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 in 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: Ask and you shall receive! You all wanted to know who the visitor is... well wait no more. Thanks again for everyone who took the time to review my last chapter. Your comments and kind words are greatly appreciated (and an excellent motivation for writing!). Enjoy and let me know what you think.
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La Lune: Chapter 7
"Visitor?" I question, unable to hide the fear in my voice. "But wait, you're smiling... so, not a bad visitor?"
"Nope", Alice insists smugly, "the good kind."
"Like Santa Clause," I gulp.
"Not unless Santa is a cute vamp from Alaska," she grins, sending a wink my way.
Edward's face changes from amused to anxious instantly. "Hold on a moment Alice," he snaps, "your vision did not show anything about him being cute."
Jealous Edward never fails to entertain me. He is utterly convinced that every male on the planet wants in my pants. I will never understand what he sees in me. Compared to him I am so wholly plain. I take a quick moment to admire him – my love. He should look dishevelled after this afternoon's activities, but he is as pristine as ever; a picture perfect god.
"Relax Edward," Alice laughs, "there's nothing to worry about."
"You think," I stammer. Last time Alice foresaw no danger she was sorely mistaken. I wonder if I could get one of those robots from the weird sci-fi show my mom used to watch. That way every time I'm in mortal peril, it could make popping and whistling noises as it screeched 'danger Bella Swan, danger'. No wait, bad idea. I'd need to change the batteries or recharge it all the time. Maybe solar powered? Nope, that wouldn't work with all the damn rain Forks...
"Bella." I blink to find Alice standing directly in front of me waving her hand in front of my face.
"Sorry," I chuckle, "I was just lost... in space." I continue to laugh to myself at my own private joke. They must think I'm insane.
"I would love to get inside that beautiful head of yours," Edward muses as he stares at me in adoration.
"I seriously doubt that. I'm slightly cuckoo sometimes."
"Sometimes," Alice snorts out sarcastically.
"Annnyway," I drawl attempting to change the subject from my lunacy to the matter at hand. "What's the deal with this mysterious visitor?"
"Apparently he's a friend of a friend of the Denali clan. He seems to be a wanderer of sorts, never really settles down."
"I wonder why that is?" Edward ponders. It's obviously a rhetorical question, but it has me thinking nonetheless. I guess Alice's vision must be incomplete.
"Not sure," Alice responds while examining her flawlessly manicured fingernails. "But there is one thing I am sure of – there is a reason."
"When will he get here?" I ask.
"The Denali will call tonight to ask if he can stay with us for a while. He should be here in about three days." It's unlike Alice to use words like 'should' and 'about'. My thoughts wander to one of the last visitors we had in these parts; James. Timing made all the difference in the world in that case.
"Does he know about Bella?" Edward enquires, unable to hide the apprehension that creeps up into his voice. I sigh deeply in response. It's not that I don't appreciate his concern, but sometimes I think he can be a bit overprotective, although he would never see it that way. I wonder if he will be this protective over me even after I'm changed.
"Oh would you relax Edward. Not everyone has it out for Bella you know."
Leave it to Alice to jump to my rescue, I think smiling to myself. Thanks to her gift, she usually has a more realistic view of the dangers that I face.
"Just answer the question Alice," Edward grunts in response.
"Fine," she mumbles closing her eyes briefly. "He is aware of her existence, but he doesn't really seem to care one way or the other," she reveals.
Looks of perplexity cross the faces of both siblings. Those looks say it all. Alice is right, not everyone wants to kill me, but vampires are usually curious about me, especially about my relationship with Edward.
"That's a little weird, right? I mean, not that I'm that interesting or anything," I ramble, "but most vampires question my relationship with Edward, question my sanity or at the very least think of me as a meal."
"Well, I can help with the meal issue," Alice chuckles apparently amused by my little rant. "He's a vegetarian."
"Are you certain Alice?"
"Yup, saw his face and his eyes. Trust me on that one."
"Well that's one less thing we have to worry about. No Bella on his menu," I state smugly.
"True," Edward concedes, "but I wonder why he seems to have no interest in you?"
Always Mr. Doom and Gloom. How he manages to find the smallest snag in every situation, I will never know. I love him with all my heart and soul, but I wish he could be a little more optimistic every now and again.
"Can't we just count this as a blessing and move on?" I huff. "Frankly I'm a lot happier knowing he doesn't care about me at all. I like blending into the background remember."
"Hold on a sec," Alice perks up. "I meant that he didn't care about you being human. He is as anxious to meet you as he is the rest of us – just not any more than the rest of us. I get the feeling that doesn't hang out with anybody, human or vampire, very often. I think he's looking forward to meeting some new blood... so to speak."
Suddenly I feel very depressed. My only real experience with vampires is with the Cullen's. They are as close, if not closer, as any other family I've ever met. I've never really thought about how lonely an immortal life could be.
