Three Little Words
The brigantine's name, Cullen's Fancy, was written in an elegant script across the bow of the vessel. It was nearing eight o'clock and the sun was making its daily descent towards the western horizon casting an orange glow on the faces of the newly wedded couple. Edward was standing next to Isabella, enjoying the experience through her eyes as she looked around the deck of his ship, taking in the tumult of a ship about to set sail.
The ship's hands were busy getting ready to sail, some men bringing cargo up the gangplank and some men climbing up and untying the ropes to unfurl the sails. She was surprised at how well kept the deck was, not a bit of clutter, a place for everything and everything in its place. Soon she heard the snap of the sails fluttering in the light breeze and her eyes went up and her face lit with puzzlement.
"Red sails?" she asked wonderingly. "I've always believed that sails had to be white."
"There are no rules." He responded. "Most ships do use white sails but not all. I've seen tubs whose sails are a mish mash of motleyed colors. Pirates often use black sails, some with the skull and crossbones emblem. Some are black, with a scabbard, it varies. Their sails are a signal used to engender fear, merchant and passenger ships often surrender without a fight. That's why they use those colors. It's there to intimidate the oncoming ships."
"Is that why yours are red, Edward, to intimidate others?" She queried, only now realizing that they may encounter danger on the seas.
He shook his head and smiled at her, "We have no need to intimidate. It is there as a caution only. All pirate ships and privateers know not to engage with the blood red sails. There is a message in it for them. 'Come forward at your own risk'. The blood red sails are known as ours and we do not take kindly to attacks."
She nodded and made an "O" with her lips and he smiled at her expression. Everything about her made him smile. His eyes took in her smooth skin under the wide brimmed straw hat she wore, the green sash tied under her neck barely keeping it on in the evening breeze. A sudden gust and her little hand reached up to the crown to hold it on her head for fear it would fly away. On her other arm she held a small basket, in it she carried the things she held most dear to her heart; her father's gift to her which was a newly acquired volume with the collected works of Shakespeare, Ovid's Metamorphoses, her own book of psalms and her personal journal. Buried beneath those tomes, were her silver comb and brush set, and Renee's gift to her, two small silver frames with the likenesses of her mother and grandmother. It was Renee's only keepsake from her life before Charles. It brought back memories of her dear mother and she lovingly passed it to her only daughter, perhaps hoping that Isabella would pass it on to hers. Edward looked at the slip of a girl standing on the rolling deck in front of him. To all who saw her she appeared to be a young and fetching bride with not a care in the world, eager to start her new life and a new family. But he saw a woman for the ages, one who had bravely consented to become his and he had to marvel again at his fortune. She smiled up at him as though reading his thoughts and he down at her, for they had both been prone to smiling since their wedding a few hours ago.
He took her elbow in his cool grasp and led her around the vessel. Men continued to move quickly about, some intent on readying the ship for its imminent voyage others intent on loading the ship. Men were scurrying both above board and below deck, stacking and tying down loads containing items that the Cullen brothers had purchased and were taking back to their islands. Edward explained that he and his brother purchased items such as fabric, ink, paper, and candle wax, things that were hard to come by in the islands. Isabella's eyes scanned the loads being carried up the gangplank and onto the ship, looking for two items in particular, her eyes searching for her portmanteau and small leather valise. Edward took her hands in his as he led her about, describing the rigging and the sails. She paid scant attention for she was mostly concerned for her things, she did not want them lost.
Before long they stopped by the helm of the ship where Edward introduced her to the bearded one-eyed captain. "Isabella this is Josiah McCarty, he is the captain of the Fancy and a good man. Josiah this is my wife, Isabella Cullen.
Grizzled Captain McCarty doffed his tri-corner over his heart as he inclined his head. "It's a pleasure madam. I can only wish ye blessings and godspeed. I know you are in good hands. I have known Mr. Cullen and his brother for many a year, since I was a wee lad. They saved my life when the schooner from Glasgow that I was apprenticing on went down in a blaze after being attacked by some scalawags. He is a good, good, man; but I suspect ye knew that when ye said "yes". Must say, I never thought he'd take him a wife, but Mrs. Cullen looking at ye I can see why." Josiah laughed heartily until he caught sight of her blush. "No offense madam, but ye are indeed very pretty."
"Josiah, I always thought you an honest man, but I see now that you are a liar. Mrs. Cullen is no mere pretty face, she is the most beautiful girl you've ever laid eyes on and you know it."
"Aye indeed, she is most beautiful. And ye have found happiness, I can see it in your face. And I'm glad for you, sir. You have been blessed indeed."
