Disclaimer: All characters, settings and original plots are the property of Stephanie Meyer. The author is in no way associated with this story. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: This story begins after the conclusion of Eclipse. Newly engaged, Bella and Edward explore the physical and romantic boundaries of their relationship.
A/N: My loss is your gain! My class is cancelled on Wednesday (my teacher went on a short vacation) which has left me with extra time and nothing to do but write about Edward and Bella. Once again I send my thanks to the reviewers! You guys are great motivation to get these chapters out at a faster rate. Enjoy and please let me know what you think!
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La Lune: Chapter 6
"Oh my god," I mutter as I did my best to hide my face in Edward's chest. The embarrassment I feel in this moment is like nothing I've felt before. How long have they been there? What have they seen? How did we get caught? Wait...
I slap Edward on the chest as hard as I can muster without breaking my hand, all the while still attempting to hide my face from Esme and Carlisle.
"What was that for?" Edward exclaims letting out a short laugh.
"Didn't you hear them coming?" I choke out. "Wasn't your spidey sense tingling or something?"
"Well love... I was slightly occupied," he admits, staring down at our bodies, still entangled on the couch. I jump slightly as the sounds of gunfire fill the air from the long forgotten movie still playing in the background.
Gathering all the courage I can muster, I look over at Carlisle and Esme. The smiles on their faces tell me that they were enjoying this moment thoroughly. Esme looks especially elated. I can see the desire to laugh out loud bubbling just below the surface of her smile.
"Well, yes," Carlisle states with a forced cough, "as happy as I am that you two are successfully expanding your... horizons, may I suggest a better locale next time."
Edward laughs as he effortlessly pulls me off the couch into his arms. "I couldn't agree more."
My mind is spinning. This doesn't make any sense. They're so calm. No guns, no shouting, no kicking Edward out of the house. As mortified as I am by the situation, I am glad it was them that caught us and not Charlie.
"Well, we'll leave you two to continue watching the movie," Carlisle chuckles, "although you may want to take it upstairs. I doubt your brothers and sisters will be so kind if they were to catch you."
I groan loudly, burying my head in Edward's shoulder. "This is so embarrassing," I mumble.
The laugh that has been threatening to break free from Esme's grasp finally escapes. "Oh, this is so wonderful," she sings, as Carlisle escorts her from the room.
Edward's finger slips under my chin, gently raising my gaze to his. His eyes are soft and caring. "Come on love, let's go upstairs."
Somehow I manage to get my legs to work. My mind is far from our intimate session on the couch, however, my body is still attempting to recover.
Just as we enter Edward's room he sweeps me into his arms and places me lightly onto his bed. Apparently his mind is still firmly on the couch downstairs.
"Where were we?" he whispers seductively into my ear.
"Being horribly embarrassed after being caught by your parents," I state bluntly.
"Oh, Bella," he murmurs as he places gentle kisses on my face, "there is nothing at all to be embarrassed about. They are not in the least bothered by this."
"Really?" I ask, looking into his eyes.
"I promise," he whispers just before he kisses me. It's a gentle, loving kiss. The kind that makes women sigh in movie theatres. The kind that makes me fall in love with Edward all over again.
"Well, you wanted me to have more human experiences." I laugh quietly. "Does getting caught in a compromising situation with the love of your life count?"
"Absolutely," he says, his lips moving on mine. Knowing the conversation is over, I surrender myself to my teenage hormones. Things had been going well before Carlisle and Esme came home – very well - and I want nothing more than to get back to that moment.
It is as if we have never left that couch. I fill with passion and desire for this man almost immediately. There is no time wasted with hesitancy, as Edward's hands roam my body once again. I open my mouth, welcoming him in. I will never tire of this feeling. The way his cool tongue moves in my mouth, the moan of desire that slips out of him when I kiss him back, and the way his hands feel on my breasts. Every moment is heavenly.
Just as I think things cannot get any better, I feel Edward's hand slip under the fabric of my shirt. His touch is cold against the heat of my skin, and I let a quiet gasp slip out.
Instead of pulling away, his hand draws a circular path along my stomach, steadily moving upwards. "Cold, dear?" he murmurs.
