cobbler and moaned in delight. I didn't know how he'd managed it, but his peach cobbler rivaled Mama's. And that was saying something.

I looked up at him and saw that he had been watching me intently, so I grinned at him as I said, "If you ever repeat this, I will deny it with my last breath, but this might just be better than Mama's."

His eyes lit up at my words, and he chuckled, crossing his heart with two fingers before holding them up in the air. "Your secret's safe with me, baby."

We finished eating and did the last of the dishes before Edward turned to me again, sighing softly as he looked at me. "Can you stay a while longer? Or do you have to leave?"

I glanced at the clock on the oven before looking at him with a grin. "I can hang out for a while, but I'm going to have to leave no later than ten if I'm going to get enough sleep."

The look on his face was one of relief and genuine happiness as he stepped up to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I slipped mine around his waist as well, smiling softly at him.

"So, what do you want to do?" He lifted a brow suggestively as he spoke.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Nothin' doing. I can hang out, but no messing around, or I'll never leave on time. I want to take my time with you, Dr. Masen."

He groaned softly, brushing his lips against mine, and I could've sworn I heard him mutter, "Fucking tease," but I wasn't sure.

Remembering his voice mail from the other day, I chuckled and jostled him a little. "By the way... Stargate Atlantis?"

He looked at me with a puzzled expression, so I explained, "Your voice mail?"

He laughed, "Oh! Yeah, fucking love Stargate. All of them. SG-1, Atlantis, the movies. When Kate came across that voice mail file online, I just had to have it." He tilted his head a little as he continued, "What about you? Do you like Stargate?"

I nodded, grinning. "Yeah, though I've only seen the original movie and the SG-1 series. Never had the chance to sit down and watch Atlantis."

His eyes widened, and he gave me his crooked smile that made me want to do many, many naughty things to this man. None of which we had time for tonight.

"Wanna watch it with me?"

I frowned slightly. "Watch what with you? Stargate Atlantis? You own it?"

"Yep! I've got up to season four on DVD. Actually, just got four last week, so I haven't even had a chance to see it yet. Well, not on DVD anyway."

I thought about it for a moment. I enjoyed the original series a lot, so I figured I'd like this one, too. And it had the added benefit of being with Edward a little longer. I was reasonably certain that we'd be able to behave ourselves as long as we were paying attention to the screen.

"Sure. Sounds like fun."

He grinned, stepping back and smacking my ass lightly. "You go put in the disc; I'll get us drinks."

I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from moaning. I nodded and walked to the den where I remembered having seen the TV. I walked over to it, taking a moment to look around as I tried to figure out where he kept his movies.

I heard Edward call out from the kitchen, "The DVD's are behind the door of the entertainment center."

"Thanks!"

After some digging, I found the first season and had just put in the first disc when Edward walked in with a glass of sweet tea for both of us. I grabbed the remote and walked to the couch, settling in the corner of it. Edward sat down right next to me after putting our drinks on coasters. He pulled his legs up next to him, and I put my arm on the back of the couch so he could snuggle closer to me.

I handed him the remote, and he started the first episode. I found my attention somewhat divided between the episode and Edward. I loved the feeling of him next to me like this, and there were several times where I just couldn't resist placing a kiss in his hair or on his temple. Every time I did, he'd look at me with a warm smile, pecking my lips before turning his attention back to the screen.

After a couple of episodes, I started to yawn. Edward paused the DVD and turned to look at me. He cupped my cheek as he sighed softly. "Guess we'd better call it a night, Mr. Whitlock. Unless you want to reconsider calling in tomorrow?"

The look in his eyes was teasing, though also a little hopeful. I shook my head, placing my hand over his as I smiled. "Nice as that sounds, Dr. Masen, I'd better not."

He nodded, kissing me softly, and I let myself just enjoy the moment as I returned it. I tried to stifle another yawn but had to pull away and turn my head quickly, unable to do so. I muttered under my breath, "Damnit."

Edward chuckled as he placed his hand on my knee, setting his feet on the ground again and pushing himself upright. He held out his hand to me with a soft smile. "C'mon, it's time for bed. And if you don't leave right now, the bed you'll end up in will be mine, and you won't be sleeping."

He gave a cocky grin at my soft moan. I grabbed his hand and allowed him to pull me up to my feet, immediately wrapping my arms around his waist as I gave a low growl. "You are evil; you know that?"

His eyes flashed as he pressed his lips to mine, whispering against them, "So I've been told."

I grumbled as I kissed him, "I gotta go..."

He sighed, nodding. Taking my hand in his, he lead me to the hallway. I sat on the bench, putting my shoes on. I didn't want to leave, but I also wasn't ready to stay, however tempting the idea was.

Just as I stood up, Edward's eyes widened. "Oh! I almost forgot to ask! Do you have any plans this Saturday? I'm having a small barbecue; Kate'll be there. I..." He paused, biting his lip briefly. "I was hoping maybe I could introduce you?"

He blushed, his eyes flickering between mine. He seemed insecure, and the vulnerability in his eyes pushed me to answer, "Sure, what time?"

I wasn't at all sure whether I was comfortable doing the whole let-me-introduce-you-to-my-friends thing yet, but I could not resist him. I didn't want to.

He smiled, relief obvious as he answered, "Oh, umm... four? We're probably going to end up watching a movie or playing a game or something. We usually do, anyway."

"Sounds like fun."

After a few more minutes of chit chat about the upcoming barbecue, I finally left. I had just gotten into my car when I remembered that I still hadn't gotten my ties - the very thing I had come over to get. I shook my head and chuckled as I got back out of the car and walked up to Edward's door.

I knocked, and not seconds later, Edward answered the door again with raised eyebrows and a crooked smile. "What, change your mind after all?"

I blushed slightly as I cleared my throat. "Err, no...my ties?"

"Oh!"

He laughed as he waved me back in. "Wait here, because I won't be held accountable if you follow me."

He gave me a wink before he turned and hurried up the stairs. He was back in a moment, holding my ties out to me. The smirk on his face made my heart flutter.