Edward's glance did not leave Isabella's face as he drew her fingers to his lips. "That I have, Josiah."
They left Captain McCarty's side and she followed her husband as he proceeded to the stern of the brigantine where there was a door to below decks. There they stopped so Edward could speak with Carlisle, who had changed from his formal attire into dark leather breeches, knee boots and a white linen shirt, the ties of which were hanging open exposing some of his chest. Isabella hastily looked away from his state of undress, unprepared for the informality of men who were used to travelling the seas without women around.
She again looked around the deck, searching in vain for her portmanteau and leather valise which contained her trousseau. Having come to Virginia with no intention of getting married she had brought only a few items of clothing. Unprepared as she was for marriage and a journey to much warmer climes, Edward had insisted on purchasing a leather portmanteau and additional items of clothing including some made from finest oriental silk and French lace. Although she was not by nature a vain person, she was looking forward to feeling the under garments next to her body. She was looking forward to wearing them for her new husband. Three days before she would have felt much shame at having such decadent thoughts; but alas the creature she was three days ago was but a child compared to the woman who stood next to her husband.
~BTWDS~
One night and two days had gone by since Edward's proposal in the Newton's garden and in that short time she had become intimately acquainted with a side of herself she had not thought existed. After she accepted his proposal that morning, she and Edward returned to the parlor hand in hand to give her parents the happy news. After kisses and hugs from her mother Edward announced that they would marry the following day. Renee gasped and tears came to her eyes as she hugged her daughter tightly, murmuring that she would be dearly missed. Charles shook his head in protest and said that he thought it best that they take a few more days to become better acquainted. Edward brooked no argument and insisted to her father that they must be married as soon as possible. Within an hour the couple along with Carlisle had taken the carriage into town and procured a marriage license from the Justice of the Peace, forsaking the traditional announcement of the wedding banns.
Leaving the home of the Justice of the Peace, Carlisle bid them good-bye and left to conduct business. Edward and Isabella returned to the Newtons' home where they then spoke to cousin Eliza, requesting that she give her acquiescence to having the ceremony and repast in her home. Cousin Eliza could not say no to the force of nature that was Edward Cullen and she and Renee immediately started to plan the menu for the following afternoon. Her father, being a deacon, was none too happy with the speed at which Edward wanted to marry. "Marry in haste, repent at leisure." He cautioned them both. In truth Charles Swan was blindsided by the sudden turn of events. Although when he had left New York it was with every intention of finding a husband for his daughter, he had not foreseen that he would have to say good-bye to her so soon. In some far corner of his mind he had envisioned a long engagement. His unhappiness was palpable, and before long Renee called him to the side with a gentle reminder of the future that lay ahead in Pfalzburg for Isabella should she not marry. Nevertheless Deacon Swan still attempted to convince Edward to set the marriage ceremony for a week ahead, hoping to enjoy at least a few more days with his beloved daughter, but Edward was adamant that they must be married the very next day for he had important business to return to in the islands.
That evening, after a day of preparation which had turned the household on its ear, Edward bid her parents goodnight. He led her out onto the verandah to say his farewell; taking her in his arms holding her fast, bending his head to kiss the rapidly beating pulse point at her neck. His scent was like an elixir to her heightened senses and again she became a slave to her desire and he to his. "Leaving here tonight is torture." He whispered in her ear. "Without a doubt 'tis the hardest thing I've ever had to do." And with that he put his mouth to hers and teased her lips apart. She opened willingly, yearning for a taste of his breath, and the touch of his tongue against hers. As he gave her the caress of his mouth her heart pounded so forcefully in her breast that he could almost feel it in his own chest. The powerful beat of her blood coursing through her body was like a song to him. His need for her grew and without thought to what he was doing, he undid the four small buttons at the top of her green dress and pulled the loosened fabric of her shift below her breasts. His lips found the source of her song, beating beneath the translucent skin and delicate bones of her ribcage. He murmured against her swiftly beating heart. "You are tantalizing and unbelievably fragile. I could so easily crush you, 'tis a miracle that you are still alive, little bird.' And with that his lips skated between her breasts and up over one firm mound until he captured her pink nipple between his teeth and gently nipped.
In that shadowy corner of the verandah under the overhanging honeysuckle, Isabella was captivated by the feel of his tongue and teeth on her. She was emboldened by his touch and could not be still, her body writhed against his, seeking a closeness that was not yet possible. His arms propelled her against the stone wall so that he could press his entire body against hers. Her fingers sought to touch every available part of his body, her hands ran along the strong arms that held her and up over his broad shoulders, until they delved into his hair. She reached up and undid the black ribbon that held it in place. "Your touch thrills me, Isabella. I cannot wait to lie with thee."
