***This story has been nominated for a Hidden Star Award for Best Canon Story. The whole idea is that lesser-known stories can have a chance at winning an award. This is a big first for me. So if you enjoyed it please make my day and vote between the 10th and 14th of September. The link is on my profile page.***

I wrote this for a dear friend and she encouraged me to share it. I hope you enjoy.

No copyright infringement intended. Twilight is the property of Stephanie Meyer, as are Edward and Bella – I'm just experimenting with them to see if I can write.

Practice Makes Perfect

Part I

Edward had an obsessive sort of concern over the human things that I would be giving up, the experiences he didn't want me to miss. Most of them—like the prom, for example—seemed silly to me. There was only one human experience I worried about missing. Of course it would be the one he wished I would forget completely.

Here was the thing, though. I knew a little about what I was going to be like when I wasn't human anymore. I'd seen newborn vampires firsthand, and I'd heard all my family-to-be's stories about those wild early days. For several years, my biggest personality trait was going to be thirsty. It would take some time before I could be me again. And even when I was in control of myself, I would never feel exactly the way I felt now.

Human… and passionately in love.

I wanted the complete experience before I traded in my warm, breakable, pheromone-riddled body for something beautiful, strong… and unknown. I wanted a real honeymoon with Edward. And, despite the danger he feared this would put me in, he'd agreed to try.

And try we did.

Baby-steps.

All towards the final goal.

Tonight I was wrapped in the afghan blanket which had become customary. I hated that we were separated by such a barrier but I had given in to it of late. My safety and comfort was always foremost in Edward's mind and the slightest shiver or goose pimple would always take him away from me. That I couldn't allow. What Edward failed to realize was that my shivering goose-pimpled flesh had less to do with the temperature of his skin and more to do with his masculine godlike physique – in my room, on my bed, now shirtless and touching me, wanting me. It was a heady mix.

I still couldn't fathom what it was that Edward saw in me. But I was inordinately grateful to whatever coincidence, deity or twist of fate that had brought this man to me, to love me. But right now I couldn't form a coherent enough thought to ponder the issue – Edward was here and kissing me.

"Bella," he whispered between the kisses he was trailing up my exposed neck. "Bella..." His cool breath tickled my warm skin, the contrast creating a delicious shiver that ran through my whole body. It felt like my whole being was attuned to him, my every desire at his mercy. My heart was thumping frantically in my chest and I loved it. My heart was no longer my own, it beat for him now and it would stop for him once we were married.

I could feel his yearning grow and I knew that this moment was soon to end, that he would pull away, fearing his tenuous restraint being tested. I clung tighter to his shoulders, trying to savor this last moment. I snaked one hand up his neck into his glorious hair – the most human part of him – curled around my fingers, yet the feel of it was divine.

"Please, Edward. Please don't stop tonight."

He stilled, as I had expected. Now it was time for me to present my latest argument. I was already blushing at the thought of what I planned to say, but he had been kissing me for quite some time. My body was heated, so very alive, and wanting... My want was overruling everything else at this point, to the extent that I could not feel shame for what I desired, well not much anyway.

"Edward, if we're to be together properly after the wedding, isn't it better that we have... practiced a little? If we set some new boundaries..." I trailed off.

Edward remained silent.

"I love you. We're going to be married, there's nothing wrong in showing how we love each other physically. I want you," I breathed, my voice filled with longing.

"Bella." He let out a frustrated sigh. "I want you too, you know that. But you could get hurt. I can't think straight when we're together like this. I could lose control."

I sensed that I was losing this battle, as I always did. I reached up to stroke his beautiful face. "You won't hurt me." Even I could hear the defeat in my voice.

"Bella, the way you make me feel, I..." he faltered. "I can never lose control around you. I shouldn't be doing this now – it's very selfish of me. I hate how I keep putting you in danger."

I could hear his self-loathing in every word, see the pained expression on his face, and I regretted putting it there, but if he could only realize his own strength, what he's achieved already...

"Edward, when you first met me you were convinced that you couldn't not kill me. You were convinced that you didn't have the strength to resist. But you did."

He was looking at me intently and I could practically see the thoughts swirling in his mind, no doubt having figured out where my point was leading.

