I'd paced the lower level of the house all night after my...experience on the third floor. I'd struggled with myself, resisting the urge to return to Edward's room, just to see if the scent lingered in the air.
Time and time again, I'd thought to myself What would Edward think of what you've done? This thought was always shortly followed by What would Esme think? You're her mate!
Throughout the night, I'd freeze whenever I heard Bella's breathing change or hear her moan. She murmured about Edward, and cried out once for Alice to drop the mascara.
Sometime around sunrise, a thought popped into my head that would have made me nauseous if I were capable of feeling that. Alice. Alice had seen it happen. That's what her cryptic little comment had meant. As soon as the thought was there, my phone was ringing. I dash to answer it, to prevent it from waking Bella.
As I pick it up, I hear, "That's not exactly what I meant, and yes, they will be mad, but ultimately, everyone will be okay. Let what happens, happen. Don't over think this one." And then she hung up on me.
What was that supposed to mean? Ultimately everyone will be okay? Let what happens happen? I'm so confused about all of this.
Then I heard Bella's breathing and heart rate change again, signaling that she was waking up. I listened raptly as she groaned, no doubt stretching out on the bed. Was her back arching, making her breasts rise up? I shake my head at my thoughts. This is so wrong.
Before she can come downstairs, I make my way into my study. Should I even let her know I'm here? She'd want to know she wasn't alone. Maybe I can say I came in this morning. But no, I don't like lying. Just go and make your presence know. Offer to make her breakfast. Be a good host.
I walk at human speed to the living room as she's padding lightly down the stairs. She jumps slightly at the sight of me.
"Carlisle! I thought you'd all be gone until Sunday. Is Edward back? He wasn't in bed with me." Her confusion is clearly etched on her face, even as she blushes at her admission that they share a bed. Not that we hadn't all known.
I give her a warm smile. "The others are still away. The hospital called and needed me, so I came back. I worked last night and will again be working tonight."
"Oh," she says, nodding. She's plainly disappointed that Edward hasn't returned yet. "I'm sorry you'll have to miss out on your fun weekend."
"I have plenty of time for fun weekends. Besides, now I can appease Edward and stay here to take care of you," I say. But as the words leave my mouth, my mind jumps to images of me taking care of her. Running my hands over her body, watching goosebumps raise in their wake. Trailing my mouth over her, tasting every inch of her flesh. Inhaling that beautiful aroma straight from it's source. I shake myself as I start to harden, and quickly turn to the kitchen. "Can I make you breakfast?" I ask. Anything to distract myself.
"Oh, don't worry about it. I was just going to have some cereal." Bella walks in beside in me, rummaging through the cabinets to prepare her breakfast.
As she pours her cereal and milk, settling in on a stool at the breakfast bar, I lean back against the counter furthest from her, but I can't take my eyes away as Bella stirs the cereal and lifts spoonful after spoonful to her mouth, her lips wrapping around the spoon to pull the vile smelling food from it.
After several bites, she notices me staring and blushes. "Um, so...what are you going to do today?" she asks.
I have the urge to just watch her all day, but I can't very well tell her that. "I'm not sure. Perhaps a little reading. Hunting maybe. I haven't fed in awhile, looking forward to this weekend."
She nods and goes back to conscientiously eating her cereal. I know I should stop staring, but I simply can't.
She eats the rest of her breakfast in silence while I continue to watch her. As she stands to take her bowl to the sink to wash it, she drops her spoon and bends over to retrieve it. I take in the site of her bent over and even as I feel myself hardening, I offer a quick "I'm going to go hunting now. I'll be back in a few hours." And then I bolt from the house.
After running for twenty minutes, I stop. What is wrong with me? How have I gone from only desiring my beautiful wife, to finding myself unable to control my body around Bella? And why now? She's been spending time at our house for almost a year now. Her and Edward are closer than ever.
I push the thoughts from my head and begin the hunt.
After completely satiating myself on blood, I decided to head home. It's only been an hour, but I want to get cleaned up and prove to myself that I am stronger than I think. I can easy put this whole Bella nonsense out of my head.
And I fully start to believe that until I reach the edge of our property. I hear the shower running on the third floor of the house, and I know Bella is in there. Nude. Wet.