He chuckled softly. "You know what they say about leaving things behind; don't you, Mr. Whitlock?"

He closed the distance between us, and I saw the wicked gleam in his eyes as he placed his hands on my hips.

Looking into his eyes, I shook my head. "What's that?"

He leaned in, skimming my jaw with his nose until he reached my ear and whispered, "That it's your subconscious telling you that you want to come back to the place you left it, or rather, the person you left it with."

He placed a soft kiss right under my ear, and I moaned softly. "They do, huh..."

"Mhmm."

I cleared my throat and pulled away. "Well, coming back would mean leaving in the first place, so..."

His face fell slightly. I had the feeling he didn't want the night to end anymore than I did.

"See you Saturday?"

With one last kiss and a confirmation that yes, I would be coming to the barbecue, I left.

The next two days went by without much distinction. Work was just busy enough to keep me from going stir crazy, especially since Mike was trying to set up a meeting with a new company he hoped to get a contract from. If he was successful in setting up the meeting, it would mean that we would be traveling to Portland in early September.

On Thursday after work, I watched the Sox game. I was half-tempted to call Edward so we could watch it together like we had last time but decided against it.

On Friday, I worked on some drawings, finally able to put something on paper that wasn't just Edward. It almost felt as if he had somehow released something in me now that we had finally gotten past the whole 'is he, isn't he' phase.

Saturday morning I woke to the phone ringing. Judging from the ringtone, I knew it was my mom. I sat up in bed, running my fingers through my hair as I answered groggily, "Mornin' Mama. How are you?"

I smiled, leaning my head back against the headboard as she gave a quiet laugh.

"I'm sorry, Son. I woke you up; didn't I?"

"'s Okay, Mama, don't worry about it."

"I'm alright, just wanted to check in with you and see how you were doing. Been too long since we talked. I miss my boy."

I sighed softly, scrubbing my face lightly in an effort to fully wake up.

"I know; I'm sorry. I miss you, too, Mama. Daddy, too."

We sat and talked for about an hour, just catching up on life on the ranch and here with Emily. I told Mama about Emily's new love interest, assuring her that I would meet the guy soon. As much as Mama was protective of me, she was like a lioness when it came to her only daughter. The only reason she had allowed Emily to move as far away as she did was because I would be in the same city.

I hung up after promising I'd call home soon, and that I would get Emily to do the same. I knew Mama wanted us to come and visit more often, and I vowed to myself to try and get there before the holidays. Maybe, if I was lucky, I could schedule a business trip in the area as well.

Settling back down, I put my hands behind my head and just let my mind wander. I was both looking forward to and dreading going to the barbecue later. I was kicking myself for agreeing to go because, if I was honest with myself, I had to admit that I had wanted to please Edward.

I scrubbed my face, muttering to myself, "Fuck...don't fucking fall into that pattern again, Whitlock."

I thought back to the last time I'd set aside my own needs, and how it had backfired on me when nothing I did ended up being good enough. I started to get a sinking feeling in my stomach, and I had a hard time shaking it.

Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I closed my eyes, reminding myself that Edward was not Paul, and I had no evidence that he was anything like him.

Yet, my mind quietly, traitorously, added.

Glancing at the clock, I decided to just get up and get ready. I had time enough to go for a run, so I put on my gear, grabbed my keys, wallet, iPod, and phone, and headed out the door.

An hour later, I was tired, sweaty, and the feeling of dread had all but disappeared. After a nice, long shower I felt even better. Wrapping the towel around my waist, I looked in the mirror, contemplating whether or not I needed to shave. Part of me said, "To hell with it," while another part wanted to make a good impression on Edward's friend.

The latter part won out, and after I got done shaving, I was faced with the dilemma of what to wear. Fucking hell, this is worse than dressing for our date! I stood facing my wardrobe, my fingers knotted in my hair as I tried to figure out what to wear. It was a barbecue, so things were probably going to get messy, which meant ties were out.

With a huff, I grabbed my faded blue jeans, my horseshoe belt, and after some debate, I opted for my blue "Yank These" shirt, figuring Edward would get a kick out of it at least. I automatically went to my dresser to grab a pair of underwear but decided against it. I smirked as I realized that maybe he would take my belt as the invitation it meant, and I suddenly didn't want to have the extra barrier.

After making myself a sandwich for lunch, I sat down to do some more sketching, hoping that it would relax me enough before heading out. As I continued working on the sketch I had started earlier in the week - a landscape of one of my favorite spots back on the ranch - I found myself wondering what Edward would make of the fact that I had so obsessively drawn him over the last several weeks.

Since I never threw away my sketchbooks, there was evidence enough of just how much he had been on my mind. I was torn between some day showing him and hiding them from him. For now, I pushed the thought aside as my alarm went off, signaling it was time to leave.

I decided that, since I didn't have to bring anything, I'd go on my motorcycle and enjoy the ride. It always relaxed me, and I had the feeling I would need all the help I could get today. When I got to Edward's house, I sat on my bike for a minute before heading up the sidewalk.

When I finally got up the nerve to walk up and knock on the door, I was greeted not by Edward, but by a young woman. She was perhaps a little shorter than Emily, and her long gold-blond hair was tied back in a loose ponytail. Her blue eyes twinkled as she smiled warmly up at me, holding out her hand.

"Hi! You must be Jasper. I'm Kate; it's nice to meet you."

I gave her a crooked grin as I took her hand in mine, lifting it to my lips and kissing it lightly. "Pleasure's mine, Kate."

Her eyes danced as she stifled a giggle. "Come on in; Edward's out back already tending the grill. Why don't you just go straight through? I need to go grab something from the kitchen."

I raised an eyebrow. "Need any help?"

She waved me off and started walking to the kitchen. "Thanks, but I got it."

I took off my boots, putting them by the bench as I had done last time before hanging up my jacket and my helmet. Well, that seemed to go okay...

With a sigh, I headed out back as Kate had told me to. I ran my fingers through my hair nervously, trying to shake the feeling of unease that kept wanting to settle in today.