"Now look at what we can do – you kiss me, you have my skin under your mouth and you resist it. I'm sorry that it's so difficult for you, it's me that's selfish in asking this of you, but I need you, Edward," I pleaded. "I know you can love me physically too. I'm not asking for everything at once, that's the whole point. I want us to take it slowly and build up to it so that we have more of an idea how our bodies will react on our honeymoon... It makes sense."

"Of all the things to apologize for." Edward was shaking his head at me. "You can't know that you'll be safe."

"No, maybe not. We can't know anything, until we try..." I countered stubbornly.

His features screwed up in what looked like agony. I knew what he was thinking about, and it was a stab to my heart that I was putting him through this, but I really did believe that he could do it.

"The risk! The thought of putting you in danger, just to satisfy my lust..." He let out a disgusted snort.

"Our lust, love." I was begging at this point and unashamedly so. "You offered me no guarantees – just that we try. Let's just take it a step further tonight. That's all I'm asking."

Edward positioned himself over me, looking directly down into my beseeching eyes. I thought the doubt I saw on his face was the doubt he felt about himself, about him maintaining control. He leaned in to kiss my lips and I thought it was the final peck, his balm to my wounds of rejection, but his kiss didn't feel like a goodnight kiss. He leaned further into me, his weight pressing down on me as he let out a strangled moan. My heart reacted immediately. I could feel it reverberating throughout my entire body.

Edward pulled away, slowly for him, and looked me straight in the eye. I could get lost in those honey-golden eyes and right now I felt very lost, melting into him. His expression though, was one of determination and I felt the final rebuff coming my way. What he said was a shock.

"Bella, you're right. We can't know what will happen. I think... that it might be an idea for me to explore your body more..." He actually looked as if he would be blushing if that were possible. "So that I can know how you will react, what it's like when you... find your pleasure. So I can prepare myself."

I was confused for a moment as to what he meant, then it hit me and I gasped in shock.

He quickly backtracked, "It was just a suggestion. We don't have to." He started to pull away. "It was a bad idea..."

"No, no, it's a great idea," I assured him quickly before he changed his mind. I tried to pull him to me, succeeding in pulling myself closer to him at least. "I was just shocked is all... I didn't think that you'd agree. I love that you're willing to try... for me."

"Anything for you, love," he said ardently, and then added with a wry smile, "It's not exactly a hardship, being allowed to touch you the way I want to."

He kissed me again; a soul stirring, searing kiss that I felt much deeper that just my lips. He pulled away for a second time and I feared that he had changed his mind. However, his face was speculative – he cocked his head to one side as if deciding something. Coming to a decision he leaned forward grasping the afghan between us pulling it from under him and onto the floor.

He was kneeling in between my legs and now, knowing that I was going to get at least some of what I wanted, him kneeling there with my legs open seemed to mean so much more than it would have just moments ago. My blood boiled as he leaned forward putting his face close to mine.

"I want to see you, Bella. All of you."

I felt myself blush, although I was sure that my skin was flaming red already from a mixture of my desire and now admittedly some embarrassment. I was annoyed at myself for feeling it, but I felt my own inexperience keenly and as much as I wanted much more with Edward I knew little if anything about what to really expect, or do. I had to remind myself that this was all new for him too and it did make me feel better. I shyly nodded my assent.

"If at any point I do something that is uncomfortable for you or you want me to stop – you must say so, immediately," he said forcefully. "I won't agree to this unless you promise me this, don't spare my feelings."

"I promise," I vowed, and it struck me that this would be only the first vow that I would make to Edward this week, the next would be at our wedding. This thought bolstered my resolve and I felt my awkwardness slip away. I wanted this more than anything; to be with Edward in every way.

"Undress me," I whispered.

Edward reached for the hem of my tee-shirt tentatively, holding it between his fingers and thumb. "You're sure?" he asked.

There was only one reply I could possibly give. "Yes. Always."

He searched my eyes. I wasn't sure what he was looking for but he must have been satisfied because he gently eased my tee up over my stomach, stopping just before revealing my breasts and leaned down to place reverent kisses on the soft skin of my stomach. It was such thrill. Not even his hands had touched that skin and now his lips were caressing it. Edward let out a sigh against my now very sensitive skin; the sound of it, the longing I could hear and the feel of his breath against me... It resounded through my whole body.