"I cannot wait either, you have awakened a desire in me so strong that I fear I will combust." She murmured as her lips peppered kisses along his jaw.
Her smell enveloped him and he just barely resisted the temptation to devour her. He pulled back from her and whispered. "I had hoped to wait for tomorrow, but I cannot. I shall come again tonight through your window." He promised. "And I will take the wine from thee again and thou shall taste me." He bent again and licked at her neck, his hands squeezing her hips and moving them against his own. "I want to take thy body in every way possible, Isabella. I hunger for thee."
He kissed her lips until they ached with the pressure then he raised his head taking in her dishevelment with a satisfied look. After retrieving his satin ribbon and tying his hair back he took his leave. She watched him go, admiring the look of his broad back as he disappeared into the dark night. Isabella longed for his quick return as she watched him walk to the front of the house to his carriage. She stood there a while, pleased with the thought that Edward wanted her so much, comforted in the knowledge that they would be together soon.
Isabella returned to the parlor after straightening her dress and fixing her bun; she looked like herself, though there was no hiding the flush in her cheeks and the tell-tale smile around her lips. Her eyes were still bright with the passion that she and Edward had just shared. Renee looked on her daughter and sighed. It was obvious to Renee that Isabella was smitten, and she resolved to have the most delicate conversation with her daughter. She did not wish for her daughter to experience a disastrous wedding night like the one that she and Charles had. Her intention was to speak to Isabella candidly about the nature of men and women and the pleasure that can be found in the marital bed.
It was clear to her that the handsome Mr. Edward Cullen had indulged himself with women before, he was certainly more experienced than her dear Charles had been on their wedding night, but she was not sure if that meant that Isabella would have an easier time of it. Edward Cullen may have had mistresses but that had no bearing on his ability to introduce her innocent daughter to a happy marriage by making the wedding night pleasurable. Renee intended to give her daughter the knowledge that would ease her entry into married life.
For his part Charles gave no thought to his daughter's wedding night; if the tiniest thought of it sailed near the periphery of his mind he dismissed it immediately, trying his best NOT to imagine his innocent little girl in the arms of a man. Although the betrothal to Edward Cullen far surpassed any match that Charles had hoped to achieve for her, he still had a father's tendency to think of his daughter as a child, a babe, whom no man could ever be worthy of. As Isabella poured her tea, and sat on the settee across from him, he once more sought a way to keep her a little longer. "Isabella, I hope you realize that if you do not wish it, you do not have to marry tomorrow. I am sure that if we put our foot down and set the date for a few days hence, Cullen will still come round and set sail for his island later in the week. What's more if he were a true gentleman…"
Isabella interrupted her father softly but insistently. "Edward is a true gentleman father, and I will fulfill my promise to marry him tomorrow. We discussed it this morning in the garden; and he assured me that if he could give me time he would. Unfortunately he and his brother have business to attend to, and many merchants and their families rely on the Cullens. I would not wish to interfere with so many people's livelihoods, it would not be the right thing to do. The only hesitation I had was in leaving you and mother at this time, for I know she needs someone to care after her. But since you have agreed to remain in Williamsburg until after the birth I am more at peace. I think sending for cousin Mary Alice was a wonderful idea, for she can help mother as I would have done were I not getting married. I regret not meeting your brother Phillip and his wife before I leave, but I hope to see them on my return. Please do not worry father, for I am willing and eager to marry Edward tomorrow."
Her father reached out and took her hands in his, searching her face for any hint of reluctance. "You are settled on it daughter? I hope you did not agree for our sakes only."
She in turn squeezed his hand reassuringly. Her brown eyes smiled into his, and she thought only of convincing him that her decision had been made with good judgment. "Father, I would not have. He is kind and good, and I know we can make a good marriage, such as the one you and mother have. For he has all the hallmarks of a person I could care for and love to the end of my days. Is that not what you would wish for me?"
Renee's eyes twinkled, sensing that her daughter was already more than a little bit in love with her betrothed. "Isabella, I am convinced that you are doing the right thing, and your father will come to realize it too. It is harder for a father to let go of a daughter, than it would be to let go of a son; it is just the way of the world. Do not let it bother thee."
Charles sighed and leaned back into his chair. "Your mother's words are wise, it is hard for me to let you go. I think if you were a boy it would be so much easier; for I have travelled the road that a man travels and I know its challenges and its pitfalls. I have no knowledge of your path and I am only concerned that the man you marry treats you as the treasure you are."