As I got to the patio door, I stopped dead in my tracks. Edward was standing with his back to the door, tending the grill, and next to him was none other than Little Caesar. He was leaning into Edward, whispering something in his ear that made Edward laugh. They looked very cozy, intimate almost.

I felt like my heart had just plunged into my stomach, especially when Little Caesar placed his hand on Edward's shoulder, whispering some more. Fuck...

This time, Edward tilted his head slightly so he could whisper something in Little Caesar's ear. Neither man had seen me yet, and right as I was ready to bolt, Kate's teasing voice rang from behind me.

"Are you going to just stand there, Jasper, or are you going to let me through and join the party?"

Edward and Little Caesar both turned around at the sound of Kate's voice, Little Caesar with a look of interest. Edward's face fell when he saw me, though, and that was enough for me. I turned on my heel and stalked past Kate - who had a bewildered look on her face - to the front door. Edward called after me, but I ignored him.

I had just shoved my feet into my boots and snatched down my jacket and helmet when Edward caught up with me. He grabbed my shoulder when I continued to move to the door, swinging me around to face him.

"God damn it, Jasper, will you wait! What the hell was all that?"

I scowled at him, my jaw clenching as I tried to talk. When I couldn't put voice to the turmoil inside at having seen him cozy up with another guy, I looked away.

When I tried to turn around so I could just leave, he pushed me against the wall, putting a hand on either side of my shoulders, caging me in. I glared at him. I didn't want to hang around. I just wanted to go home.

"Damn it, Jasper, would you please tell me what's wrong?"

I growled in frustration, "Why don't you go back to Little Caesar out there? You two looked awfully cozy. I don't play second fiddle."

Edward's eyes widened, his mouth ajar as he processed my words. He shook his head briefly, his eyes tightening and his voice lowering to a near growl of his own.

"What? Did you really think I'd invite you and another guy here? For what? To see which one I liked more? In case you didn't get it, my lips around your dick was my way of saying I fucking like you."

My own eyes tightened at his words. I wanted to believe him, but my heart and my head were far from agreeing at that point. Part of me still wanted to run. Something of that must have shown on my face, though, because Edward sighed as he lowered his head against my shoulder.

"Damn it, Jasper, please. Will you just listen to me? Please?"

He raised his head, his eyes beseeching me to comply. He pushed away from the wall, holding out his hand but giving me enough space to leave if I wanted to. With a sigh, I pushed past him and headed to the den where I took a seat on the wingback chair. The couch felt too intimate, especially after what had happened there.

I put my helmet on my lap and gave Edward a pointed look. He sighed as he pulled an ottoman in front of me. He sat down on it, looking at me. His voice was pained as he asked, "What on earth made you think that I was interested in Garrett?"

I frowned as I closed my eyes; it was easier saying this without looking at him. "When I was here for the shoot, you kept going back to his pictures. They all looked so intimate, and the way you kept phasing out whenever his picture was out..."

He finished my sentence, his voice so low it was almost a whisper, "You thought that he and I were together?"

I nodded, my eyes still closed. I didn't want to see a confirmation of that thought, despite his earlier denial.

I heard him sigh as he moved. I felt the helmet being taken from my lap and heard the soft thud as it was placed on the coffee table. I kept my eyes closed, my frown deepening as I felt him take both my hands in his. He gently rubbed circles on the backs of my hands with his thumbs, and his voice was soft and gentle when he spoke.

"Jasper, Garrett is straight. Even if I were interested in him - which I most decidedly am not," he gave my hands a soft squeeze when he said that, "he wouldn't be possible for me. I invited him because Kate's got a thing for him, and I think he has a crush on her, too. I'm just trying to help my friend, Jazz. That's all."

I opened my eyes, giving him a skeptical look as I wondered what his actions at the shoot had been about. As if hearing my un-spoken question, he continued, his signature crooked grin playing on his lips as he spoke.

"I can honestly say that the only person on my mind during your shoot was you, Jazz. I kept fantasizing about you."

The sincere look in his eyes and the tone of his voice as well as the gentle touch of his hands finally allowed me to push aside my fears. At least for the time being. I felt the grin form on my lips as I quirked a brow and asked, "You were fantasizing about me?"

Edward blushed and nodded. He let go of one of my hands so he could run it through his hair. His eyes flickered around the room before coming back to rest on mine.

"Yeah, I was. You made life very hard for me..." He muttered under his breath, "Life wasn't the only thing that got hard..."

I chuckled as I tugged his hand, urging him to come closer. He grinned slightly as he stood up and put his legs on either side of my legs, kneeling down so he was semi-seated on my lap.

I put one hand on his hip, while I pulled his face closer to mine with the other by placing it in the back of his neck. I murmured against his lips, "What kind of fantasies?"

He groaned softly as he placed a chaste kiss on my lips. "I really don't think that this is the time or place to be discussing that...Besides, I've already shown you one of them."

His eyes flickered to the couch briefly before he looked back at me with a sly grin. I moaned as I remembered the night of our date and muttered, "Goddamn..."

He placed his hand on my cheek as he gazed into my eyes, his voice soft and sounding somewhat insecure as he spoke, "Are we okay?"

I nodded. "Yeah, we're fine. I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions like that."

He smiled softly, caressing my cheek affectionately. "It's okay. Just please, talk to me next time? Don't just run off if you're worried about something? I don't know what ghosts you have, baby, but I can assure you that I would never do something like that. Okay?"

I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as I nodded. He leaned in, kissing me tenderly as I wrapped my arms around his waist, returning his kiss leisurely. After a minute, I could hear footsteps approaching and someone clearing their throat lightly.

"Err, Edward? Sorry to interrupt, but the meat's ready...and your phone was ringing, so I answered it. Esme wants to talk to you."

Edward pulled away with a soft sigh, the backs of his fingers lingering against my cheek before he got up and walked to Kate who was holding out his phone to him with an apologetic smile.

I heard him mutter, "Thanks, Kate."