His hands made their way to the either side of my ribcage, trailing his fingertips to my waist, his large hands easily curling around me. His eyes searched for mine, still asking for permission, the permission he had unconditionally. I nodded.

I felt his fingertips at the waistband of my sweatpants, curling inside of them, then tortuously slowly he them tugged down. His fingers never left my skin all the way down to the tips of my toes. The sensation was glorious – such a new experience – to have Edward touch me where he never had before. Oh, the thought of where else he would to touch me tonight...

Having disposed of my pants he sat back briefly on his heels looking at me, wonder and... desire, I think, on his face. We were both silent apart from our mutually heavy breathing. Slowly he brought his body above me, his knees between my own his hands on the mattress at my waist. His eyes locked on mine. I wanted to look at his beautifully sculptured chest hovering above me, so close yet so far, not a single part of him touching me. But I was captured by his eyes, I could see the dangerous glint in them but I was not afraid. I could see his hunger and I could see that he wanted to devour me in a very different way than from when we first met.

"You want this. I want this too. I want you, never doubt that." His words were balm to my worries, but gasoline to the burning lust inside of me. Maybe this is how Edward's throat feels all the time? How can he bear it? I shook off the errant thought. This was no time for it, no time at all.

My hands, previously redundant at my sides, reached for him – one to his fine chest the other to his precious face.

"Bella," he sighed, leaning into my touch, closing his eyes briefly. The sound and sight of him, relishing my touch… I was a quivering wanton mess and he hadn't even touched me yet. I understood now that this is what Edward was worried about – his fears about his self-control – I felt so out of control, squirming, needy, my hormone-ridden body making demands my conscious mind couldn't even comprehend. But Edward is better at this than I am, I reminded myself, although the gleam in his eye made me wonder.

I traced the patterns in his sculptured torso, making my way southward across his abdomen. His skin was so smooth and the way his muscles flexed beneath my touch would have made me believe he was vulnerable if I didn't know better.

His hand reached for my own, stilling my progress, preventing the route that I had in mind to take.

"No Bella," he said with determination, though I sensed a hint of regret.

"This is about you. I want to see you, to feel you in places that I haven't before. But if you touch me you'll distract me further. Please let me concentrate on you," he begged. "Please, I can't do this otherwise."

"But..." I began to argue, but Edward placed his index finger on my lips to silence me.

"This is the only deal I am offering tonight," he said.

There wasn't much of a decision to make, I would take whatever Edward would give me and I would do so gladly. I nodded, my nose contacting with the tip of his finger. It felt so good pressed against my skin even though it was there to impede my argument. Tilting my head back I opened my lips to his finger, kissing, caressing with my lips. Bravely I poked out my tongue to meet him, his long finger... Edward let out a strangled growl, equal parts pleasure and frustration, everything so confusing for both of us.

"Stop it!" he snarled. "You must agree if you want me to do this, you must give me control, to help me keep my own."

"I'm sorry. I lose myself with you," I breathed. I meant it. I hadn't meant to go back on my word so quickly. It didn't feel like my decision anymore.

A knowing smile lit Edward's face. "I know the feeling love. So you'll help me?"

"Yes."

"Sit up. Let me see you."

I did as I was told. I would try to help him in any way I could. He caught the hem of my tee-shirt and swiftly pulled it over my head. I didn't notice its destination – the world was suddenly a blur to me. Edward had captured both of my hands, my fingers laced with his, and he held them away from my body. I was there sitting on my bed in only my cotton panties. I felt so exposed with nowhere to hide. The feeling was fleeting. As Edward took his time looking at my body, the look on his face evaporated any feelings of shame or embarrassment I had. His look was primal, hungry, drinking me in, but loving, even awed at what he was seeing. Edward always made me feel beautiful and I felt again a sweet pang of gratitude that I had found him, or he me. I was his completely and he was mine. There was nothing to hide; he could see into my very soul, my body was meaningless in comparison.

"Bella," he breathed. "You are so beautiful."

"So are you."

