Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer and Summit Entertainment own all things Twilight-related.

Good Lord. More than five minutes of Carlisle's passionate flirtation could easily give me heart failure long before I lose my virginity tonight. And I would still die a very, very happy woman.

Taking my hand, he led me down the steps into the main area of the suite. The grandeur of it all was quite astounding; I'd never seen anything like it before. Even Carlisle seemed impressed, examining the furniture and decor at length. My gaze fell on the bed off to my right, nestled a few steps above in an alcove all its own and draped in beige and violet-colored silk finery. It was fit for a king.

Or a princess.

The thought made me grin briefly before my wedding night jitters returned. When I glanced away, deliberately shifting my focus elsewhere, I caught sight of Carlisle watching me. The intensity of his gaze had softened considerably and was tinged with something I couldn't immediately place.

I smiled, trying to shrug off any nervous vibes he may have picked up on. "They're really pretty," I said, lamely gesturing in the bed's general direction, "the colors, I mean."

Carlisle's eyebrows rose ever so slightly. "Yes, they are. But that's not what you were thinking about."

Damn. Why did I think I could outsmart a 360 year-old vampire? I bit my lower lip, pretending my fingernails were somehow far more interesting than the beautiful man in front of me. "Yeah...I guess I was actually thinking more like...well...Ground Zero."

After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, I risked glancing at him. He looked genuinely shocked. And very worried.

"Bella–"

"No, it's okay, really," I interrupted, "I'm just so...I just...kind of want to get it over with, you know? And it's not you, because...well, I think I'd be nervous with anyone – I mean, even with Edward, and it's not that I don't want to be here. With you, I mean. Because I really do!" I closed my eyes against the wave of embarrassment coursing through me.

God, how can one person manage to be so utterly uncoordinated, physically and verbally? I must be the unofficial poster child for train wrecks.

I heard my name whispered and hesitantly opened my eyes again, upon which I was swept up into Carlisle's arms as effortlessly as though I were a doll. He smiled gently at me, his eyes filled with such compassion and adoration. I felt quite unworthy of it at that particular moment, though, and decided burying my face in the crook of his neck was much safer.

He walked us to one of the plush sofas and sat down, helping me carefully arrange the skirt of my wedding dress to minimize wrinkles. I was grateful for the momentary distraction.

Carlisle's fingers traced comforting patterns along my neck and shoulders. "Bella," he whispered again. "Look at me, please, sweetheart."

I did. Reluctantly. And then I tried to laugh off my silliness when I found it extremely hard to keep my gaze steady, but he was having none of it. Cool fingers found their way to my chin and tugged me slowly back to the matter at hand, literally and figuratively.

"Tell me what worries you about tonight."

There was no hiding now, and to be honest, I really didn't want to anymore. This was Carlisle – the kind and generous man whom I'd known for the better part of two years. He deserved to hear the truth, no matter how ridiculous I felt offering it. Taking a deep breath, I answered, "Pain. And...the vulnerability."

He nodded slowly. "Opening one's self to love, in all its forms, does require being vulnerable. There needs to be a lot of trust involved."

"I trust you, Carlisle. With my life," I stated with conviction. "I guess because this is new to me...it's a bit...scary."

"That's perfectly understandable, Bella." His hand cupped the back of my head tenderly. "And I want you to know that I'm going to do everything I can to make you feel safe and very, very loved tonight. Because you are," his voice dropped back down to a whisper, "very, very loved."

I grinned, heat spreading across my face again. "I'm just being silly, I know."

"Not silly at all, sweetheart. Your concerns are perfectly legitimate, and I thank you for sharing them with me." He smiled, moving his hand down to my neck where he scratched playfully. "Now, let's talk about your other source of anxiety."

My jaw clenched. This was something I really didn't want to think about. I'd heard horror stories; I'd also heard stories that were so fluffy with joy they couldn't possibly be the truth. Hence the whole 'just get it over with and move on' attitude that had been gnawing at me for so long. "So, what advice does Dr. Cullen have for a nervous virgin?"

His gaze softened even further, fingertips slowing to a near standstill before moving to cup my cheek. "I would explain to her that some discomfort is possible with the first penetration. But if she is fully relaxed and sufficiently stimulated, and if her partner is gentle and considerate, any discomfort can be greatly minimized or even eliminated altogether."

I felt tears welling in my eyes, but I blinked them back. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Please don't worry, Bella," Carlisle continued, resting his forehead against mine. "Tonight is about love and pleasure, not pain. I will make sure this is a beautiful memory for you."

With a shaky breath, I reached for him, shutting my eyes against the intense tide of emotion washing through my heart. He gathered me into his arms, rubbing circles on my back while some of the tension drained away. It took a while. I hadn't even realized how much this was bothering me. Now, I was just relieved – and unbelievably moved by Carlisle's compassion, not that it came as a surprise. I loved him. I trusted him too. Everything would be just fine. Better than fine, probably, if his attentions thus far were any indication. The thought made my toes curl and sent a sharp jolt of desire straight to my core. Time to move this along.

Pulling back, I asked, "Can I touch your hair?" That seemed a good place to start since I'd been itching to do it for years. Literally.

His gaze intensified, the heat instantly visible in his honey-colored depths. "You may touch me wherever you'd like, my love."

So I did, sliding one of my hands into those luscious waves and flexing my fingers. It was every bit as thick and soft as it looked, the layer of hair gel he used infinitesimal at best. Fascinated, I tested the flexibility of individual strands and compared the endless hues and highlights before running my hand back through the gorgeous blond mass, playfully dragging my nails along his scalp as I went. It was definitely official: Carlisle Cullen's hair turned me on. Big-time.

