So sorry for the wait! Had some road blocks on this one! Hope some hot and steamy will make up for it! ...Maybe?
Chapter 7
Tainted Temptaions
Bella and I were out in the orchard as midmorning began to settle upon us. The sun was fully risen as it brightened the apple yard, he red seeming to glimmer and shine in the light. Bella's long, dark hair also caught the sun's rays, bringing out an air of ruby to her thick locks. The effect brought out the natural blush to her cheeks and the richness of her eyes. I couldn't take me eyes off her; the scarlet dress with the low dipping back, her thick hair free from the confines of her cap, and smiling with a joyful, innocent face.
I had never seen anything so beautiful before.
She was standing on a small stool, a basket on the ground next to her. As she would reach up and pluck an apple, she would gently toss it into the cradle beneath her. A mysterious smile was playing at the edge of her lips; dancing around her expression, but never actually lighting her angelic face.
That same smile had been taunting me all day. Even through truly grueling tasks-of which I was only beginning to realized farming entailed-of pig feeding, calf bathing, and mud slopping, she always wore Da Vinci's favorite smile.
I was sitting at the base of the tree as Bella lazily tore apples from above er, humming all the while. "Are you finished?" I called out to her, purposely trying to remove any sound of whining from my tone.
Bella laughed gleefully, reaching up to steady herself on a high branch as she stepped off the stool. I perched upwards, ready to catch her if she showed the slightest sign of uneasiness.
"I'm done, Edward," she told me, sounding all the world like a child comforting an impatient child. Frowning, I watched as she bent down to retrieve an apple from the wicker basket at her feet. She held a ruby gem in her delicate fingers, examining it for a moment before walking over, dropping to her knees beside me. "You should eat," she held the apple out to me. "Our work is done; chores seem to go by much fast with two sets of hands." She grinned, pushing the fruit towards my unmoving hand.
I chuckled at her, stunned by her open showing of true friendship. It was something I was completely unused to In my world, it was simply understood that kindness and generosity were illusions; only to be used when needed, and then thrown away the moment it was necessary. Having Bella sit here and smile with me, laugh with me, and containing no hidden agenda or play for wealth was so unlike anything I had ever known, and yet everything I had ever really wanted.
I extended my hand, purposely gazing her fingers as I took the offering. The electricity churned between us, my heart fluttering in response as Bella's cheeks flushed to a shade not unlike the apple nestled in our grasps.
"Thank you," my voice was no more than a whisper. It was undeniable-Bella brought me to near speechlessness.
We sat in silence for a few moments, our bodies close enough that I could savor every wave of Bella's scent that wafted towards me, but just far enough that our skin never touched. I bit down into the fruit in my hand, letting the sweet taste flood into my mouth. I used the time as I chewed to form a question: to choose how I would phrase this delicately.
"Bella?" I whispered out, clearing my throat awkwardly.
She hummed lightly in response her mocha orbs gazing at the picturesque view surrounding us.
"I…" the hesitation was obvious in my voice. Clearing my throat once more, I pressed forward. "I live at the… well, that is to say, I'm staying at the Governor's Estate while I'm here for the summer and…" Bella's shoulders tensed and her eyes narrowed. Her peaceful, carefree grin had completely disappeared, dropping to a angered frown. "You came up in conversation the other day." I pressed onward, "Governor Patricks seemed…less than pleased with you're family." Bella stood up suddenly, interrupting my bubbling speech.
Without a single word from her cherry blossom lips, she turned away from me, plucked the basket up from the ground and began to walk. I hopped up immediately, grabbing my coat and jogging to catch up with her.
When I reached her she rotated to face me, her expression livid. "Is this the reason, Edward?" she hissed out. " Is this why you wanted to spend time with me? Because you had heard I was the Governor's little…little whore?"
"No!" I shouted, shocked at the accusation. Pulling the wicker container from her hands, I shook her shoulders gently. "I would never think-"
"Then why?" Bella challenged, "You just want what every other boy wants. I can't believe…" She shook her head, disgusted and her feet began to carry her away from me once more. Frustrated with the direction of our conversation, I reached out to grab her small arm. Sharp pulses thumped between us once more.
She pulled away from our conversation first.
"I'm not like that," I told her, my tone unyielding and firm. "It doesn't matter to me if you…"
"If I what, Edward?" Her voice was a low, threatening hiss. "If I…I gave myself to men. You wouldn't care if I propositioned all the boys in town with my female whiles?"