My hands still in his, he guided me back down to the bed, and then placed them underneath the pillow under my head. They were to stay there I could sense. He trailed his fingertips ever so lightly down the insides of my arms, tickling me slightly, enough to make me squirm. The delicate touch left a trail of heat on my skin. His hands continued their sensuous journey, ghosting over my collarbone, side to side in a tantalizing rhythm. I moaned. I could sense his smile. Just as I was acclimatizing to the sensation – feeling its sway, expecting the movement – I felt his lips on my chest bone. I gasped, my chest involuntarily rising to meet his lips more firmly.

I gave myself over to him, emptying my mind of all else, as Edward trailed kisses down to my breasts, kissing and suckling. Everything was so new. I looked at him seeing my nipple disappear into his mouth, his lips covering his teeth but sucking on me. I quivered beneath him, feeling his weight on top of me pinning me to my bed. My hands gripped my pillow, my consciousness adrift from my body, yet feeling... everything... I was sensation itself.

"Shh," Edward whispered against my left breast, his cool breath creating a unique feeling against my exposed, teased and puckered nipple. I writhed, but tried to keep silent. I didn't want any interruptions, God no! Though, part of me was too far gone to care.

My breathing was erratic, my heart was beating rapidly and I noticed that Edward too, was breathless above me.

"Love, hearing you moan for me is... beyond words... but shh," he repeated. My efforts to remain silent were seemingly failing. His fingers were once again at my lips, urging me to be silent. I drew his middle finger into my mouth, I knew that I had agreed not to, but it was the only way I could keep quiet, by having something to focus on. I heard Edward's low growl but he didn't move his hand. In fact, his other hand descended down my chest his finger briefly circling my navel before heading lower.

In the midst of my need I felt a flash of fear. Not of Edward, not of him hurting me – never. I had no idea what to expect, even in this moment the thought of him touching me there had me nervous. And the tickle of his fingertips running sensuously across my stomach had my muscles tensing in places I had been previously unaware of.

He trailed his finger just within the seam of my panties, sliding it back and forth, prolonging my agony. I groaned.

"It's okay, love. All in good time," he said with a satisfied smile on his delectable face. Oh if only I could kiss it, if only he'd let me... Why is he so far away?

"I think we should remove these, don't you think?" he asked, his joy evident.

"You're loving this aren't you? Winding me up like this?" I asked.

"Oh, Bella, you have no idea." It was then that I could hear his desire. He wanted me too.

"Yes," I breathed, in answer to his earlier question, my voice low and needy. There really was no hiding now, this is what I wanted, well we were headed in the right direction anyway. "Take my panties off, please?"

Edward hooked each of his index fingers in my panties at my hip bones, rubbing circles on my skin driving me insane, before sliding them down my legs. I inhaled sharply – this was it. I was naked before him, before the only man I ever wanted and would ever want. The look on his face told me everything I needed to know and made me want him even more, if that was possible.

On his way back up to me his eyes stayed on mine. Then he looked down, seeing all of me. He exhaled loudly. "Oh Bella, you look... beautiful, and you smell..."–he inhaled through his nose, closing his eyes as if savoring the aroma–"divine."

His face in mine, he leaned in for a surprisingly chaste kiss. "I want to touch you. I want to make you feel like I feel for you everyday, every moment I am with you – bliss. I love you, Isabella Swan."

His hand traced from my waistline down to my pubic bone, this time with no barriers and no stopping. I moaned. His mouth came back to mine. "Quiet, love," he whispered between kisses, "or I'll have to stop."

Stop? No! I shuddered with a suppressed moan and felt Edward smile against my lips, the smug vampire. My pique was extremely short lived as his finger, that had stilled as he spoke, started a slow teasing rhythm. I could feel my wetness as he moved. Oh my word... There are no words... I felt like something was building inside of me, begging for a relief my body had been seeking since we first kissed. I was lost in the sensation, mindlessly following his tempo.

I had no idea how much time had passed but I was suddenly brought back to awareness again as I felt Edward shift above me his finger trailing lower. He kissed my neck and I felt his finger slide inside of me.

"Argh!" I called out. But before the sound could fully escape my lips they were captured by his in a frenzied kiss.

I could feel his finger exploring inside of me, his thumb pushed to the part that had had me writhing deliciously moments earlier. I felt so sensitive, so full, as Edward pushed another finger into me. I was bewildered by the sensations he evoked – moving in and out, round and round, and I was mindless. Lost in sensation. Lost in Edward. Everything was him. I was surrounded, possessed, captured in a moment I never wanted to end.