"I think Edward will do that father. He and his brother are both fine men. Business people have nothing but good things to say about them."
"But we do not know from whence they came. We know nothing of the man I am entrusting your care to."
"Father such is the times in which we live. Had we lived centuries ago I would have not travelled all this way and I would probably not have made such a hasty match. And had I remained in Pfalzburg you would have known the family history of the man I was to marry, for good or ill. But you must remember that mother married you knowing very little about your family history, and it worked out well."
"That is true dear Charles. We have done our best and Edward seems decent. At this point we must trust in our judgment and in the Almighty." Renee rose with a yawn and kissed her husband's cheek and then her daughter's. "I am tired and must ready for bed. I would like to have a talk with thee tonight, Isabella. It will likely be the last time I get to put my daughter to bed and tuck her in. Please indulge a mother's heavy heart?"
Isabella nodded a lump forming in her throat, knowing full well that these would be her last few hours with her mother and father. "I look forward to it mother." Her eyes were glistening with unshed tears.
Renee patted her daughter's cheek affectionately. "I will come to your bedroom in a few minutes then."
Isabella and her father lingered a few minutes to finish their tea. It was obvious to her that her father was mourning the loss of her companionship, for she had been the only other person in his life who understood his intellectual pursuits and his excitement of new discoveries. For years she and he had sat in the modest parlor at home in Pfalzburg, discussing Shakespeare and Pepys and even the classics of Ovid and Homer. They were the only two who would venture into the woods outside the towne to study the hunting and societal habits of the Lenape tribe whom they had befriended. Her father even kept a diary which contained all the knowledge he had gleaned from his native friends. The diary also included everything he knew of their spiritual observances and their creation myths. He felt it was as valuable as those of the ancient Greeks or Romans. Charles Swan's varied interests and his unquenchable thirst for knowledge were matched only by his daughter's desire to know all about her world.
Telling him that she would also miss him and that she was grateful for all he had taught her, she kissed him on the cheek and went upstairs to her bedroom. She peeked out her window before taking off the green dress and the linen shift that she had dressed to travel in earlier that morning. She reflected on all that had come to pass since she had put on those clothes at the beginning of the day; it seemed to her that a lifetime had gone by. For certain, her world and her understanding of it had changed considerably since that morning. The basin of water was tepid and she wiped the wet cloth over the skin of her face and then her arms and chest. She dipped the cloth again and squeezed the water from it and wiped her legs. She could not help but ask herself if all that had occurred that day was true or a mere figment of her imagination. It was beyond unfathomable. Edward's desire to wed her had come as such a shock. In truth, even had he been an ordinary man of wealth she would wonder why he chose her; but the knowledge that he was no mere mortal had her reeling.
In the early evening light she waited for her mother to come to her; Isabella was sitting at the edge of her bed in her nightdress. The quietude magnified her awareness of the pain in her throbbing thigh; it was at its height. She felt the pulse pounding there as though it were a second heartbeat, eclipsing the first. As with a toothache or a headache, all else paled in comparison. Her entire body seemed centered on that ache, she could think of little else but that Edward would return and touch her there. The tender skin on her thigh was hot and achy but it was also a strangely pleasurable pain. She remembered his words, how he had stated that the ache was his. She knew now that he owned that pain, just as he owned the fullness of her bruised lips, and the swollen feeling in her breasts.
Getting up she walked to the window again and her eyes searched the semi-dark for his form under the willow tree, he was not there and she reached for the silvered hairbrush and pulled it along her scalp in soothing strokes. The repetitive action allowed her thoughts to drift and settle on the future that she would share with the most extraordinary person she had ever met. Life everlasting was a prospect that was too much for her to digest, and to her mind the only way of coping was to take the future one day at a time. She vowed to herself that from now on she would think of the future in hours and days, rather than in months and years. The imminent arrival of her intended was foremost in her mind and she had a yearning to feel him once again in her arms. In his arms is where she was happiest, the ceremony tomorrow was only a formality, meant to appease her mother and father; he had stated that she was already bound to him and she knew she was. The ache in her thighs, the residual tenderness on her lips told her so.
Renee found her thusly, deep in thought and with a contemplative expression on her face. Naturally she assumed that Isabella was worried over the wedding night so she immediately attempted to banish her fears. Renee took the brush from her daughter's fingers and started brushing the waist long hair.
Soft as secrets the words spilled between them. "I was just your age when I wed your father, you know. Since the moment Widow Cope mentioned that he had expressed an interest in me, I wanted to be married to him. He seemed so kind and earnest when we talked together and there and then I could not imagine a better husband for me."
"What made him approach Widow Cope for your hand?"