She nodded as she put her hand on his arm, whispering too quietly for me to hear. He nodded in answer before turning to me. "You're staying?"

I tilted my head, looking from one to the other before nodding. "If I'm still welcome, then yes, I'd like to stay."

I saw Kate's eyes flicker to Edward's. Something passed between them, though I wasn't sure what. Kate turned to me and smiled - though not quite as warmly as she had when she had first opened the door. She was guarded now and worried for her friend, and that was something I could respect, but it saddened me a little to know that her opinion of me would be tarnished.

Her voice betrayed no ill feelings, though, as she said, "Of course you're still welcome. Come on; let's head out back. I believe there's some sweet tea with your name on it."

I got up and grabbed my helmet, following Kate out into the hallway. When I passed Edward, he smiled and mouthed, "Thank you." I nodded, smiling as I went to put my things away again.

Kate waited for me by the patio door, and I smiled tentatively at her as I passed her. I could only hope that my actions hadn't ruined the night for everyone. She grinned as she headed to the table and poured a glass of sweet tea, handing it to me.

I accepted the drink with a soft, "Thank you," and Kate gave a sharp nod, silently letting me know everything was okay. For now, at least.

I took a seat as Kate walked over to Garrett and chatted softly with him. I watched them for a while as I went over what Edward had told me. Looking at them, I could see that he was right in his assumption that they were attracted to each other. Now that my own demons weren't clouding my judgment, it was plain as day that Garrett had eyes for one person and one person only: Kate.

Edward came out a few minutes later, muttering an apology for the interruption of the phone call. He walked up to me and grabbed my glass out of my hands, taking a quick sip as he winked at me.

I scowled at him as I grumbled, "Hey, get your own glass!"

He chuckled as he went to top off my tea and handed the glass back to me. He leaned in and whispered in my ear, his lips brushing lightly against it, "Baby, I would think that you'd have no problem with my drinking from the same glass as you, when you've kissed me after I swallowed."

The memory of that night and the feeling of Edward's lips wrapped around me came rushing back, and I shuddered, both at his words and the feel of his breath fanning across my skin. I muttered a soft, "Fuck," causing him to chuckle. He pressed his lips against the pulse point on my neck before straightening up and walking to the grill.

Edward grabbed a couple of dishes, giving one to Kate who held it out to Garrett so he could put something in it. From where I was sitting, I couldn't tell what it was, but as soon as he was done, Kate walked to the table and put it down, showing me a dish full of potatoes and mushrooms.

Shortly after, Edward placed another dish with grilled asparagus and a platter of burgers on the table. Kate had disappeared again, returning with a huge bowl of salad. It all looked and smelled amazing, and I found my mouth watering at the spread before me.

Garrett, Kate, and Edward all took their seats at the table. Edward sat opposite me and smiled at me. He looked truly happy that I had decided to stay, and in truth, so was I.

We chatted for a bit as we ate, conversation mostly covering the work Kate and Edward had done. When the topic got to Edward's book he flashed his eyes to mine, blushing slightly, undoubtedly remembering everything that had happened both that day and afterward.

Garrett turned to look at me with a smile as he said, "Yeah man, Edward showed me some of the pictures from your shoot. They're pretty great. You've got a knack for modeling. If you ever get tired of your day job, you might want to consider it."

I choked slightly as I started laughing. Unfortunately, I had just taken a bite of potato when I did, so after a few minutes of trying to regain my composure and breathe, I looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Err, thanks. I'll keep it in mind."

I glanced over at Edward, and the look in his eyes was one of both amusement and worry. I just rolled my eyes at him, and he winked, grinning.

Trying to change the subject, I raised an eyebrow as I asked Edward, "What kind of burgers are these? They're good. All of the food is, actually."

His grin widened as he answered, "Buffalo again. And thank you, I'm glad you like it."

Kate glanced from Edward to me with a sly grin. "Yeah, our Edward knows how to keep a person well...fed..."

My eyes flickered from her to Edward, who was blushing a bright crimson as he hissed, "Kate, please!"

I chuckled, resting my elbows on the edge of the table as I leaned forward. "Yeah, he sure does."

He looked at me with widened eyes, his mouth opening and closing as if he was trying to think of something to say before snapping it shut with a muttered, "Goddamn..."

Kate started laughing, patting him lightly on the arm, and I joined in with her laughter. Garrett just watched everything with quiet amusement written on his face.

Once we were done with the main course, I helped Edward take everything inside. He set about making some whipped cream, and I had to stifle a groan at the thought of all the fun we could have with that if we were alone. Edward glanced over at me with a sly grin on his face. His voice was barely audible over the noise of the mixer.

"Don't even fucking start. I can tell what you're thinking from here."

I stepped up behind him, careful not to startle him as I slipped my arms around his waist, nuzzling his neck as I murmured, "I'll behave. For now."

I pressed into him as I nipped at his skin, causing him to groan, "Fucking hell, Jazz..."

He stopped the mixer, putting it aside before scraping off the whipped cream that was left on the beater. He lifted his finger to his mouth, but I grabbed his wrist, diverting it to my own, wrapping my lips around it as I sucked gently. I kept my eyes on his and watched with satisfaction as his eyes darkened.

I slowly released his finger from my mouth, humming in appreciation. "Mmm, tastes good."

He stepped away from me and swallowed hard a few times before he managed to croak out, "Jesus..."

I quirked a brow, grinning at him. "So what's for dessert?"

He blinked. "Oh...err..right...dessert, yeah."

He opened the fridge and took out a bowl of diced fruit. There were strawberries, melons, grapes, bananas, and blackberries, and it looked delicious. He handed the bowl to me and told me to go on out to the table with it. When I got to the patio, Kate shot me a questioning look, but I just shrugged and took my seat after putting the bowl on the table.

He followed not long after, carrying the whipped cream and utensils. I decided to play nice after my little stunt in the kitchen, and aside from the occasional glance from Edward, the rest of the time went smoothly. We sat and chatted for a while after we were done eating before finally deciding it was time to put things away and clean up.