I am unable to form a coherent sentence and settle for shaking my head in response. A deep tingle coils in my belly as he continues his exploration up my body. My hands are in his hair now, and I pull him into an even deeper kiss. Cautiously and ever so slowly, I slip my tongue into his mouth for the first time. I know that this could be dangerous, that razor sharp teeth line this path, but I want him to feel the pleasure of it just once. Edward rewards my daring with a deep growl. I linger there only for a second, not wanting to ruin this perfect moment between us.
"Bella," he moans against my lips. Hearing him call out my name in longing causes the coiling heat in my body to descend, pooling between my legs. Finally, we cross yet another carefully placed boundary as his hand covers my breast, nothing separating us but the thin fabric of my bra. The floodgates of desire burst open as a loud moan leaves my mouth and reverberates throughout the room.
Edward's response to my passionate cry is immediate and fierce. His hand, a gentle whisper before, caresses me in determination, as his thumb runs over my hardened peak. His hips press firmly into mine. His evident arousal causes my eyes to open in shock, only to find myself looking directly into his gaze. We are still, our breaths in ragged gasps as we realise the new level of our need.
If there is embarrassment or hesitancy, it is gone almost as quickly as it was born. For a briefest of moments I see that beautiful, trademark grin cross his face before our lips collide in a fury of ardour.
I register the foreign noise a moment too late. Edward's door swings open violently to reveal a very dazed, yet smug looking Emmett.
"Holy shit, she was right!" he yelps. He lets out a low whistle as his eyes examine the situation he has found us in. "I'd say I'm sorry, but you both know I'd be lying," he states, thoroughly amused with his intrusion into our personal life.
It is only then that I realise the gravity of our situation. Our bodies are entwined, Edward's hands are intimately placed – I suddenly feel so very exposed. As if he could read my mind, Edward immediately removes his hand from my breast. I can feel the vibrations down to my bones as he lets out menacing growl towards Emmett.
"Emmett Cullen, in my office immediately." The sound of Carlisle's voice is terrifying. In all my time spent at the Cullens I have never once heard him raise in voice in anger. No matter the situation, he is always the pinnacle of calm. I know that he doesn't need to yell for Emmett to hear him. The level of his anger sends a clear message to Emmett and everyone else in this house.
I swear I see a flash of fear cross Emmett's face has he turns to leave. The door closes quietly, and Edward and I are alone once again.
The silence between us is deafening. We are on some streak – caught twice in one day. I place my forehead on Edward's chest, my hands on either side of my face. I don't know whether to cry or laugh at the absurdity of the moment. Edward's apologetic murmurs breach the hush surrounding us.
"I am so sorry Bella," he sighs. "My abilities appear to be rendered impotent when we are..."
The conflict waging inside me ends abruptly as I bubble over with laughter.
"Edward, you are anything but impotent." My gaze flickers south to further make my point.
A timid smile spreads across his face. I imagine he would be blushing right now if he could. I feel humble in response to his bashfulness. Knowing that Edward is just as nervous and unsure as I am makes me feel worlds better.
"A truer statement has never been said," he laughs, kissing me tenderly on the cheek.
Edward turns me gently onto my side, his body slides behind mine holding me close as his arm drapes over my waist. Our breathing becomes one fluid movement between us and I feel truly at peace. I don't want to ruin this moment, but you know what they say – curiosity killed the cat.
"What is Carlisle saying to Emmett?" I ask him quietly.
The feel of Edward's chuckle sends chills up my spine. "Listening in, my dear Bella, would be very rude."
"Not any ruder than knowingly walking in on us," I point out.
"Touché."
I know what killed that darn cat. Waiting. I am itching with anticipation as I wait in silence. I can hear my mother's voice chastising me as she did on so many occasions as a child. Patience is a virtue Bella. A virtue that is apparently in short supply.
"Well, it's clear that Carlisle does not want to keep the conversation between him and Emmett a secret," he states, as his superior hearing finally pays off.
"What do you mean?"
"He is speaking at a volume that makes it quite easy for me, and the rest of my family, to hear. It seems as if he wants a message to be delivered."
"I wish I could hear it," laughing at the thought of Emmett being scolded by his father.
In an exercise of patience I wait, yet again, as Edward continues to listen to the discussion I only wish I could hear.
"Carlisle is very disappointed with Emmett..." Edward pauses to listen once again.
"Oh I know that line, disappointed is much worse than angry...trust me," I state, speaking from experience.
"Says that he should have known better... that things are difficult enough for us without having to worry about whether we are being interrupted at every turn."