Though I pretended not to notice, I could sense subtle – and a few not-so-subtle – changes in Carlisle. His grin widened. He leaned even more closely towards me, probably under the pretense of allowing me better access to his hair, though that didn't explain why the tip of his nose hovered tantalizingly close to my lips. His hands, once positioned to provide comfort, began to wander...tracing the dress line across my back...along my upper arm...down the shell of my ear where fingers finally teased the lobe with a ticklish caress. I shuddered imperceptibly, something that wouldn't have escaped his attention. He knew exactly how he was affecting me.

Finally, as those nimble fingers of his played along the edge of my jaw, causing me to gasp softly, he whispered, "May I kiss you, Mrs. Cullen?"

Our gazes locked, and I forgot how to breathe.

"Please," I encouraged. I'd never wanted anything so badly in my entire life.

I expected our first kiss to be all-consuming, especially given the circumstances and our newfound level of intimacy, but once again he surprised me. Our lips barely touched at first, a fleeting brush of warm against cool, but then he closed what little distance was left between us, and I was suddenly drowning in the essence of a passion unlike any other. The sweet, gentle give and take we shared was so profound, so absolutely stunning, that I felt like crying. Intense, yet unhurried. Playful, yet reverent. All this, and I'd only felt the barest touch of his tongue sneaking bashful tastes of me, never once asking for further access.

My breathing was deep and ragged by the time we parted. He smiled; I blushed.

Typical.

"A dip in the jacuzzi sounds rather inviting right now," Carlisle murmured softly. "What do you think?"

The moment of truth had finally arrived: no more hiding behind barriers. Nothing but bare honesty willingly shared between husband and wife.

I swallowed hard. "Do you mind if I take a quick shower first?" I need to catch my breath!

"Of course not," he said, steadying me as I got up. "Would you like some help with your dress?"

God, I'd totally forgotten about the intricate set of buttons and hooks that held me hostage in this beautiful garment. Alice and Esme had dressed me earlier; there was no way I could get out by myself. "If you wouldn't mind?"

He grinned, gesturing for me to lead the way.

My first attempt to locate the bathroom led us into an impressive walk-in closet. I blinked in surprise, especially since our luggage was already stowed and our clothing completely unpacked. Alice, no doubt. Good thing there were other brains at work with regard to all the arrangements. I'd already forgotten my own name a few times.

The detour nevertheless proved fortuitous as it allowed me to grab the hanger for my gown. The bathroom was found easily after that – it was the cavernous chamber right next door. Honestly, they must have depleted an entire marble quarry just to build this one room. The ultra-modern design, with its golden taps and fixtures, thick rugs, and warm lighting, was astounding to my rather unsophisticated eye. Esme would have loved it. Scratch that – she would love it. They would all be here in the morning, and we'd rented this and the three adjoining suites for the entire two weeks of our honeymoon. Plenty of time for her to take notes.

I probably would have continued to gape at the blatant lavishness of it all if I hadn't felt Carlisle's hands begin their assigned task at my back. Setting the hanger and accompanying garment bag down on the vanity, I self-consciously gripped the front of the strapless dress, prepared to hold it up once he'd gotten it undone far enough. As he worked, I could feel his fingers brushing my skin, brief, ticklish flutterings that I somehow knew weren't entirely incidental. I glanced at the two of us in the mirror, noting the impish grin tugging at his lips. Sure enough.

Studying our reflections, it struck me again how unbearably handsome he was. And tall! Together we seemed like such a mismatch, with me being so tiny in comparison. The thought sent a fresh wave of anxiety through me, the confidence I'd gained from our conversation beginning to seep away.

Big. Little.

Pain.

Closing my eyes, I chided myself sharply. I needed to relax, not worry. Carlisle would sooner have himself tortured than do anything to cause me pain. I focused intently on that and took a slow, deep breath, letting my love for him – and the love I felt for all my spouses – envelop me. Emmett's smiling face suddenly appeared in my mind's eye, followed closely by images of the rest of my family, one at a time. The ensuing warmth that spread through my heart completely dissolved my fear.

The first thing I noticed in the mirror upon opening my eyes again was the silly grin on my face. I felt like the luckiest person on Earth, and I was only just beginning to realize how powerful love truly is. I knew then, in my heart, that I would be able to withstand whatever the future had in store for me, whether it be the enormous challenges of eternity as a vampire or the simple act of sharing my body with another for the first time.

The second thing which caught my attention was Carlisle...watching me...and wearing the same smile on his own face. I found myself lost once more in that incredible gaze of his, but I no longer felt the intense need to look away, nor did any embarrassment color my features. He knew. Somehow he knew, delighting as much as I in my small but profound revelation.

Carlisle took a step closer and wrapped his arms around me, bending down to kiss my cheek. With our bodies molded so closely together, there was no mistaking just how happy he was to be there with me at that very moment, which, of course, caused a tingle of excitement to sizzle down my spine and pool in my center.

"All done," Carlisle said. I'd nearly forgotten why he'd followed me in here! Then he rubbed lightly up and down my arms and, with a teasing wink, whispered in my ear, "I'll be in the jacuzzi."

I was an absolute puddle of mush by the time he backed out of the room, politely closing the door behind him. Left alone, I had the absurd urge to squeal girlishly at the top of my lungs, the same as I had the first time I'd been asked on a date years before. But since I knew there were seven keen sets of ears in the general vicinity, I settled for a quiet giggle instead.

I was going to make love with Carlisle. And I wanted to. Badly.

A/N: These first two bits of the story were already done when I decided to post. I'm working on the third bit now, so it may be several days before it goes up. Thank you all for reading!