"My father had just been buried. The entire town knew I was now a penniless orphan. Samuel was the sole inheritor of everything my family had owned. Hannah was taking off, leaving nothing behind for me; she even sold the house my grandfather had built to Peter Forsythe. Had I not made a match, she likely would have taken me with her to Massachusetts. Who knows what future awaited me there? I was certainly not loved or well cared for in my own home, so it was certain I would be misused by her once I left town. Widow Cope took pity on me and made Hannah an offer. For a small sum, Widow Cope would arrange a match for me and take me into her home until I was married. Truthfully, I don't think Hannah cared much what happened to me, but the sum that Widow Cope asked was small and the other option of taking me with her to Massachusetts was more burdensome."
"So Father approached Widow Cope?"
"No. Widow Cope approached your father and told him of her agreement with Hannah, and asked if he was ready to take a wife. He was taken by surprise, he had not been thinking of marriage. She told him of my circumstances and made sure he knew that he was the first person she had approached. She hinted that he would be wise to express an interest because she had heard that others may be eager. Your father immediately asked her to arrange it. After our wedding he confessed that he had seen me in church but had never thought a match between us was possible."
"So he had liked you already?"
"Yes, so he said."
"Yet, he had never spoken to you. He had no idea what type of person you were, whether you were somber or frivolous. Did you ever ask him why he liked you?"
"There wasn't any need. I'm sure I caught your father's eye because he thought I was pretty. Isabella, when it comes to women, I think men are fairly simple creatures; even your father. They like the way a girl looks and that is enough for them. It is even better if she is sweet and caring and easy to talk to, but I think ultimately they like to look at a pretty face across the table. We women are different. I do think we like a nice face, but we put more import on a husband's demeanor and gentleness."
"And you saw that in Father?"
"Yes. I saw it in his eyes the first time we spoke. You have his eyes, gentle and intelligent."
Renee finished the brushing and moved to sit next to her daughter as she begun to plait her hair. "I was not as smart as you my dear girl. When I was your age I was little more than an ignorant child; so much was unknown to me. When my mother was alive I was raised in a home where I was expected to be quiet and not ask questions. I never wondered where my food came from or how others lived. I never once thought to ask. After my mother went from this life to heaven and my stepmother came into the home, I was no longer treated as I had been, I was required to work in the kitchen and it was then that I saw where my food came from. Truthfully it was a valuable lesson. At Hannah's bidding I was required to do a good day's work around the house. Although I worked alongside them, the servants could not treat me as one of their own because they had been so used to treating me as the little mistress of the manor. Whenever I came into the room the laughter would cease and they quieted, always aware of my status and remembering that regardless of what Hannah wanted, it was still my father who paid their wages. As a result I had never made a friend or been close with another girl and because of that, the little things one learns about the ways of the world was never hinted at, let alone disclosed to me." Renee turned her daughter's face to hers. "Do you understand? Can you glean what I am trying to impart to you?"
"No mother." Isabella shook her head in confusion. She was sure that her mother was trying to give her some advice but she was not sure what that advice was.
Renee gave a little chuckle and tugged on her daughter's long plait. "I'm afraid that I am being too delicate and I am not being as clear as I wish to be. Isabella, when I married your father I was sixteen, just as you are now. But you are so much more intelligent and aware than I was at that age. Truth be told, I was unaware of what it meant to be married. To my mind marriage meant that I would be a close friend to my husband, and that I would make his meals and I would take care of his home. I knew of no other obligation. I had not kissed Charles nor even held his hand until after we were wed. Understand?"
Isabella nodded. Keen to let her mother finish her talk so that Edward would come.
"I know that you have feelings for Edward. You care for him, is that not so?"
"Yes, I do." Isabella nodded looking at the bedspread for she could not look her mother in the eyes.
"And I believe that you have held hands, is that so?"
"Yes."
"And has he kissed you?"
Isabella blushed furiously, but nodded. "He has."
Renee chuckled and picked up her daughter's hands and held them gently between her own. "That is a good thing, Isabella. Do not be ashamed. It is natural to want to kiss and touch your wife or your husband. Do you know what else is natural?"
"What?" she whispered with dread, only now understanding that her mother would talk to her of private things.
"It is natural to be intimate with his body."
Isabella stood up from the bed, covering her burning face with her hands. "Oh, my goodness, mother, please let's not speak on this."
"I do not mean to make thee ashamed, but I feel it is my duty to make sure you know what being in the marriage bed entails."
"I do know, mother." She turned to her mother who beckoned her nearer, only to reach for her hands again.
