Disclaimer: I own nothing Twilight - it all belongs to Stephenie Meyer

Chapter 4

Without a word Edward jumped into Kady's SUV with vampire speed. They were both silent for the first few minutes. He noticed that she liked to drive fast; the speedometer was up over 100 mph. Edward smiled a little.

He dared not try and touch her mind again. It was obvious she was having none of that and he couldn't afford to make her any angrier.

Edward could barely contain his hands; he had them clinched tightly on his thighs. As the minutes passed, he closed his eyes and began to fantasize of what he would do to her if she would only let him. A bit of venom began to drool out the side of his mouth that was slightly parted.

Kady scented his lust and looked over at the drooling handsome vampire in the passenger seat. She felt the sudden clinch of desire in her core and wanted nothing more than to pull over and ride him senseless. She shook her head. This was crazy; she had to figure this out.

Kady pulled the SUV over to a clearing at the side of the road and put the truck in park.

Edward's eyes snapped open.

"Okay Edward, I need to know what the hell is going on."

He could feel the sexual tension radiating off of her. Her arousal was the most captivating scent; it made him want to take her into his arms and relieve them both. The urge was almost uncontrollable. He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around his torso to stop himself.

He took a deep breath and then opened his eyes to gaze at her sweet agonized face.

"I honestly don't know what's happening. As soon as I saw you it, I felt an instant connection to you, I wanted to… well..."

His bravado was starting to fade now.

"To what?"

He just blurted the whole truth out before he could stop himself. His words seemed to run into one another.

"Take you in my arms and carry you up to my room. I know it makes no sense. We've never met and I have never felt that way about anyone before. The only relationship I have ever had was with a human and even with her; I never felt that strong of an urge to... well to... you know. I am so sorry. Then, in an attempt to understand what was going on, I tried to read your mind. I'm sorry for that too."

He couldn't stop apologizing. He was beginning to feel like an idiot.

"You had a romantic relationship with a human?"

Kady's voice was incredulous; she was totally thrown by his statement. Edward hadn't realized how strange his relationship with Bella actually sounded to other vampires.

"Uh, yeah, I'll tell you about it sometime."

"Okay, I'll definitely hold you to that. I too had a pretty bizarre feeling come over me when I first saw you. I'm no innocent and I know for a fact that what I have been feeling since the moment I saw you is pure lust. Instantaneous, unadulterated lust. I wanted to rip your clothes off and pretty much have my way with you right there in front of everyone. I have never felt that magnitude of passion in all my 200 plus years. I've had a one serious relationship and a couple of sexual encounters, but what I felt at that moment doesn't even compare to anything I've experienced before."

Edward felt his body tingle, harden and pulse as he heard her admission of wanting him.

"I guess we're both in the same predicament then. What do we do?"

He paused, secretly willing her to say - lets just go for it now.

Damn, I should be ashamed of myself. What is happening to me? Shouldn't love come before lust?

"I think we need to understand this, this…thing… first before we act on anything. I have learned the hard way to be cautious in the decisions I make and this is no different. I've recently come out of a serious relationship; one that I thought was 'it' for me. Maybe my reaction to you is in relation to that? I don't know."

Edward nodded, casting his eyes down to hide his disappointment.

"You're a very beautiful vampire Edward, that can't be denied, but it isn't your beauty that draws me to you. I feel drawn to something emanating from you that I can't explain. Even your scent is overpowering, so sexually alluring. It's as if a magnet were drawing me to you."

"That's a perfect explanation of how I am feeling!"

Edward was elated that she had the exact inexplicable feelings for him.

Kady put her hand up and continued in a stern voice.

"Edward, this is not necessarily a good thing. We need to get control of this. I'm sure there's a reason for it, one that we'll eventually figure out. For now, let's just take it slow. I can't deny I like being with you though. It's a great feeling and one I haven't had in a long time. I'd like to spend some time with you so we can get to know each other a little better. What do you think?"

It sounded like crap to Edward. He wanted to take her and make passionate love to her and all she could say was, let's take some time to get to know each other? He knew he was being unreasonable, he needed to gain some control.

"Okay, sure, that's fine."

Edward knew he didn't sound very convincing.

"Edward, I don't think you're ready to jump into this either. You are a virgin, right?"

Edward eyebrows shot up at her bold question.

"Uh, yeah, I am. I never found anyone that I felt that way about, well other than Bella. I couldn't with her, I was afraid I would kill her."

"I don't know many vampires that would have abstained in that type of relationship, human or not, you're to be commended."

"It really wasn't that difficult since I knew I could easily kill her. Even when I kissed her, I had to be careful."

"No open mouth kisses?"

"Uh, no, not even that."

"Wow, you must be one of those rare 'good' vampires." She teased him with a smile and then became serious.

"I should know because I was with a very cruel one for many years."

Her face took on a stony look and she turned her head away from him to look out the window. He had a sudden urge to touch her, to try and sooth away her sadness.

"I'm sorry but I just don't see you with someone cruel."

"He didn't show me that side of him in the beginning. He hid it very well at first. He had always fed on humans but after we met, he changed to my lifestyle. Within a few years, he began to cheat. I didn't notice at first, he was very good at hiding his kills. His eyes didn't change much because he would only kill one or two humans every few months during which he would be 'visiting' a friend in another country. By the time he would return, his eyes had returned to the golden color. I found out about these kills much later from a mutual friend. But then he began to kill closer to home and when I would discover what he had done, he would beg my forgiveness and plead with me to stay. I loved him, or thought I did, so I stayed. I thought he would change; I wanted to make it work."

Kady stopped for a moment, shaking her head.

