THE CHANGE
We were soon in Seattle in spite of the distance. All of us had crowded into Carlisle's car and Emmett drove. I surprised myself by having fun buying clothes, shoes etc. even a couple of nightgowns which I probably wouldn't wear. I wasn't allowed to worry about cost and I certainly wasn't allowed to see the receipts. Alice and Rosalie wouldn't allow me to protest at the cost even if I accidentally saw the tags. They had just as much fun dressing me and Edward admired their choices for me. Money was no object and I was told to relax and enjoy.
"Your name is Bella Cullen and you have a responsibility to dress well, so accept these things dutifully," Alice told me trying not to be exasperated with me.
It was amazing how fast we went from store to store and how fast Alice and Rosalie accurately chose my outfits. All I had to do was try them on and gain Edward's approval.
After the clothes shopping we moved on to the other items, Edward insisted I have two computers; one had to be a lap top to take to class. Edward and I chose bed linen, towels and bathroom items. There was a list of school items in addition to the computers and Jasper and Emmett bought those while we were clothes shopping. Of course, the outfits had to be accessorized with purses, shoes etc. and Edward insisted on some jewelry, this was not costume jewelry and I chose the plainest I could find. Edward rolled his eyes at me.
The contacts Edward chose because he wanted my eyes to look as brown as possible while covering the red my eyes would become.
All of us went to a restaurant and only I ate. We sat and talked about trivial things and I felt I was a part of them and I belonged. I remembered when I first came to Forks and the kids in the cafeteria seemed to ostracize the Cullen's but I was definitely included as one of them. Of course, the guys had to pick on Edward's infatuation for me and mine for him. They wanted details of our honeymoon and when neither Edward nor I were prepared to disclose too many details, they started suggesting what we had done. When I blushed at their suggestions, probably because they came close to the truth, they laughed.
"If Bella blushes it must mean we came close to what happened, Emmett teased.
I blushed again, "Edward please make them stop," and I buried my face in his chest. Edward only laughed and kissed the top of my head.
Too soon, we were on our way home. Most of our purchases were in the trunk but some were to be delivered to a particular address in Dartmouth. I guessed that was where we would stay but wondered what kind of place it was.
I slept in the car leaning against Edward and when we arrived home he carried me up stairs, I woke up and kissed him.
"Oh it's alright for you to kiss me but not me, you?"
"You can kiss me as much as you like now that I don't have to focus on anything else, in fact I'm up for much more than just kisses and the night is young."
He helped me undress and laid me gently on the bed. I watched him undress but he did it so fast it was a blur. He lay beside me on the bed and I felt relaxed and calm. He sat up on one elbow and leaned over me, his free hand reaching over to caress my body and tease my senses. He moved on top of me, bringing his face down to mine and kissing me so that I couldn't breathe. His breath was intoxicating and made me dizzy. I gasped as his kissing became more intense. His hands moved over my body in a sensual way making me beg for his touch to give me pleasure. Soon we were making love again and he swung me around so I was on top of him and my hands and lips were moving over him. His love making was not as gentle as before but he was still careful. After we were done I still lay on top of him with my face close to his. He closed his eyes as my fingers traced his features.
"Are you happy," he asked me.
"More than you can know," I smiled and kissed his lips.
"Are you mad at me?" he questioned opening his eyes and looking into mine.
"Why do you ask," I wondered
"I spent money on you," he stated.
"Did it make you happy to buy me presents?" I asked.
"More than you can know," and his eyes glowed.
"I'll never ask you to buy me anything unless it's a necessity but I'm not going to argue or complain anymore so long as it makes you happy. Please try not to go overboard though, my needs are fairly simple, I only need you," I said touching his nose. "Will you let me spend money on you if I feel the need?"
"Of course, but don't go overboard though, just remember I only need you my Bella." I laughed with him.
"Tell me where we're going to stay in Dartmouth?" I wanted to know.
"For this, I'm going to surprise you, you will soon see." He said smiling.
"I don't like surprises, Edward," I sulked.
"You will love this one, Bella, I promise you."
"And if I don't?"
"I'll turn you over my knee and spank you."
"Why can't you just tell me," I teased.
"Don't try your persuasive charms on me, Mrs. Cullen."
"Please, please," I begged and then started to kiss his, lips, his face, his neck, his shoulders and I giggled as he threw me off him.
He bent over me and started to tickle me and he laughed as I tried to wriggle away from him. Before long I was laughing and screaming for him to stop.