After the leftovers had been wrapped and the last of the dishes had made it into the dishwasher, Edward turned to Kate with a grin. "So, Ms. Denali, what did you have planned for us this evening?"

"Your choice - we can play a game or watch a movie." Kate's eyes were bright, and I saw the way she was standing only inches away from Garrett. She shot Edward a pointed glance, but his green eyes were mischievous as he tried to look at me innocently.

"Jazz? That game sounds kinda fun. What do you think?"

I rolled my eyes. He's such a fucking ass.

And I kinda love it.

But I wasn't going to do that to Kate, who quite obviously wanted an excuse to sit close to Garrett. Besides, she was Edward's best friend - couldn't hurt to get on her good side. "I think I feel more like a movie actually. Do you mind?"

Edward gave me a genuine smile as he winked. "If that's what you want..." He tried to sound put out, and I just shook my head, chuckling.

We all headed for the den, where Edward pulled me down on the couch. Kate glared at him as she went to go sit on the loveseat, but her expression softened and she smiled when Garrett went to sit beside her. I caught the smirk Edward tried to hide when he said, "So what movie, Katie-bug?"

She grinned and hopped up off the loveseat, going out into the hallway. There was a rattling sound and then a thud as she dropped something, muttering, "Motherfucker!" under her breath.

Well, I can see why the two of them are friends...

When she came back into the room, she went straight to the TV and knelt down, opening up a DVD case and putting the disc into the player.

"What is it?" Edward asked, frowning as he sat up straighter.

"Definitely, Maybe," Kate answered matter-of-factly.

"God damn it," he swore under his breath. "Hey, I changed my mind. Let's play the game instead?"

"Not a chance." Kate's voice was smug. "You said you'd see it with me in the theater and never did. Time to pay up."

Edward sighed and muttered as he sat back against the back of the couch, putting his arm around my shoulders. I shifted into him, a grin on my face as I murmured, "What the hell is going on?"

He ran his fingers through his hair and leaned toward me, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered, "Nothing, really. Kate tried to drag me to see it half a dozen times, but something was always going on. She thinks I'm adamant about not watching it, and she's determined to make me." I could heard the amusement in his voice.

I turned to him, keeping my voice barely audible as I whispered in his ear, "So you don't really care?"

"Nope." He kissed just beneath my ear and then ran his tongue along my earlobe. "If nothing else, it's watching Ryan Reynolds for a couple of hours."

When he pulled away, he was wearing a shit-eating grin that made my eyes narrow. He laughed at me, pulling me close and kissing me until my frown faded into a lopsided grin. The music for the menu was playing, and I ran my fingers through my hair, glancing over to find Kate with the remote in her hand. She started the movie, and we all settled back to watch.

We'd spent most of the day outside, where the temperature had been in the 80s, so throughout the day, Edward had lowered the air conditioning so we'd be comfortable as we came in and out. Once we'd settled in to watch the movie, though, the sun set and the temperature began to drop. Not long after Ryan Reynolds began telling his daughter his story, Edward reached over, grabbing an afghan off the armchair and spreading it over his lap. He held a corner up and looked at me questioningly, making me smile as I nodded and settled beneath the blanket with him.

His thigh was warm pressed against mine, as was his hand resting on my knee. I tried to focus on the movie - and glance surreptitiously at Edward to see his reaction to Ryan - but his hand began sliding up my thigh, distracting me. At first, I thought it was accidental. Just him getting more comfortable as he settled in.

Right up until his little finger dipped down between my thighs, brushing my crotch. I inhaled sharply and sat up a little straighter, catching his crooked grin out of the corner of my eye. He seemed to be completely absorbed in the movie, but he began lightly stroking along my balls, tracing idle patterns as he struggled to keep a neutral expression.

I could feel myself responding, growing harder, and I reached down to pull his hand away, lacing my fingers through his. The pout on his face made me frown in response, but the movie hadn't been on long...and his best friend was sitting just a few feet away...not to mention Little Caesar...

...and I wasn't sure if I could trust myself not to attack him right there in spite of all those things.

I squeezed his hand, trying to let him know I was completely okay with it - more than okay with it, really - but that I wasn't sure this was the right time or place. When he didn't respond, I tilted my head toward him, nibbling his earlobe as I breathed, "Later...promise." His eyes darkened as he nodded, still focused on the screen. I frowned slightly, worried that he was actually upset, but he smiled and squeezed my hand, nodding again. He relaxed against me, his thumb occasionally rubbing the hand he was holding, and he really did seem to be enjoying the movie.

I was glad one of us was...because after he put the thought in my head, I sure as fuck was having a hard time paying attention to anything other than fantasies of his mouth enveloping my cock, his long fingers wrapped around my shaft, my hands tangled in his soft hair.

I rolled my eyes as I realized that - without him even touching me this time - I was hardening and couldn't stop it. I shifted, using my free hand to pull at my jeans and try to get more room, but I was having no luck. I started noticing all the little seductive gestures he was innocently making. His tongue licked slowly along his lips, and I wanted that tongue on my lips. His lips pursed as he looked at the screen thoughtfully, making me want to pull him close and kiss him until he couldn't take it anymore. The sound of his laughter and his husky voice when he spoke to Kate were intoxicating.

God damn it.

Without even trying, he'd made it so I couldn't wait until this damn movie was over and the others went home so I could do...whatever he'd let me do. I found myself biting the inside of my cheek and alternately clenching and relaxing my fist to keep from acting on my impulses.

About an hour into the movie, Kate paused it and stood up, stretching. "I'm going to grab something to drink. Anyone want anything?"

"I'll help you, Katie-bug." Edward tossed aside the afghan, but I held onto it, so it ended up all piled into my lap. I told Edward just to get me whatever he was having, and I was fighting to keep the blush off my cheeks as I realized just exactly how hard I was. It was becoming painful, and there was no way in hell I was going to stand up right then. He smiled at me, running his fingers through my hair before he and Kate left the room.