I stepped forward, barely an inch close to furious, tempting form. "No."
Her mouth dropped open silently at my quiet admission, though she said no more. Her brow furrowed in confusion.
"I know you," my voice was barely a whisper. The word were no longer being thought-the simple escaped from within me on their own, uncensored as the poured from my lips. "I know everything I need to about you. You're kind, and strong. You are beautiful." My hand left it's place at my side to reach up, my fingers ghosting along the warm skin of her blushing cheek. "I know that I've looked for you-waited for you. I know you're everything I need."
Bella didn't move from me, though we were much-too close. I could see my breath fan out across her stunning, and equally stunned, face. "This…" her voice wavered as she finally spoke, "This is impossible. Irrational. We've only just met," he words were those of protests, but her actions not. Her head slide downwards, her cheek resting in my open palm. I exulted inwardly. "How can I feel this way?" The last words are mumbled, so softly that it is as though she is asking herself.
We stood in the loudest of silences for a moment. Neither of us spoke, though our quiet said volumes. Bella had nothing more to say, and I could not dispute her prior claims.
At last, words left her succulent mouth.
"I haven't, you know."
My eyes questioned her and she continued, "Propositioned myself to men. I've never…." her tone faded and drifted off. Unable to help myself, my thumb reached down to trace a small spot behind her ear. From then I moved on to explore the rest of her delicate features. I learned the way her long, dark eyelashes caress her cheeks when she blinks. I studied how her button nose curled just slightly upwards at the end. I memorized the graceful slope of her long neck. My gaze settled lastly on her lips.
They looked softer than the billow clouds of London's summer. The top was just a bit too large for it's counter, and the small imperfection made her all the more appealing.
Instinctively, I leaned down. Bella's eyes, I noticed with euphoria, glanced down towards my mouth.
I wanted to kiss her so badly I ached for it-the uncomfortable weight in my trousers certainly proved so. My hand that rested on her neck slowly, cautiously traced her body with my finger tips. My skin felt the softness of her dress as I finally settled my grip at her delicate feminine waist.
In a second, all the world changed. Bella reached up quickly, locking her hands at my neck and stretching up on her toes. She pulled me down to meet her and smashed our lips together.
A sound of half cry- half choke sounded out of my lips. Her mouth was softer than I had imagined, and her normally alluring scent doubled as he mouth was enveloped with mine. Bella pushed hard into my lips, demanding and no longer asking. I moaned deeply at the sensation. I fought the violent urge to pull he tightly to my body, laying it out directly against mine.
I had just managed to control my unruly, ungentlemanly thoughts when-as was her usual way-Bella undermined my efforts completely. Her fingers traveled up the back of my neck and buried themselves in my pulled back hair, pulling me closer to her. My hands, in return, tightened around her curves, my fists gripping clumps of her teasing dress. I couldn't think anymore as reality seemed to loose all meaning. It was all too much-the feel of her soft, pillowing lips, her glorious perfume swimming through my senses, and the relentless gripping of my hair, pulling me closer and closer to her.
My resistance snapped, and Bella right along with it.
My gripped moved to the back of Bella's thighs as I hoisted her upwards, bring her body level with mine. My lips pushed against hers, asking, pleading, begging for her to open up to me. Frustrated when she did not my understand, I hesitantly snaked my tongue out, opening my mouth to her and tasting her lips. I groaned aloud. She was divine. Mouthwatering.
A moan that was not one of my own resounded in my ears at the feeling of our mouths mixing together, our tongues and teeth slapped and dances in a blinding rhythm, neither showing caution or hesitation.
Without realizing it, I had begun to move backwards, taking Bella with me. I felt the rough bark of a tree scrap against the back of my hands, Carefully repositioning Bella's back as not to hurt her, I pushed her further upwards, until each inch of our forms aligned. Instinctively, my hips pushed forward into Bella's and we both gasped at the feel of contact. She thrust back at me and we began to move like this perfectly simonized. After not to long I began to feel something within my stomach tighten roughly.
As though she sensed this change within me, the tempting woman pinned in front of me shifted, bringing her thin legs to lock around my waist and her dressed to raise up. Her lips left mine, but only to throw her head back in pleasure. Her lips opened in a low moan and her eyes shut tightly. I I moved forward again my hips-arousal tented and excited-came in contact with her most intimate portions, covered only by the thin shift.
"Bella…" I whispered out desperately. I wanted her to tell me to stop, that this was improper and wrong and…and….