"Edward – you – win." I said between laughing and screaming and finally I slipped of the bed in a heap on the floor. Before I could move, he reached down and picked me up, placing me on the bed beside him.
"Please don't tickle me again," I pleaded giggling.
"I guess we'll have to make love again," he said kissing me.
"That's a much better idea, I like that," I said surrendering to his advances.
We continued to make love into the early hours of the morning. I was tired but I wanted as much of this human experience as possible.
Edward finally insisted I sleep. "I have some final preparations to make for your change."
"Please don't leave me," I pleaded sleepily.
"I won't be gone long," he said as he dressed. Then he tucked my quilt around me and hummed my lullaby, I was soon asleep.
I had been more exhausted than I realized and Edward had to shake me awake. I dragged myself into the shower before it occurred to me,
"What should I wear?"
"Just wear pajamas for now," Edward said, "Carlisle and I will take off whatever we need to."
"I beg your pardon? Is everyone in this house going to see me naked?" I said, alarmed.
"Remember Bella, Carlisle is a physician and Alice and I have seen you naked already. It may be necessary for Rosalie or Esme to help us but no one else, I swear. We will cover you up as much as possible but if you thrash around too much some of us might have to hold you down.
"Please let the drugs work," I said mostly to myself. Of course Edward heard me.
"That would make it better for all of us," he exclaimed grimly.
Suddenly, it hit me and I knew how to get through the next three days.
Edward! I exclaimed. The towel I had wrapped around me dropped to the floor as I ran and jumped into his arms. He caught me looking pleasantly surprised.
"To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Edward bite me while we're making love," He looked almost shocked and shook his head.
"Please Edward, I know it will work, the passion in me will be enough to subdue any pain." He placed me on the bed.
"Why do you think that?"
"The first time we made love you did hurt me, it didn't seem like much at the time and it wasn't enough to damage me but afterwards when the passion was over, it felt sorer than I was prepared to admit. I thought it would hurt the next time but again the passion built up and whatever pain I felt was nothing compared to your love making. It doesn't hurt anymore of course."
"Bella that was nothing compared to the pain you will feel if I bite you." He countered.
"I know what that pain feels like because James bit me and I know I can take any pain so long as you make love to me," He shook his head.
"Please Edward, at least let's try." My powers of persuasion went into action, "Please, please," and I kissed him as passionately as I could. He looked into my eyes, holding my face between his hands.
"You know, there are people who actually inflict pain upon themselves to feel passion, so it must work," I said, "The pain enhances the passion and the passion decreases the pain."
"You realize," he said slowly, that it bothers me to do this to you at all."
I nodded, "Carlisle will be close by and so will everyone else if I lose it, I trust you, so please trust me."
"I still remember you screaming in agony when James bit you."
"I had a lot of other pain too but you were there my Angel and it helped a lot. The pain when you left me was much worse and there was no comfort in that." He gritted his teeth.
"Don't worry about that any more because your comfort is much more pleasant now."
He laughed. "So your powers of persuasion are working on me again," he sighed, "What am I going to do with you witch?"
He picked up his phone and told Carlisle what I wanted, "I'm not sure it will work so please stand by. She seems to think the passion will overpower the pain," Carlisle obviously said something because Edward then said, "You think it's worth a try?" He listened to Carlisle's answer, "OK, we'll go with what she wants." He closed the phone.
Carlisle isn't sure if the drugs will work, so we'll go with the passion for now. It might be difficult to make love to you if the pain is too much for you to bear.
"Please don't think about pain, just be as passionate as I need."
"We'll go with what I said before, if you want me to stop, tell me, if you want me to continue…" I interrupted him,
"I'll only tell you don't stop," I kissed him.
He was undressed in a flash and lay beside me. I pulled myself up to look at his face, he had closed his eyes. I touched his nose and he opened his eyes to look at me,
"You are definitely a witch, he said.
"Don't be afraid," I murmured, "We belong together."
I was abruptly overwhelmed by my own words. This moment was so perfect, so right; there was no way to doubt it. His arms wrapped around me, holding me against him and I felt the bite on my neck between his kisses. As he continued to kiss me, I began to feel the burning. It felt like every nerve ending in my body was a live wire.
His hands moved over me, stirring my emotions and his kisses became more demanding on my lips and then moved down my body. I groaned in pleasure but I could feel the intense pain. His lips, his tongue, his hands, caused frenzy in me. The pain as well as the pleasure caused me to cry out.
"Do you want me to stop," he whispered.
"Never, I gasped, "Please give me more pleasure," I begged.
