More than Hunted Things
The full moon gazes through the bedroom skylight, bathing Bella's body in an opalescent light that turns her skin to alabaster. Beguiled by the witchcraft of the heavens, Edward's fingertips trace a slow caress to her throat as she sleeps serenely next to him. Amber lights burn like ancient fire in his eyes as he watches over her, safe and secure from the world outside the window.
They have come so far, fought so many battles to be together, and yet still – though he would never admit it to her – he does not dare to dream of a future where they might be more than hunted things.
Bella dares to dream, of course she does. Her human heart is so full of perfect imaginings that it takes his breath away. He never wants her to stop believing in impossible things. Hope is such a beautiful thing to behold.
It is his constant sorrow to know that as surely as her kiss has sanctified him, his has tainted her. But even knowing that, he cannot bring himself to regret that through fate or destiny... or folly, they have found each other, found the missing piece to each other's souls.
As he watches her he can only envy the peaceful simplicity of her dreams. He has lived lifetimes enough to know that the curse of what they are – the lamb and the lion, the angel and the demon, the human and the vampire – has no true place to call home, and never will.
Bella sighs and moves closer to him, her body seeking his even as she sleeps. Her lips part as she whispers his name on the midnight air between them. Her soft breath touches his skin, and to Edward it feels like the suns warmth.
He moves above her, settles between her legs and brushes a lock of her dark hair from her pale cheek so that he might look upon her face. Her lips curve with sweet invitation and he knows from such a telling smile that he is in her dreams with her.
He closes his eyes as instinctively he leans in close to her. He presses a kiss to her throat and she murmurs something dark and breathless that hardens his body against hers. He feels the life that runs in her veins, feels the beat of her heart, the flutter of her pulse, and for a moment, just a moment, he remembers what blood tastes like.
Edward's eyes open wide and they are as black and soulless as the demon she tells him he is not. He runs his tongue over his lips and before he even realises what he is doing he imagines the red, sweet warmth of her blood in his mouth.
He remembers the one time he did drink of her, and it appalls him and fascinates him all at once.
Instinct blinds him, drives him to taste her, and his body shudders as he fights for control through insanity. His fingers curl into fists in the bedding as he pushes the memory away, buries it in Hell where it belongs.
His breath is ragged, his body aflame with need. Denying his hunger is agony, but still he fights. For her, he fights. For her, he will always fight.
She arches under him as again his name falls from her lips. He takes a breath as her eyes flutter open and her eyes meet his. There is no fear in their depths, only love.
She stares at him and a smile curves her lips. "Edward," she whispers softly as her hand touches his face.
He leans into her touch and closes his eyes as she presses her lips to his. Each kiss is like the first, sweet and pure and tender.
She has such power over him that he's afraid – more afraid than he has ever been. But he will never give her up; never stop wanting her. Never.
"Bella..."
Clouds drift across the moon as she draws him into her arms, wraps her legs around him and arches up into his body as he pushes into hers.
They move together, slow and certain of their needs. They strive toward completion. Nothing is real but this moment and this emotion. Love. Not a memory, not an echo or a dream, but something they claim as theirs. Something worth fighting for.
He loves her and she loves him. That is all there is. And love will save them both.
It has to.