The Desire Within Us
A/N: I do not own the characters in this story. All credit for the original idea, characters, world etc go to the wonderfully talented Stephenie Meyer. This story is written by a fan of the saga for fun, and I do not profit on the writing, or the idea in any way. No copyright infringement intended.
Chapter 1: Unexpected Change of Clothes
I woke to the familiar chilling embrace of Edward's arms. Most people would think that would be uncomfortable, but for me...it was the most amazing feeling in the world. Edward's arms...smooth and hard as granite, with their icy touch...comforted me in ways that no blazing fireplace ever could. My mind constantly grappled with the fact that they were his arms, and were wrapped around me! I sighed softly at the thought.
Edward made no movement at my sigh. He continued to hold me, unsure if I was waking up, or simply sighing in my sleep. I laid there another minute or so, enjoying the closeness of him. I felt his cool fingers caressing their way down my forearm, and I shivered involuntarily. It wasn't their temperature which caused my reaction, but rather what he was making me feel that caused my body to move of it's own accord.
The light caresses stopped just then, and I felt his hands move to my dark hair. He twirled a stray lock around his finger, and I could hear his light intake of breath as he breathed in the scent of my chestnut hair.
I opened my eyes and saw him looking intently at me. His eyes were like molten amber...blazing fiercely. The way he looked at me sometimes, so intense, it was like he was trying to see right through me. I smiled at him as he registered I was awake now.
"Having fun Edward?" I asked him in a playful whisper.
"Yes, actually..." he chuckled back.
I let out a stifled yawn, and then snuggled into him once more.
"I could stay like this all day" I said contentedly.
"I could too, Bella." he replied happily.
"Mmmmm" was all I could respond with, at the thought of spending the whole day cuddled in Edward's arms.
I looked at him again - my eyes scanning his face. He was so perfect. His face was pale of course, as were the faces of all vampires. I'm assuming of course, but still all the vampires I'd met had similar characteristics. Unusually beautiful, pale, intense eyes, musical voices, and of course their bodies were stronger and harder than steel. How I came to be loved by Edward, the most beautiful specimen on the planet, amazed me. Here he was in all his glory, looking so beautiful as the light penetrated my bedroom, and he only had eyes for me. I sighed again.
"Penny for your thoughts?" his musical voice penetrated the silence.
"Just wondering what I ever did to be blessed with you in my life..." I replied truthfully.
"Blessed...? More like cursed..." he responded seriously.
He considered himself a monster, even though he'd given up drinking human blood years ago. Now Edward and his family survived by drinking the blood of animals. "We're like vegetarians..." he'd once explained to my much amusement. I scowled at his cursed comment. I did not like the idea of Edward comparing himself to a monster. He was, plain and simple, my own personal guardian angel. He'd used his superhuman abilities more than once to save my life. I brought this to his attention frequently, but he always countered that it didn't count if part of the reason I was in danger in the first place was because of what he was. I decided not to use that argument today.
"Well, if this is being cursed...bring in the witch doctors, and voodoo priests because I want more!" I said with a wink.
Edward didn't reply, and just shook his head.
I wanted nothing more at this minute than to pull his gorgeous face to me, and bind his lips with mine. But being human, I couldn't just do that. I still had to put up with all the annoying human experiences such as morning breath, bathroom breaks, and bed-head.
"I need a human moment." I answered his questioning eyes as I reluctantly sat up in bed, and removed myself from his embrace. He smiled back at me.
"Of course, Bella. I'll be right here..." he said unnecessarily.
I knew he wasn't going anywhere. He then sat perfectly still, as I grabbed my bag of toiletries from the desk, and proceeded to the bathroom. I once asked Edward what he did when I was getting ready in the mornings, but he merely replied that he was awaiting my return. I'd never thought about it much before this moment, but I suppose knowing Edward that WAS what he was doing. I imagined him sitting rigid, and stock-still, until I returned to him. Did it feel like time stopped for him when I wasn't there, I wondered? He had more than once told me that without me he did not feel whole, and that he couldn't imagine himself living in a world in which I didn't exist. Was every moment away from me a PAUSE on his actually living, only to have someone push PLAY again when I returned? The analogy seemed comical at first, but I pursed my lips as I thought about it more. That was exactly how I felt about him.
I was still thinking about the PAUSE and PLAY idea as I brushed my teeth quickly but furiously. I rinsed my mouth first with water, and then mouthwash. Satisfied that my morning breath was vanquished for another day at least, I opened the taps for my shower. I adjusted the temperature until it was just right, and smiled smugly as the bathroom began to fill with steam. Yes, a hot shower was just what I needed right now. I wanted all my muscles to loosen up, and I longed to feel the hot spray on my body. I undressed out of my pyjamas, and stepped into the shower.
My pale, delicate skin was assaulted with the hot water droplets, and I relished the warmth on my flesh. I grabbed a wash cloth and lathered it with soap. My hands moved over my skin, as I scrubbed and washed myself. I thought of Edward in the next room, and my pulse began to race. I was naked and exposed now, and Edward was no more than twenty feet away from me. It didn't matter that there was walls and doors in between us. The thought of him being so close to my nakedness had sent my mind wandering. It was no secret that I'd often tried to push the boundaries of mine and Edward's physical relationship much to his constant consternation. He'd argued that in an aroused state he might lose control of his emotions or strength, and in that instant, he could hurt me. I had no such doubts. I knew Edward was strong - I'd watched him literally stop a car from crushing me with his bare hands. And I knew he was strong mentally as well. The fact that he had not lost control of his vampire urges around me although my blood seemed to sing for him to drink it was proof enough for that. But Edward was not as confident in his self control as I was, to my disappointment. I sighed again. I began to wash my hair with the strawberry shampoo Edward liked, and then finished my shower all the while wishing it was Edward's hands on my body, rather than my own.
I turned off the water, and stepped out into the bathroom. I toweled myself off, and realized I'd forgotten to bring a change of clothes into the bathroom with me. I smiled in spite of myself at the thought. "Oh well, I guess I'll just have to return to my room wearing only a skimpy towel..." I thought devilishly. I blinked then, seeing a perfectly folded pile of clothes on the bathroom vanity. It was a pair of blue jeans, and a stretch cotton top. Edward must have realized I'd begun to shower without taking a change of clothes, and had come to my rescue once again.
I grabbed the pile of clothes, and then my body froze. As I moved the pile, a small wisp of blue caught my eye from underneath the green cotton top. My heart thundered in my chest, and my face must have been tomato red now. I lifted the green top from the pile, and my eyes focused on the aqua coloured bra, and matching silk bikini panties that were until now laying underneath. I recognized them instantly as one of the articles of clothing I'd accumulated from his sister Alice's generous and frequent shopping trips. I'd never worn them of course, but Edward wouldn't have known that. That thought abruptly brought something else troubling to my thoughts. WAIT?! WHAT!?!? Edward was in my underwear drawer?!!? Oh dear...
A/N: Well, that's Chapter 1. Hope you all liked it. This is my first fanfic. Reviews/Comments/Criticism welcome.