"Is this what you want, Bella?" he breathed. "How does it feel to have my fingers inside you?"

Breathtaking, unbelievable, it's exactly what I want.

"How does if feel?" he growled, as he thrust his fingers deeper than before.

I opened my mouth in a silent scream, adjusting to the feeling that was just short of pain before realizing that I'd not answered his question out loud.

"Ed-Edward," I stammered. "It feels... oh... I can't explain. Heaven." I look at him then and realize that his attention has gone from my face to look at his hand and what his fingers were doing to me. I squirmed anew.

"I want to see. I want to see too," I declared. The words poured from my mouth without a thought behind them.

Edward practically whimpered, such a vulnerable sound that it took me off guard, but only momentarily as suddenly I was upright, sitting legs wide and bent at the knee, Edward's free arm around my back holding me, his fingers still inside of me and his face against mine drawing me into a hungry kiss.

"Then look," he said, pulling away slightly.

And I did, looking down between us I saw his fingers sliding into me, his thumb circling my oh so sensitive spot. It was too much, that building, a quickening inside me… I… I… exploded – shaking, shivering, writhing, muscles contracting everywhere – there. My eyes rolled into the back of my head, my head lolling backward. My thoughts fragmented and danced out of reach.

"No, Bella, look at me. I want to see you," Edward whispered, his voice laced with passion mixed with adoration. His arm tightened around me moving upwards to bring my head to him. I tried to find him in the haze. My body convulsed and pulsed around his fingers… sweet heaven… I found him and looked into his eyes as I continued to ride the rush he had driven me to. I could discern the wonder and love on his face even in my bewildered state. I had never been so dazzled. The feeling seemed to last forever, yet not long enough.

As coherency descended upon me, I became aware of Edward's cool breath blowing unevenly against my chest. I was lying on my back, Edward on top of me, my arms and legs around him. I briefly remembered that I was supposed to keep them to myself, but I mentally shrugged. It didn't matter now.

Then I felt a part of him – a part of him I had never felt before – against the apex of my legs. I could feel the hardness of Edward's groin. Oh yes! I thought. Edward should feel what I've just felt. I can do this for him. I tilted my hips upward which elicited a deep groan that was almost a growl and an abrupt departure of that most precious contact.

"No, Bella," he hissed. "This was for you, not for me."

"But, why should you suffer? We can learn these things together, although you seem to know what you're doing…" My smile quickly dissolved as worry crept in. I don't know what I'm doing. Would it be that good for him?

"Suffer?" he snorted. "You think this is me suffering?"

He moved to get off of me, I knew better than to think I could keep him here and the thought was a sad one, but I tried anyway. I wrapped myself around him. "Please, please don't go. Don't stop touching me," I begged.

"I'm not leaving, of course I'm not. I was just trying to get some space, Bella." He stopped as if trying to gather his thoughts. "The way you make me feel, sometimes I feel so out of control... it worries me... but then I love you so much, I love the feeling of being lost in you, but I know that I can't. Even if we... I have to stay in control – to focus. I'm not ready yet. I can't have you..." he choked.

My hands flew to his face, hoping to soothe him. "Edward, you can't doubt yourself. What you just gave me was... everything. I just want that for you. You promised..." I pleaded.

"I did. And we will," he said determinedly. "Practice Bella, like you said. You have to know that this, tonight, means so much to me too. You feel like I'm sacrificing my own pleasure. I am not," he said forcefully and let out a slow jerky breath. "Bella, I have just shared with you the most erotic experience of my whole existence. Seeing you like that, feeling that for me, because of my hands... feeling you around me... It was beyond anything I've ever known."

He sounded so lost, the most inarticulate I'd ever heard him – so human. My heart swelled with my love for him as my body continued to remember his touch and feel its after-effects.

"Everything is for you, Bella. Everything."

"I love you, Edward. Thank you," I whispered fervently. And we lay there in our new-found embrace and I drifted into unconsciousness to the soft humming of my lullaby, entirely spent and satiated.

This was enough – for now.

Thank you for reading. Please review. I'd like to know what you think.

My one-shot became a two-shot and so Part II will be posted this time next week if you'd like to join me.

Thank you to ange de l'aube for her overwhelming support and encouragement.

Rhian

xx