I can't help but snort at that last statement. Edward and I are anything but a normal teenage couple. Only in our world could a simple make out session end with me in a box in the ground.
"He's asking that Emmett recognize our need for privacy in this matter." There is another brief pause before Edward sniggers.
"He just asked Emmett if he wanted to make things more difficult for us, to make us unhappy."
"Oh," I gasp, "that's a guilt trip if I've ever heard one."
"Well, it worked," Edward states. "Emmett feels terrible. I really don't think he realised how... cautious we have to be when it comes to our physical relationship."
Even though I know Emmett should feel badly about his actions, a wave of guilt washes over me.
"Really?" I ask, my remorse evident in my voice. "We should never have listened. I don't want to know that Emmett feels terrible."
Edward rolls me over to face him. "Oh my sweet Bella, you truly are a forgiving person, right down to your very core," he laughs quietly as he rubs my cheek. "I, on the other hand, am delighted that Emmett feels like a sack of crap."
"Sack of crap?" I ask sarcastically.
"Sorry," he snickers, "Emmett's words, not mine." A comfortable silence passes between us as we lie on the bed simply holding each other. I love these moments with him, when no words are necessary. To be content in each others' presence alone is truly a beautiful thing. Edward interrupts my blissful thoughts with a low grunt.
"Speak of the devil," he grumbles. "You can come in Emmett."
The opening of the door is hesitant and quiet this time around. I guess Emmett has finally discovered that not everyone appreciates him bounding into a room without a moment's notice. I reluctantly untangle myself from Edward's embrace and roll over on the bed. Edward is right. Emmett must feel like a sack of crap. He certainly looks like one.
"What do you want Emmett?" Edward's tone is short and harsh. He must really be enjoying this.
It's amusing to watch Emmett stand in Edward's door. He's shuffling his feet and running his hands through his hair. He looks almost... human.
"I'm a jerk," he starts.
"That much is true," Edward states as he sits upright on the bed. I join him. It feels weird being the only one lying down.
"It was all in good fun," Emmett whines. Edward responds simply by crossing his arms on his chest.
"Okay... fun might not be the right word for it. It's just that Alice said that your powers don't really work when you and Bella are getting it on. I just wanted to test the theory."
"Getting it on?" I snort. "We were not getting it on."
"Not what it looked like from where I was standing," he chuckles. "Looked like Eddie here got some serious boob action."
In the blink of an eye Edward is off the bed, crouching and growling in front of Emmett.
"Okay, okay, poor choice of words," Emmett replies in defeat. He really must feel awful. I have never seen him pass up a chance for a good fight. "Look guys... I'm really sorry okay? I didn't really think it through," he says remorsefully.
Edward's position is unchanging. I can see that forgiveness may have to come from my side today. I remove myself from the bed to stand beside Edward. I place my hand on his shoulder to calm him.
"That's fine Emmett. We," I say as I look toward Edward, "are not angry with you... anymore."
Finally Edward is standing upright. "Bella is correct, Emmett. However," he states taking a slow step toward his brother, his eyes glaring, "if it were ever to happen again, I will make it my personal mission in life to turn you into the first ever vampire eunuch."
A small chuckle escapes me as I watch Emmett swallow loudly in what I can only imagine is fear. Emmett, the grizzly bear hunter, is scared. This is priceless.
"Right," he states, as he slowly shuts Edward's door, "never gonna happen again." The soft click of the door is the last sound I hear from Emmett.
I turn to face Edward, barely able to contain my laughter. "Eunuch?"
"Did you see his face," he laughs heartily. "I wish I had a camera."
"What do you need a camera for?" I tease. "You have a photographic memory."
"Well yes, I may, my beautiful human. You, however, do not, and I want you to remember that look for a long time."
I find myself wrapped in Edward's embrace as I laugh deeply. That look was almost worth getting caught for the second time today.
Our laughter turns into sighs as we continue to hold one another. Suddenly Edward breaks free from me.
"Now what is it?" he growls.
"Sorry to interrupt," Alice whispers as she cautiously opens the door, "but I thought you'd want to hear about what I've seen."
A wordless conversation passes between the siblings. I hate it when they get like this. I can't help but feel like the odd one out.
Edward's eyes flicker with interest and my curiosity is piqued. If I was a cat, I would most certainly be dead – twice.
"What?" I huff, unable to remain patient any longer.
A devious smile breaks across Alice's face. "We're expecting a visitor."