Thankfully, Garrett decided to use the restroom, so I was left alone with my not-so-little problem. As soon as the room was empty, I stood up, adjusting the waist of my jeans and pulling at the material along my thighs, trying to get a little more comfortable. I considered unfastening my pants, but I wasn't sure if Edward would take that as an invitation - and I wasn't sure I'd stop him if he did.

Hearing footsteps in the hall, I sat back down on the couch and pulled the afghan into my lap again, rolling my eyes as I tried to form a natural-looking ripple that would disguise my situation. They all three came in at the same time, and I took a sip of the beer Edward handed me as he sat down beside me. He settled beneath the blanket with me, but I was a little disappointed when he kept his hands to himself. I was reaching the point where I needed his hands on me.

I leaned forward, putting my bottle on the coffee table, and when I moved back beside Edward, I didn't even pretend. My hand immediately palmed his crotch, and I was both surprised and incredibly fucking excited to find he was already semi-hard. I couldn't resist, so I leaned over, my voice as low as possible when I murmured, "That for me or Ryan there?"

He jerked forward slightly, covering by reaching for his beer as his eyes widened. He took a long pull from his bottle while I began rubbing him slowly but deliberately. I watched as his Adam's apple bobbed when he swallowed, and then he put his bottle down. He ran his fingers through his hair, and I saw him glance over at Kate and Garrett, who were completely absorbed in the movie, before he kissed my jaw and whispered, "Always for you. You have no idea how much I fucking want you."

As he spoke, his hand slid back up my thigh, and he began rubbing me, gently at first before he increased his pressure so much that I had to control my hips so they wouldn't rise to join him. As it was, my head fell back against the couch, and it was becoming a struggle to pretend to watch the movie. Edward let up finally, and I took a shaky breath as we found a slower, more playful rhythm together.

Throughout the rest of the movie, we teased and taunted, rubbing gently and slowly before we'd speed up. I had no fucking clue what was happening in the movie anymore - it was a confusing mix of women and a story that was making less and less sense, but I kept my eyes forward, doing everything I could to keep up appearances. Edward's cock was rock hard beneath my hand, and every few seconds, I had to swallow the saliva pooling in my mouth at the thought of tasting him.

The ending credits took me by complete surprise, and I blinked vacantly when Kate turned on a lamp and yawned, stretching and arching her back. I caught the way Garrett watched her - clearly, it wouldn't be long before those two were together. I was just getting to know them both, but they just seemed to fit. I hoped things turned out well for them.

I realized a split second before it happened that Edward was about to pull the blanket off again, so I reached down, tucking the head of my cock behind my waistband. It would be painfully obvious to anyone who even glanced there, but I was relatively sure that Edward would be the only one interested enough to look.

He better be fucking interested. I need him right now.

I could feel my head throbbing where it was trapped between my belt and my belly, and it was a relief to stand up. I couldn't stop myself from glancing down at Edward, and I stifled a groan behind a horribly theatrical yawn when I saw the prominent bulge waiting there for me. Edward smirked as he ran his fingers through his hair and turned to lead the way to the front door, being good-natured about Kate's teasing when he said he enjoyed the movie. I felt the heat on my cheeks - I knew exactly why Edward had enjoyed the movie so much, and hearing him gush about it was making me want to both burst out laughing and tackle him right there in the hallway.

It seemed to take forever for them to get ready to go. Kate stopped and put on her shoes, and then Garrett went back into the kitchen to grab the leftovers Kate was taking home. The whole time, she was taunting Edward, asking him about different parts of the movie, and I was amazed that he could answer her questions so coherently.

"So when did you know which one he was going to end up with?" She glanced up as she reached down to tie her shoe. Her hair fell into her eyes, and Edward brushed it back with a grin as he answered.

"The first time they kissed is when I was sure." He shrugged nonchalantly, and Kate narrowed her eyes in response.

She opened her mouth to say something, but it was drowned out as Garrett called from the kitchen, "Katie? Which one of these did you want?"

Her cheeks reddened, and she gave something close to a giggle when Edward murmured, "Katie, huh?" and winked at her.

"Shut up!" she muttered, hitting him on the stomach with the back of her hand as she brushed her hair back and walked toward the kitchen.

As soon as we were alone, I arched an eyebrow and crossed my arms over my chest, looking at Edward pointedly.

"What?" His confusion was evident in his voice as he reached out, hooking his fingers in my belt loops.

I let him pull me to him before I lowered my voice to answer. "Just a little insulted that you were able to pay attention..." I trailed off, debating, but finally just said it. "Because I sure as hell have no idea what happened in that damn movie."

His eyes danced as he laughed softly and kissed me deeply. When he pulled back, he whispered, "Are you kidding? I was barely aware the fucking movie was playing. You're a very naughty man, Mr. Whitlock..."

"Then how...?"

He snickered and winked at me. "I watched it a few weeks ago, but I didn't tell Kate because it's too much fun to give her shit. I couldn't remember that redhead's name to save my life, though, so I'm glad she didn't ask that."

We were still laughing together when Kate and Garrett walked back into the hall. They were holding hands, and Edward and I glanced at each other wide-eyed before he shrugged and opened the door with a grin. I tried not to be rude as we all said our goodbyes, but I really just wanted them to get the fuck out so we could finish what we'd started.

When Edward leaned down to hug Kate, she held him close for a minute, and I saw the way his cheeks turned pink while he stared ahead as she obviously whispered something to him. He cut his eyes around at me, and his blush deepened, making me frown. He straightened with a shrug and a laugh, and she pinched him hard, rolling her eyes. He came to stand beside me, and I looked at him curiously.

He leaned closer and muttered, "She caught us," with a shrug and his crooked grin.

"Oh." I felt my own blush, but I couldn't help but laugh, shrugging with him as we all walked out together. We stopped just outside the door while they walked down the steps, turning back to wave at us as they called out their final goodbyes.

We waved to them from the stoop, but as soon as they turned their attention to each other while Garrett helped Kate into her car, Edward pulled me back inside.

Alone, thank God.