"Are you sure?" Renee inquired her eyes on her daughters flushed face. "Your husband will want to touch your body. He may even desire that you disrobe entirely. He may want to look at your naked body and kiss and touch you all over. It is nothing for you to be ashamed of, it is what marriage is. You are an undiscovered land that he must explore, and he may desire that you explore him."
"Please, mother. Do not go on."
"He is like the hand and you are like the glove, he fits inside of you. You will come together like two halves of a whole. There may be a little pain the first time, but then again there may be no pain at all. It is a seal that must be broken and then after that comes the best part. I need you to know that it can be pleasurable, but it will not be if you fear or dread it."
"I promise that I do not dread it." Isabella squirmed under her mother's gaze.
"I am glad to hear it. Do not fret, I have no more to say. It is a lot to think on and I will leave you alone now. If you wish to talk about it again tomorrow, if you have any questions all you need do is ask."
Her mother kissed her on her forehead and quietly pulled the door closed as she left. Isabella blew out a deep breath and followed to lock the door, when she turned Edward was standing right there by the window smiling at her. "So you do not dread being my glove? That is good to know." He smiled.
"How long were you listening? Did you hear it all?" she whispered, shuddering with embarrassment all over again.
He was next to her in a flash, pulling her into his arms and running a soothing hand over her hair. "I heard enough to know that thy mother loves thee greatly, and that she wants nothing more than happiness for thee. But be assured there is nothing to worry over. I promise giving yourself to me will be more than pleasurable." And with that he pulled her braided hair back and kissed her passionately on the lips, his tongue reaching in to suckle at her mouth. "Are you aware how much I want you?" he moaned.
"Yes, I think so."
He kissed her again, this time running his lips over her jaw on down her neck, pulling at the bow that kept the neck of her nightgown together. As it fell open, he pushed the gown off her shoulders. In a sudden fit of shyness she reached up and tried to hold onto her nightgown, but he kissed her mouth again, making her loosen her hold and it pooled to the ground leaving her bare before him. He pulled away to run his eyes over her body. "Such a beautiful girl." His kissed her deeply and he tightened his fingers on her bottom, bringing her as close to him as possible. He slowly walked her backwards leading her to the bed; she was caught by surprise and let out a little gasp as she started falling backwards into its soft sheets. They lay side by side and he kissed her lips until they throbbed; his hand meantime caressed a path over her belly and along her hip bones. Then those long fingers moved between her thighs reaching down to stroke the bites he had made. His cool thumb rubbed it over and over soothingly but they could both feel the pulsing beneath her skin. His lips left hers, "I want to kiss you down there. Will you let me?" She closed her eyes and nodded quickly. Edward moaned with pleasure as his lips followed the path down her neck and between her breasts, over her trembling belly until he had kissed his way down to where her blood beat for him.
She felt his tongue lick the wound, then he sucked hard on it, barely scraping it with his teeth until the skin broke open and he tasted her blood. The growl he made melted her bones and without conscious thought she opened her thighs wide for him, wanting something only he could give her.
He drank from her for only a few seconds before licking the wound closed. He rested his head on her thigh, panting to come down from the ecstatic climax that taking her blood had given him. Moments after that his mouth found her moist, tender pink flesh, his tongue delved between her other lips and she suddenly felt him deep inside her. Her eyes flashed open as did her mouth and she was about to let out a cry of pure wanton pleasure, but his hand reached up and covered her mouth before she could utter a single sound. His mouth left her moist opening and suddenly his face was above hers, his body looming over her, covering her like the Swan over Leda. "You must not cry out or someone will come to see what ails thee. Be as quiet as possible and I will give thee supreme pleasure."
She nodded but in the next moment he had removed himself from her bed and retreated to the far wall to stand near the unlit fireplace. Her breathy pants were the only sound in the room. She sat up and pulled the cover over her trembling body. "I am sorry." She said. "I did not mean to be so wanton and lose my senses, but it was so much …"
He turned to her with a tender expression. "No need to be sorry. I only stopped to give you a chance to tell me what it is that you desire. As I told you this morning, I am yours, and you are mine. The wedding means nothing to me or my kind. I want to take thee now, tonight. I will take a bit of thy blood and give thee a bit of my venom, but I want to join with thee too. I lust for thy quim. I want to take your maidenhood and give thee the sweetest pleasure in return, but first I must know if it is what you want. I must hear it from your lips, now, when I am standing apart from you. I do not want my influence to sway that decision. So, Isabella, will you become a woman tonight, in the room where I first spilled thy blood? Or do you wish to wait until tomorrow night? We will be sailing then and ye can be as wanton and as wild as the wind." He smiled.