I'm standing outside the bathroom door before I realize I've moved. I'm already hard as I move without thinking. I register the fact that what I'm doing is wrong. That I should stop before I do something I'll regret, but these thoughts are brushed aside as I hear Bella humming lightly to herself, I can hear her flip the cap of her shampoo and the scent of strawberries imbibes the air. The warm water makes her scent somehow more potent and I'm unable to stop myself from silently opening the door and slipping inside.
Pressed back against the bathroom door, I watch in rapt fascination through the fogged glass of the shower door as Bella washes her hair methodically. Through the haze, I follow the suds down her lithe body, memorizing each blurred detail.
Her humming continues as she rinses the shampoo out, following it up with conditioner. Once she's applied this to her hair, she moves on to wash her body. A bright pink loofah, ripe with sudsy body wash, is dragged along her body. She starts with her arms, trailing it up and down. I can hear the porous material dragging over her skin and I'm envious of it.
One of my hands is lightly palming my erection through my pants as I watch her swirl the loofah over her breasts. She sighs a content little sigh and I can just make out her pebbled nipples through the steam. How I long to feel those little peaks in my palms, in my mouth, against my chest as she presses her nude body into mine.
So wrong.
I want her.
Bella continues to wash herself, oblivious to my presence. Once rinsed, she washes the conditioner out of her hair and turns the knobs, turning off the water.
This is my cue to leave, but Alice's words echo through my mind. "Let what happens, happen."
I'm trusting you on this one, Alice.
The door to the shower swings open slowly, steam billowing out. I stand, frozen, as Bella steps carefully from the shower onto the plush bath mat. Water droplets trail down her body and cling to her as though they can't stand to part from her magnificent flesh. I don't blame them.
She grabs a towel from the counter, still unaware of my presence, and unfolds it. As she moves to wrap it around herself, she turns then, and spies me watching her.
She screams and drops the towel.
"Carlisle! What are you doing in here?!"
Her heart is hammering in her chest and she's blushing an incredible crimson on top of the slight pink from the heat of the shower. Quickly kneeling and snatching the towel from the floor, I hold it out to her. She grabs it and quickly holds it to the front of her body, covering herself as best as possible. I have yet to say anything.
"You shouldn't be in here. I thought you were hunting." She's much quieter, but her heart is still racing.
"I couldn't stay away," I reply softly. I'm unsure if she hears me, but her hitched breath tells me she does. And I know that what I've said is true. I can't stay away.
"You need to go. I need to get dressed."
I shake my head slowly. "I'm sorry, Bella. I can't." I step towards her and she retreats, pressing back against the bathroom counter. "I won't hurt you," I say.
Swallowing hard, she nods. "I know. But...but you have to leave. I'm...naked." She blushes harder and tries to pull the towel around her.
Another step towards her. "I don't know what it is, Bella. I've never been drawn to you like the others. Your blood smells so sweet, but that's not what is pulling me to you now."
Her eyes widen. I can't tell if she's scared or in shock. Then she asks quietly, "What is?"
"Last night, I heard you." She doesn't understand at first. "You weren't alone, Bella. I heard what you did."
Bella's eyes squeeze shut in humiliation and she curses under her breath. "You were all supposed to be gone."
"I was here. I was outside Edward's room. Listening. And Bella, your scent...I could smell your arousal even through the door." I'm painfully hard and I take another step towards her as she keeps her eyes closed.
"I never would have, if I'd known someone was here." She sounds like she's on the verge of tears. The steam in the bathroom has started to dissipate and I can see her so clearly. More clearly than ever before. She's absolutely stunning.
"Look at me, Bella." I take the last step forward and am directly in front of her.
She opens her eyes and raises her head, gasping and jumping slightly at my closeness. Her gaze moves slowly up to my face and she looks deeply into my eyes. I know they're completely black with lust. Lust I haven't felt for anyone other than my wife in centuries.
"What do you want from me?" she asks, timidly.
What do I want from her? Do I want her body? Yes. Do I want to feel her quake under me in climax? God yes. Do I want her to scream my name in ecstasy? More than anything else at the moment.
"I want you."