"Please," was her answered whimper. "Something…" a gasp as I couldn't but thrust inward again, unable to halt any motion, "so close…I can feel…." another deep groan that pulsed through my body. "Feels so good…."
My lips, of their own accord, traveled downwards, to lick and nip lightly at the long expanse of neck that had teased me so…
My hips shifted slightly, thrusting up at a new angle and I was startled as Bella gave a high squeak of surprise, her body tensing roughly. Her mouth opened as her hips pushed roughly to meet mine. "A few…a few…" she told me. Bella was so close to the edge, as was I, I wanted to push her over it, to help her experience everything and anything good. I thrust against her soft, damp heat once…twice and I watched, transfixed as she screamed out, my name falling from her lips over and over, like a prayer.
I lost all sense of control then, letting go of the chains of self control that I had pulled so tightly around me. I spilled over, feeling the lights of pleasure shine and flash beneath my closed eyelids.
When I finally returned back to earth and opened my eyes to see Bella's shocked and flushed face not inches from mine.
"I…" I began to gasp out, still out of breath. My hands slipped from underneath her, exacted, and I gently let her feet touch the ground.
Bella's eyes were wide and her breath still came out in short gaps. She didn't move her body at first, shudders still occasionally wracking through her figure.
Finally-her flush forming into a full scarlet blush-she ducked under my arm and hurried quickly away from me, towards the abandoned basket.
I called her name, panic rising up and claiming my throat. I must apologize…what she must of though of me!
"Bella," I said when I finally reach her, my hand stretching out instinctively to grasp her.
"I'm so sorry. I never meant for anything…That was incredibly rude of me. You must think me such a…a coward. Or a cad. Or a number of horrible, disrespectful things. Please do not think my affections for you are based solely on…on what just happened." She had still not looked at me, her crimson face pointed in the opposite direction. "I assure you, Bella, I hold you in the highest regard."
Bella cleared her throat then, her words softer than the summer breeze. "Mr. Masen, please it is I that should apologize. I try to convince you that I am…a…honorable and then I…attack you." she swallows deeply. "Please believe me when I say that I hold you in the greatest of regard. I understand if you do not wish to…prolong our…connections.'
"No!" I stepped in front of her, alarmed to see the trail of clear tears that had fallen on her face. "I would never wish such a thing. You are my…I care…"I stopped speaking quickly, as she looked up at me, her eyes wide.
"I care for you, Bella. I care for you like I have never cared for another."
She shook her head at me, and reached forward. "You shouldn't. You shouldn't care for me. We would never belong together. You need a wealthy, beautiful English girl. And I'm nothing more than a poor patriot's daughter. I'm not good for you Edward."
"And do you care nothing for me?" I interrupted, knowing that this was not the truth. Bella was a smart girl, a rational girl…she wouldn't risk meeting me with some form of…fondness, would she?
"Of course I care for you!" she yelled at me, turning away and fisted her hands beside her. "I care for you more than-in ways that-" she stops.
In a brave move I position in front of her. My hands reach down and, as gently as I can manage, I cradle her skull in my grasp. Her small, delicate face turned upwards to see that tears glistened in her chocolate eyes. Slowly-so slowly, as to give her plenty of time to reject my advances-I lean down and press my mouth to her neck, enjoying the way her slender columns pluses beneath my lips.
"That's all that matters." I told her, my breath fanning out across her pale skin. "You are what I need-remember that."
She looked at me, tears forming lightly as her eyes swim with thoughts I couldn't even begin to place a name to. I saw fear flash through her eyes, followed by concern, and then settling into something which I could only hope to be content. Her hand-shaking and rattling-reached out to lie gently across my cheek. I turned into it, kissing her tender and rough skin of her palm. I Have never felt a woman's hands this coarse before-I doubted mine were even so blistered. I smiled into that though skin-my Bella was a strong maiden who worked for her life-who earned her keep. She was not a Lady of Nobel birth.
I flinched my smooth hands into fist, ashamed at their weakness.
I would become better for her. Stronger.
"Please." she whispered, her bell-voice echoing through my ears and settling gently on top of my aching heart. "Could you-there is so much I have to tell you about the…about Governor Patricks. Can you wait? Could you…ignore what you hear? Just for a little while?"
Our eyes met.
"I would wait forever, Bella."
Her feminine lips tugged upwards.
"Be here tomorrow. At dawn. Bring your book."
Her lips, still grinning, rocked forward to ghost lightly over mine.
"My Edward."
