Exposure Chapter 10 - The Weakness in Me

I woke up on my own, sunlight peeking through the parted slats in the vertical blinds gently prodding me until I opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw was a crazy mass of auburn hair just inches from my face.

It was nearly ten AM, and I thought about the night before as I watched Edward sleep for a minute.

Classy jazz club followed by fanfuckingtastic sex and some damn good sleep.

I smiled as I watched him. His lips twitched just slightly as if he were smiling, too, and then he sighed, snuggling into his pillow.

Master Post: Exposure

Title: "Exposure" by ThePhoenixRiddle

Genre: Twilight - Angst / Romance
Characters: ExBxR, ExB, RxB
Details: AH, AU, OOC, Slash
Rating: MA/NC17
Warnings: Strong Language, Sexual Content,
Status: Work In Progress

Summary: When Bella meets Edward and Rosalie, they have an interesting proposition for her. It was supposed to be one night only. What happens when no one wants it to end? ExBxR, ExB, BxR, AU/AH. Part One of The Photographer's Series.

Banner By: SorceressCirce

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CHAPTERS

1. Would?
2. Fumbling Toward Ecstasy
3. Electric Feel
4. Talk
5. The End is the Beginning is the End
6. What the Hell Have I?
7. Edge of Desire
8. The Pretender
9. If I Fell
10. The Weakness in Me

OUTTAKES

Chapter 1: EPOV
Chapter 4: EPOV
Chapter 5: RPOV

Exposure Chapter 9 - If I Fell

Saturday morning, I made myself sleep in. I knew that if I didn't, I'd sit around all day, antsy for the evening to come. If I slept late, I figured that I'd at least have less of the day to contend with.

I woke up at 9:30 and made breakfast for myself. Eggs, cheesy hashbrowns, and orange juice filled me up, and I picked up one of the selections that had piled up on my bookshelf over the last few months. I bought books like they were an addiction, without real thought as to when I would have time to read them. My 'to read' list consisted of a few classics that had somehow never made their way into my library before, but most of the pile was comprised of modern authors: Kazuo Ishiguro, Neil Gaiman, Chuck Palahniuk. I picked up Dry, by Augusten Borroughs, curled up on the couch under a thin blanket, and allowed myself to get lost in his autobiographical fiction for a few hours.

Snapshots: Exposure Chapter 5, RPOV

For weeks, I had been able to tell something was amiss with Edward. He was my best friend, after all, and I could be honest enough to admit that we found ourselves in a rather precarious situation.

The fact was that the moment I’d seen Bella – dark haired with big brown eyes and a winning smile – I’d known she was Edward’s type.

Thing is…she was my type, too.

Normally, I would’ve stepped aside and let him approach her alone, but he had all but stopped dating, so I seriously doubted he would do anything about it anyway. More than that, though, there was something alluring about Bella, something unusual. I couldn’t place it, but I felt drawn to her in a way that I’d rarely felt before, and that was without ever hearing so much as the sound of her voice.

I wanted to know her, too.

Snapshots: Exposure Chapter 4, EPOV

I ended my phone call with Bella and sighed, letting my head fall onto the back of my recliner. Frustrated, I tossed my cell onto the table near my chair, beneath the lamp. The fact was that I never did fully confess my worries, or own the fact that I didn’t know how much longer I could handle this…arrangement of sorts.

I should have come right out with it.

Snapshots: Exposure Chapter 1, EPOV

“I’ll take a vodka tonic and a Tokyo Rose,” I said to the bartender. He was a big guy, and nice enough. “Grey Goose in both, please.”

“Tokyo Rose…vodka, sake rice wine, and Midori, right?” The bartender was already pulling a shaker out and filling it with ice. Clearly, the guy was a professional and experienced.

I nodded and flattened a twenty-dollar bill on the bar. “That’s it. I’m almost surprised you’ve heard of it,” I replied.

He grinned at me. “I’m uh…well-rounded,” he laughed. He mixed the drink and then poured my vodka tonic and pushed both glasses toward me.

“Keep the change,” I said. “Thanks a lot.”

Exposure Chapter 8 - The Pretender

Three days later, I was in Lauren Mallory’s office again.

“Don’t forget I requested this afternoon off,” I told her with a smile. She was actually pretty cool when she wasn’t concentrating on being a pretentious bitch.

She nodded. “I know. You’re out of here in a few. Got big plans?”

“Yeah, I’ve got a date this weekend, and I’m buying a new top to wear,” I admitted. It was the first time I had acknowledged my impending date with Edward to anyone, and I felt a thrill of excitement as I did so.