Perspiration poured from my body as the burning heat engulfed me.
"Are you in pain," he asked.
"Only if you stop, please," I begged urgently. "Please don't stop." I screamed more with pleasure than pain.
He moved up to kiss me and then we made love his passion making me dizzy. The burning continued through my veins, suddenly I couldn't breathe and then I passed out.
When I came to, Edward was bending over me with a worried look on his face. Carlisle was there and Alice. The pain and the burning was still there still but not as intense. My mouth felt like cotton candy and everyone's voices seemed far away. I knew I had been drugged. I slowly moved my hand over my heart and it was still beating.
I looked at Edward, my voice was slurring, "You stopped, why did you stop? You were so good you made me pass out." He laughed and kissed me gently on the lips.
I think you are too brave for your own good."
The pain and the burning seemed to come in waves similar to labor contractions. When it intensified I cried out and sometimes screamed. All day and all night, I tossed and turned, I wanted Edward to make love to me again, I was sure it helped.
"There is plenty of time for love making, we'll wait until the pain calms down, I don't want you to pass out again." I pouted.
I thought for a few minutes, "Now we really belong to each other," I said smiling, "Your venom is pulsing through my veins and even though it's painful, it makes me feel complete."
He laughed, "You must be delirious,"
Edward was sitting on the bed next to me and I pulled myself up so he could hold me. He kissed my hair as he wound his arms around me. I turned myself around so I was facing his chest and straddled my legs across his. I was still naked but he wore his pants. I lifted my face to his and he kissed me still gently.
We were comfortable for a while until the intense pain and burning returned. I put my arms around his chest, holding tight. I started perspiring again and the pain made me cry out.
"Please, Edward, kiss me,' I begged as I lifted my face to his, I reached up and grabbed his head with my hands and braided my fingers into his hair, pulling his face down to mine. This time his kiss was more intense. He undid his pants and made love to me as we sat there, and soon the intense pain eased up again. I was sure the burning in my veins was passion.
Edward sat me back on the bed while he fastened up his pants. "If I were a human male, you would have worn me out," He laughed and I giggled.
Carlisle came in and was surprised to see me sitting up and giggling, "How are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm finding that the passion is deadening the pain."
"Can I give you more pain medication?"
"Only Edward can do that," I joked and they both laughed.
Carlisle and Edward exchanged looks and Edward nodded. Carlisle left and Edward showered and changed.
Alice and Rosalie bustled in, helping me into the shower and changing my damp sheets. Rosalie dressed me in one of my new nightgowns and Alice brushed and braided my hair. She finished just as the intense pain came back. I called to Edward and he held me. I flinched as something stabbed me in my hip; sure enough Carlisle was there with a syringe. I looked at Edward questioningly.
"You need to rest,' was all he said.
All the men including Carlisle left to hunt and Alice, Rosalie and Esme stayed with me. They pampered me, rubbing my back, my arms and legs when the pain came and cooling me with damp towels when the burning heat came. Lots of lotion was poured on my body and I was given massages galore. Even though I was in pain, I felt like I was in heaven. They stayed with me the rest of the day and through the evening until the men returned. Carlisle gave me more pain medication but said my body was starting to change and it might not work this time.
Edward undressed both of us and lay down beside me in bed, "What on earth did they rub on your body, you smell scented." He wrinkled his nose.
I laughed, "They pampered me and I loved it."
He kissed me urgently, "I missed you, and did you miss me?"
"Not at all," I said trying to be nonchalant.
He pretended to be shocked and then touch me in such a way to send shivers down my spine, "Did you miss me?" he asked again.
I giggled, "You can do better than that," and I pretended to ignore him. He pulled me to him and kissed me passionately. He felt my heart beat and said it was slowing down. "Now tell me you missed me," he demanded as his lips moved down my body and I gasped with pleasure.
"Yes I missed you, I missed you so much," I couldn't breathe.
Just then the pain came and I started to perspire. Now I needed the passion.
"Please Edward, please don't stop, I need this.
My passion seemed to fight with the pain and the burning in my veins. He didn't stop and he gave me more intense pleasure than I could imagine. We rolled over and over, the passion overpowering the pain. When I cried out, it was difficult to tell if it was actually from pleasure or pain. When I thought him done, he would start all over again.
All I could say was, "Edward please don't stop."
I could tell he wasn't being as careful as with my human experience. I also felt stronger physically. At one point I was able to playfully push him off me. Making love all night should have exhausted me but in the morning I was wide awake.