Fucking finally.

He kissed all along my neck as he reached out, fumbling with the lock blindly while my hands gripped his hips. His lips met mine just as the lock finally clicked, and then I was pushing him, kissing him feverishly as we stumbled toward the den.

Just inside the doorway, hopefully away from prying eyes - though I wasn't all that concerned, to be honest - I pressed Edward against the wall, our bodies hard and wanting as we ground against each other, beyond aroused by all our teasing under the blanket. We were both breathing hard, nearly panting, and his warm breath washing over my face spurred me on. His hands were all over, roaming eagerly from my shoulders to my ass, and when he finally palmed my hard-on, my head fell back, my lips parting as I rocked my hips into his hand.

"God damn..." I heard him murmur, and I lifted my head, opening my eyes to find him watching me. "You're fucking beauti-"

I didn't even let him finish, crashing my lips to his as my hands began unbuttoning his jeans. He inhaled sharply, and suddenly his hands were at my waist as well. We were a blur of rubbing palms and somehow nimble fingers that soon left us standing with our pants unfastened. I pushed his over his hips and smiled when I realized that, once again, he wasn't wearing underwear.

I couldn't wait to touch him, so I wrapped my fingers around his hard shaft and groaned when I felt him twitch in my palm. He was kissing me hungrily, and his nails scraped my hips as he pushed my pants down. I felt him smirk against my lips, and I grinned in response.

He pulled away just far enough to murmur, "No boxers?"

"Learned it from you," I answered breathlessly and then shivered as his hot hand wrapped around my aching cock. Stroking him slowly, I used my other hand to pull his face to mine again, needing to taste him and feel his lips and his tongue tangling with mine. His thumb slipped across my head, spreading the pre-cum there, and I moaned softly at the slick sensation.

I wanted him to feel that, too, so I broke away from our kiss for just a moment, long enough to hear his plaintive whimper when my hand left him. I spat into my hand, letting saliva drip into my palm before I wrapped it back around Edward's cock.

"Fuck!" He hissed, and I smiled, kissing his neck and biting at the join of his shoulder as I stroked him.

His hand slipped away, and then it was back, a heaven of warm wetness that tightened with just the right amount of pressure. It was my turn to curse as my hips pumped automatically, seeking that exquisite friction he was creating. We were frenzied - kissing and thrusting and squeezing as we built quickly toward our releases. I loved the feeling of Edward's knuckles brushing against my abdomen as he moved, and something was building in me...something primal that made me want to bite. Mark. Claim.

My hand slowed slightly at the unexpected urge, but my dormant feral nature surged again when Edward growled, "Don't...don't fucking stop. Please."

The longing and desperation in his voice found its way to my hand, which sped along his shaft, and to my dick, which thrust insistently into his hand, propelled by my quivering hips. "Fuck..." I broke off with a groan. "Yes...yes..."

My words were incoherent and unintelligible, nothing but sounds of desire that mingled with his. I felt my entire body tighten, tension running down my spine and through my hips as Edward's cock began to throb in my hand. I quickly moved my other hand over his head as I curved forward, my body wracked with waves of ecstasy as I felt my release spill into his waiting hand.

I don't know how I kept moving...or standing, for that matter...and I lost long moments in blissful unawareness. I first became conscious of a tingling in my toes and fingers that slowly spread up my body. Gradually, feeling returned to my torso and then thoughts to my mind, and the first sight that greeted me was Edward's hand wrapped around my dick as his other hand was turned palm-up, filled with pearly liquid. My jeans were bunched around my knees, and my legs were shaking, and I just couldn't help it.

I laughed. It was just a snicker at first, but as Edward's laughter joined mine, I leaned toward him, resting my forehead on his shoulder. I felt the comfortable weight of his head on my shoulder, and we stood there, our heads jostled as our shoulders shook while we laughed together.

Finally, Edward lifted his head and kissed my cheek softly. I raised my head to look at him. He was grinning back at me impishly, a look of pure happiness - and a little bit of mischief - in his eyes. I shook my head, kissing him fully. His hand released me, and he started to lift it before he snickered against my lips.

"Yeah, probably better to clean up first, hmm?" I teased.

He pulled back and nodded before he reached down and held onto the top of his jeans, careful not to make a bigger mess. The sight of him waddling around me and peering out of the den toward the front door was classic, and I couldn't stop laughing. He glanced over his shoulder and grinned, shaking his head. "Come on."

I followed him down the hallway, my legs spread wide as I tried to keep my own jeans from falling to the floor. I was chuckling at the way his t-shirt stopped halfway down his ass. A wide expanse of thigh was visible, bounded by the top of his jeans just above his knees, and I gave up even trying to stop laughing when he kept looking back at me, nearly giggling. I'd never seen him quite so giddy, and something about the whole experience felt very innocent - despite the fact that we'd just jacked each other off against a wall.

He led me to the bathroom and turned the water on with the back of his hand. He ran his fingers under the flow a few times, and then gave me a soft smile as he said, "Go ahead, Jazz."

I washed my hands and was drying them when I felt something cold drip onto my thigh. "Shit!" I muttered, but before I could even begin to clean it up, Edward was handing me a wet wash cloth. "Thanks..." I gave him a small smile, biting the inside of my cheek as I cleaned myself.

When I finished, I rinsed the cloth beneath the faucet and wrung it out, handing it to Edward before I dried my hands again and zipped myself up. I moved to the side and leaned against the counter, watching his face as he wiped up his own mess and washed his hands. As he looked down, his brow furrowed and he pursed his lips a bit, concentrating as he cleaned himself meticulously. There was something fascinating about the intent look on his face, and I was watching him with a fond smile when he finally rinsed the cloth again and hung it over the faucet.

He buttoned his jeans and looked up, running his fingers through his hair. His lips quirked into that crooked grin as he said, "What?"

I shook my head, shrugging, and pulled him closer by his belt loops. His smile softened as he accepted the silent invitation, kissing me gently as he wrapped his arms around my waist. We stood there for quite some time with me resting against the counter while he stood between my parted legs, our lips moving slowly together. Finally he pulled away, clearing his throat.