The blush his words caused heated her cheeks, but his eyes held hers steady, giving her the courage to speak of her desire. Her arms stretched out to welcome him back to the bed, "Please come to me. I want to spend the tonight in the arms of my husband, for that is what you are. I want you to show me that pleasure you spoke of." She smiled at him. "We will start our future tonight."
He lay on the bed by her side and kissed her sweetly. His fingers delved again between her thighs, stroking up and down her tender, pink folds. When he had played her until she was quivering, he then slipped his long finger inside. Isabella bit her lip and reminded herself not to make noise, but it was nearly impossible. In moments his mouth left hers to move to one small breast, pulling the nipple into his mouth. The suck could be felt down to her wet quim.
"Edward." She whispered shyly. "I am sorry for getting your finger so wet."
He smiled up at her. "That is as it should be. It readies your body to receive mine. I hope to make you very wet indeed."
And he bent down again to tease at her nipple before moving to the underside of her left breast, biting into the thin skin there and taking in more blood. As he lapped at the blood he'd released he let out a feral growl which sent shivers of need up her spine. "Oh. Edward that feels so good." And it did feel very good, his bite was as a kiss to her flesh, it did not hurt in the slightest; instead it wound her desire tighter, almost to a fevered pitch.
He closed the wound after a few moments and again stilled for a few seconds as he recovered. He whispered against her frantically pounding heart. "It is a struggle not to drain thee dry as my instincts tell me to. I must take but a little and give thee a little in return." He explained. Then he quickly shifted down the bed to lie between her legs, keeping them open with the width of his shoulders. His fingers dug into the flesh of her thigh, preventing her from moving about as his tongue again pushed into her opening. She reached down to hold onto his wild head of hair as his tongue continued its thrust and his upper lip teased her tiny pink nub. She clenched her teeth tightly to muffle the cry of surprise and pure pleasure that wanted to escape. When she thought she could take no more he leapt off the bed and shed his clothing and returned to lay on top of her. He did it so quickly she barely got a glimpse of his rod, but what she did see picked up her heart rate. It looked too big to fit anywhere in her body and panic rose up in her. "Do not be afraid." He whispered on her lips. "Your body was made for this joining." He rested on his forearms above her, his hands soothing her hair back from her heated face. "I have to have thee now, it will be as a pinch, but then we will gain our reward." He kissed her open mouth, burying it beneath his, and as she closed her eyes she felt the first nudge at her entrance where heretofore only his tongue had been. "Trust in me."
She nodded and she felt his stiff flesh push into her opening, making her feel full in a way she had not ever felt before. "Hold onto me." He instructed her, and she released her grip on the sheets and clutched at his arms. "Thou are wet, and warm and heavenly." He moaned. "I must keep control, but it is difficult. I will go as slowly as I can." He promised.
The full feeling grew and then she felt a pain that she had not felt before. It was first a burning pinch and then it became a deep pain and then it started to wane. Edward grunted and stilled, she kept her eyes closed waiting and when he did not move she opened them. "Is it done?" She asked a little disappointed at not feeling any pleasure.
"Aye, tis done." He nodded. "How dost thou feel? Are thee in pain?" He inquired seeing the disappointment in her eyes.
"I am fine. 'Twas not as bad as I had thought it would be. Truthfully, the pain is almost gone." She sighed. "So it is done."
"No, Isabella. It has just begun." And with a groan he sat back on his haunches and pulled her hip onto his thigh. His big hands held her hip bones steady and he started thrusting his flesh into hers.
Isabella could only lay back and watch. Each time he pulled out she saw the swollen thick flesh of that divine rod, it made her moan in anticipation. After a few minutes of the thrusting and rubbing he reached under her back and hoisted her to sit atop his thighs. The new position made it feel as though his cock would reach up into her heart and tear it asunder. A long "Ooooh" broke free from her and one hand behind her head brought her mouth to meet his as he quieted her sounds. The other hand he anchored in the small of her back just above the swell of her bottom, bringing her body down to meet each upward thrust. His hips did not still for a moment, instead he continued his movements with ever increasing vigor, the shaft of his rod stroking her sensitive nub with each pass. The coiling tight delicious feeling was almost too much to bear, she was feeling faint, her heartbeats had galloped a hundredfold, "Please, oh please." She begged him for something. His mouth reached her ear where he whispered darkly, "I will take thee now."