"We were living in a beautiful little house in the countryside of Italy. There was so much to paint; the landscape and people were fascinating. One evening I was walking along the little road that led up to our house when I heard a horrible scream. I came upon Nico brutally raping a human girl from the village. He didn't see me; he was too wrapped up in what he was doing. Unfortunately I was too late; when I came up on them, the girl was almost dead. When he finished raping her, he drained what blood was left in her and then he turned and saw me."

Kady stopped then and looked out the window again. Edward could sense that she was fighting to keep her composure. Maybe this was something that she didn't want to confide as of yet.

"Kadence, you don't have to tell me this."

"No, I want to; I've never told anyone what happened that day. I don't even know why I want to tell you but I feel compelled to do it. I guess I have to get it out, expel the memory from my mind maybe, I don't know."

Her sudden anguish was so great; Edward felt it as a part of himself. He took her hand to console her and closed his eyes as a thrill ran right to his core. He was determined not to lose control and fought the urges that drove him. He squeezed her hand to let her know to continue her story.

"What did you do?" Edward whispered gently to her.

Still looking out the window, she continued.

"He laughed when he saw me standing there. He kicked the body out of his way and held out his arms. He said; I cannot pretend any longer; take me as I am Kadencia. I am Nico; I am a killer, a destroyer of humankind. This is what we were meant to be. I want you to accept me as I am. I love you and I want you by my side. I then told him that he could go fuck himself and that I was leaving."

"Did he try to stop you?" Edward was amazed at her courage.

"Hell yeah he tried to stop me and he was sorry he did too. He took a step towards me; I took that as a threat so I roughed him up a bit, then threw him as far as I could. I then used my ability to keep him there until I had packed and arranged to leave that accursed place. Sometimes I wonder if I should have destroyed him."

"Your ability? You're gifted?"

"Edward, I have many gifts." Kady told him solemnly.

Edward swallowed the venom still collecting in his mouth; her scent was still assaulting his senses.

"How long ago did this happen?"

"It's been two blessed years. I never knew how unhappy I really was with him until I left. Unfortunately it's left me with some trust issues."

Edward shook his head admiringly.

This is one strong vampire.

Edward admired her strength and self confidence. She didn't need protection, she didn't need anyone. What did he have to offer her? How could she be attracted to him? He instantly felt insecure and inadequate. He frowned and looked away.

Kady misinterpreted his grimace for something else.

"Edward, I hope I haven't scared you off. My gifts are powerful but I rarely find the opportunity to use them."

Gifts? As in more than one?

"No Kadence, it has nothing to do with that. I think it's great that you're so strong both in abilities and in mind. I know it took a lot of courage to do what you did."

Edward meant what he said. He knew she must have gone through tremendous pain when she realized that the one she loved was a brutal rapist and killer.

"Kadence, I just don't know what I can offer you beside my friendship. I'm feeling a bit inadequate here. I'm over 100 years old but I'm pretty inexperienced compared to what you have been through in your life."

Kady was struck at the humbleness of the beautiful vampire in front of her. Was he too good to be true? She needed to know. She felt a bit bad for doing it but she needed to test him to find out if the innocence was a façade or if he was for real.

"Edward, that is what I want - a friend. I need someone to talk to, to spend time with; someone to understand that after what I went through, I need time to trust again. You and I have a connection, but it seems to be purely sexual right now. I want more than that."

He felt his connection to her strengthen and felt a need to share something of himself with her.

"Kadence, since you told me your story, let me tell you mine."

"Okay but please call me Kady."

For the next couple of hours, they sat in her truck and he told her his story - the infamous tragic story of Bella and Edward. He was completely honest, he told her everything.

When he was finished, there was silence. After a few moments, he looked over at her. She was shaking her head at him.

"Damn Edward, how can you stand to be near her and the children? Aren't you just subjecting yourself to torture every time you see them?"

Was he imagining the jealous tone to her voice?

"No, actually it really makes me happy to have them around. I still feel protective of her and now her children. I love her, but it isn't anything even remotely romantic."

"Still, I think it's sort of weird that you still have them in your life."

Yes, there was definitely a jealous tenor to her voice. Another thrill shot through him and he took her both of her hands in his, enjoying the jolts of electricity shooting through him.

"I do not have any romantic feelings for Bella Black. She is a dear friend of mine and I have promised her that I would always protect her and her children. Not that she needs it with the walking time bomb of a husband she has."

"He's the shape shifter I met called Jacob?"

"Yeah, that's him."

Kady recollected the image of the tall and very well built shape shifter she had met at Edward's house.

"Damn, with a husband like that, I'm sure she's well satisfied but I still think it's weird that she still hangs around you."

She was shaking her head at him again. She did feel jealous of this human - Bella Black, but then she was only a human and one he left behind long ago. He never even kissed her properly much less shagged her.

He is mine now.

Kady had made up her mind that Edward was hers now and she would make sure everyone knew it when it came time. She was pretty sure now that his humble nature was reall but she still didn't quite understand the extraordinary reaction between them. Because of that her instinct told her to take caution. She would take it slow, give them both time to come to terms with the strange emotions churning between them.

Edward knew whatever was happening between them was bizarre at best but he was determined to keep Kady in his life. He would do and be anything she wanted. He would be content just to be near her. He looked into her smoldering golden eyes.

"Listen Kady, we'll go as slow as you want. You call the shots, okay?"

Kady nodded, a sweet smile on her beautiful face, and pulled him into a tight embrace. Her scent was powerful and heady, he felt as though he was floating in time and space. Then she released him and placed her hands on the steering wheel.

"I want to show you my house."

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