"So..." He winked and chuckled. "More Stargate?"

I thought for a moment, wondering if I should just go home and get some sleep, but I didn't want to. At all. So I nodded, smiling as I took his offered hand. He flipped off the light as we left the bathroom, but instead of leading me to the den, we walked into the kitchen.

"Need ice cream," he answered my unasked question as he looked inside the freezer. He was mumbling to himself, saying something I couldn't quite catch before he raised his voice and looked over at me. "Dublin Mudslide or Coffee Heath Bar Crunch?"

"Heath," I said immediately. "Fucking love toffee."

From his grin, I could tell that, this time, I'd answered one of his silent questions. He pulled a container from the freezer and nodded. "Coffee Heath Bar Crunch it is..."

Opening the drawer closest to his dishwasher, he took out two spoons and handed them both to me before taking my hand again.

It felt natural walking down the hallway with him, holding his hand as we went to veg on the couch and eat ice cream and watch reruns together. I couldn't decide how I felt about that, so I decided to just...let it go. Just enjoy it for the moment and worry about figuring it all out later.

I sat down on one end of the couch, and he handed me the ice cream before going to his DVD racks. He pulled out the Stargate Atlantis disc and slipped it into the player, grabbing the remote control on his way to the couch. He sat right beside me, leaning against my side as I put my arm around his shoulders. He took the carton from me and balanced it between our legs before taking his first spoonful. I watched him from the corner of my eye, smiling at the way he turned his spoon upside down and licked it clean.

Too fucking cute.

His eyes were trained on the screen, already absorbed in the episode where we'd left off, and I did my best to quash that little voice that kept whispering Paul's name in a panic.

He's. Not. Goddamn. Paul.

As if to prove it to myself, I took a bite of ice cream, my lips curving into a smile as I thought about the fact that Edward had let me choose. I'd had a say in everything we'd done so far. The fingers of my right hand trailed along his biceps, and he glanced over at me, smiling before kissing me once. He focused back on the screen immediately, but I didn't feel dismissed or ignored. It wasn't some grandiose realization, some absolute truth that I could place all my faith in, but it was comforting.

And that was enough for now.

In truth, it was all I was ready for.

Midway through the episode, we were finishing the ice cream when Edward shivered. I rubbed his arm and glanced over at him, grinning as I arched an eyebrow. "Need a blanket?"

He laughed and said, "Maybe," winking as he reached over his shoulder, pulling down the afghan we'd used earlier. I felt my cheeks heat as I thought about being under it with him again, and I was almost relieved when he stretched out on the couch and rested his head on my thigh. He spread the blanket out over him and glanced up, whispering, "Do you mind?"

Smiling, I shook my head, my fingers automatically playing with his hair. He gave a lazy smile and put his hand on my knee, turning his face to the TV again. We spent the rest of the night just hanging out. We watched a few episodes of Stargate Atlantis before we turned it off, and Edward put on quiet music, pouring each of us a glass of wine as we sat on the couch and just...talked. About anything and everything. We shared more stories of our families, and he told me about meeting Kate in a photography class in college. I told him about the company I'd formed with Ben, Mike, and Eric, and he seemed incredibly impressed. I had to admit that our software firm was my pride and joy, and it felt good to have him asking questions and listening so carefully to my answers.

The night seemed to pass too quickly, and before I knew it, Edward was walking me out. At the door, he helped me with my jacket, grinning wickedly as he zipped it up this time. Those damnable fingers trailed up to my ear again, but now, his lips followed. He kissed just beneath my ear, his tongue teasing the sensitive skin there before he nibbled my earlobe and pulled me to him a little roughly.

My eyes were closed, my bottom lip between my teeth as I sighed softly. "You never get enough, do you?" I murmured teasingly.

He chuckled and shook his head before burying his face in the crook of my shoulder and inhaling deeply. "I'm fucking insatiable with you..."

I shivered, my arms tightening around him. "God damn, Edward..."

I felt his cheeks lift as he smiled against my skin before placing one last kiss on my neck. He stood up straight then, laughing softly when my arms didn't give way. Reaching up, he brushed his fingers along my jaw and said, "You better get going, Mr. Whitlock, or I might not let you leave..."

Dropping my arms with a grumble, I reached behind him to grab my helmet. I felt on edge, just a little off, and I hoped the ride home would help clear my head - help me make sense of the confusing emotions I felt around Edward. The pull I felt to him was so strong, it sometimes seemed as though I couldn't think straight.

Those tempting lips were just in front of me, so despite the vague desire I felt to escape, I found myself pulling him close once more, my helmet pressing into the small of his back as he returned my kiss eagerly. He kept it light, but I sensed his restraint, and once again, my heart was lighter with knowing that he seemed to be watching out for me.

This man is going to drive me fucking insane.

But in all the right ways...

With a sigh, I pulled away, brushing his cheek with the back of my fingers. He flashed me a small smile and then opened the door for me, but when he started to walk all the way out with me, I stopped him. There was no sense in him crossing the street barefoot. I gave him one final, chaste kiss and then walked down the steps with our whispered goodbyes echoing in my ears.

The rumble of my bike seemed nearly deafening after our last, hushed moments together, and I felt a strange emptiness as I lifted one hand and waved at Edward standing on the stoop. I just caught his return wave before he was out of sight, and I was turning onto the next street. The roar and vibrations from the motorcycle were comforting and familiar, helping to chase away the lingering unease I felt.

When I arrived home, I had just hung up my helmet and jacket and was sitting to take off my boots when I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. Pulling it out, I flipped it open to read a text from Edward:

Let me know you got home okay?

I smiled, shaking my head as I muttered about having it bad - I didn't know if I meant him...or me. After thinking for a moment, I finally shot him a text back.

Home safe - thanks for today. Good night.

His answering good night brought a smile to my lips as I dropped the phone back into my pocket and made my way down the hall to my room.

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Chapter 6 ~ Chapter 8

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