On her back again he thrust harder and harder into her tender quim, but she loved it more and more. The feeling built up rapidly until she was gasping for air. He lay on her as a blanket, the heaviness completing her. She instinctively wrapped her arms and legs around his back, something telling her she needed to hold on tightly. She felt it then, the tearing of his sharp teeth into the skin of her slender neck, just beneath her left ear. Her body tightened and then the release washed over. Ecstatic pleasure rendered her motionless as Edward drank from her rapidly beating pulsepoint. Isabella was transported by the feeling that ran throughout her whole body, the sensation so completely debilitated her that for seconds she was unaware of where she was. She slowly returned to herself to find Edward equally limp, his eyes closed, his head resting on her shoulder. In that moment she saw him as a man, not a god and she loved him. Those three little words rose up in her throat and spilled over her lips. "I love thee." She said softly.
"As do I. I have loved thee forever, I think." He whispered against the place on her neck that bore his mark.
They spent the night holding each other and learning the ways of their flesh. Edward's flesh felt warmer than it ever had before and he explained that it was her blood that gave him that warmth. She was surprised to learn that he had no need for food nor drink, but subsisted on blood alone. He informed her that he could go days without feasting, but the longer he went without the greater the thirst. He had hunted that very evening and had assuaged his thirst with a large bear. Had he not done so, he may have lost control when taking her blood. Isabella also learned that when he took her blood there was a minute exchange of venom from his body to hers, even when they kissed he had given her a bit of it to sustain her and to ensure that she did not grow weaker. Edward asked Isabella of her life in Pfalzburg, inquiring about her day to day routine. He was surprised to learn that she was a schoolmistress and he seemed proud of her intellect and her accomplishments. She learned that he had lived many lifetimes and he and Carlisle only returned to their islands every third generation or so. They left an overseer in charge and managed their properties from abroad through lawyers and emissaries until enough years had passed, they then returned as grandchildren of the previous residents. She asked if it was difficult to spend time away from a home they loved and Edward answered that it was quite nice. They spent the intervening years in London and sometimes years in France or Spain. They had even spent some years in Rome. Isabella was thrilled at the prospect of a few years in Europe. There were so many mysteries to uncover that they talked well into the early morning and she fell asleep mid question as he stroked his hand down the curve of her back.
The following morning she slept in again, but upon waking she knew why and her memories of the previous night were clear. Her mother woke her with a kiss to her forehead and the gifts from Charles and herself. They had readied a full bath for her and she looked forward to it as she had not indulged in one since she had first arrived in Williamsburg. The water was scented with a bit of lavender and rose oil and she basked in the luxury of the finely milled Portuguese soap on her skin. The morning flew by and she dressed in her best petticoat and a floral silk dress, borrowed from Cousin Eliza. Her hair would have to be worn down not up. She asked Annie to arrange the curls to cascade over her left shoulder, hoping to hide the evidence of Edward's passionate embrace the previous night.
The Justice of the Peace, the Reverend Thomas Albright, performed the ceremony, and afterwards they ate in the Newton's dining room. The stewed hen with carrots, the beef roast and the suckling pig were laid out on the table as offerings to their new life. There was boiled new potatoes slathered in butter, green beans and cabbage sallat. For the sweet meal there were pecan and blueberry pies and the most wonderful peach cobbler. All in all it was a midweek feast that everyone enjoyed.
Isabella went upstairs to change out of her borrowed finery and to put on her blue travel dress, over which she wore her green cape and large straw hat. Her valise and portmanteau were already stowed in the carriage and she packed her treasures in her small travel basket. On her way down the stairs she realized she needed to see her father again for one last good-bye. She saw him standing near the front door, obviously waiting to see her and tears came to her eyes.
"Isabella." He hugged her to him. "Dearest daughter."
"Father, do not be sad.' She squeezed his hand between her own. "Thou has been the only man in my life until now. But you have been my greatest influence and the greatest example of what kind of man I should like to marry. And I have found him. I will be happy, I promise thee. And I will return to visit as soon as I can, whether it be here or to Pfalzburg."
"It is a great distance, my dear. It may be years before I see thee again. I will miss you beyond all imagining."
"And I will miss thee. But I will return, I promise." She kissed him on the cheek and turned to hug her mother who had joined them. "Be good to him mother. Remind him he has another child on the way. Take care and don't fret, either one of you."
Edward came up the stairs from the carriage and shook her father's hand. "Have no worries. Isabella is my life now, I will make her happy."
They bid the Newtons goodbye, and Isabella slipped a pound note in Annie's hand as she hugged her. "Treat yourself to something good." she whispered.
They left amid a flurry of hugs and well wishes. In the few miles to the port Isabella cried her heart out and Edward hugged her to his side and spoke in hushed tones to his brother. He knew nothing he could say would ease the heartache but as he had promised her father, he would make her happy.