I turn to Edward to see him starring lovingly at me. My face must reflect my thoughts. "What's wrong love? You look sad."
My breath hitches in my throat as I am lost in his beautiful amber eyes. The dark circles forming just under them tell me that he needs to hunt. Our experimenting must be taking a harder toll on him than he is letting on. Even with the circles he is still as stunning as ever.
"Bella?"
"Sorry, I was just... dazzled," I sigh. "I was thinking about how lonely he must feel; wandering around the world for eternity with no one to share it with." I blink back the tears that threaten to escape. How can I go from being dazzled to crying in a few short seconds? Darn my human emotions. I really hate breaking down like this, especially in front of Alice. Edward has seen me as a blubbering mess often enough that I've gotten used to it.
Edward's arms wrap around me instantly. "Oh Bella, please don't cry," he whispers. "It breaks my heart to see you cry."
"Sorry," I sniffle, "me and my stupid emotions. I just feel bad for him."
"Don't feel too bad," Alice joins in. "I have a strong feeling that he chooses to be alone... although I don't know why." She turns to walk out of Edward's room. "Anyway, I just wanted you guys to know. I'll leave you both alone." And with that she is gone.
"I know that she says he has chosen this, but why would anyone want to be alone forever?"
"Honestly love, I do not know." He is out of my arms and at his pensive spot by the window. "Without ever having met you, without ever knowing true love, I may have been contented with my life. Esme and Carlisle are the best parents anyone could ever want and I love my brothers and sisters dearly."
He's silent now. I don't want to say anything, just in case it's simply a pause in his thoughts. He's so very rarely honest with me like this and I don't want to give me any excuse to stop opening up to me.
"As you know, I spent some years away from my family. Although the bloodlust was satiated, I felt so utterly alone. In the end it was the loneliness that brought me back to them. Why this particular vampire would choose to be alone for all his life is beyond me. Now that I know what it is to love someone so completely, I would never choose that life. I will never choose to be without you again."
I slip quietly off his bed, although I know he can hear me. I press my chest against his back and wrap my arms around him. I sigh as I breathe in his sweet scent deeply. I love how his scent alone can bring me comfort.
"I love you so much," I whisper into his skin. "More than I ever thought possible."
He turns within our embrace to face me. Again with nothing more than a look from this man I am enamoured. I trace the chiselled features of his cool face with my fingers. My hand moves to the dark circles under his eyes.
"You need to hunt," I say barely above a whisper.
His hand cups my face; his thumb sliding up and down my cheek. "I'm fine."
Taking his hand in mine I guide him over to the bed. I've been meaning to talk to him about our little experimentations. Now seems as good a time as any.
"Edward how are you doing?" I gaze deeply into his eyes hoping they will tell me what his heart might not be willing to. Deep down I am terrified that this new physical closeness we are sharing was too difficult on him. I am scared that he will want to stop. Now that I've had a little taste of this world, I don't think I will ever be able to go back.
"I told you love, I'm just fine." He runs a reassuring hand through my hair and I lean into his gesture. Every touch feels so good; I fight to suppress the desire that is coiling deep within me again.
"No I don't mean your hunger," I look down at my hands to see that I'm fidgeting. "I was wondering how you were doing with all the... experimenting we've been doing. We haven't really talked about it."
I look up just in time to see a devious smile flash across his face. "Well," he says seductively, "I think it's going very well... don't you?"
My face immediately flushes red and my pulse quickens. Closing my eyes I take two deep breaths to steady myself. I want nothing more than to throw myself at him, but I need to make sure that he's okay first.
"Umm," I clear my throat, "it's going very well. I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't too hard for you... being that close to me. The hunger must be intolerable."
"Oh it is," he chuckles, "but not the hunger you are thinking of." His eyes rake over my body in an almost predatory fashion. I will never get tired of him looking at me in that way. I feel like the most desirable woman the whole world right now and I like it. He leans in to kiss me and I place my hand on his lips.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Edward looks stunned, but he is no more stunned than I am. I can't believe I actually stopped him from kissing me. I must be crazy.
"You really are worried about this," he says looking at me with curiosity.
"It's just that I'm enjoying the process... a lot and I don't want it to end prematurely because we didn't check in with each other. Besides," I purr, "I like this new level of closeness we've developed."
"As do I." I don't stop him this time as he lips descend upon mine. As long as he's so willing I might as well take advantage of it. The kiss is long and deep; full of meaning. His attention moves to the soft spot behind my ear, marking a path with a trail of heat down my neck.
"I didn't mean physical closeness," I murmur as he seduces me with his mouth. "I meant the..." I am lost as his tongue sweeps gently across my skin. My insides light with fire as my heart races in my chest.
"The, what?" he whispers into my ear, gently nipping my lobe.
"Hmmm?" The train that carries my thought has officially left the station. His hands trace spiral patterns up and down along my back. He is so very good at this.
"You didn't mean the physical closeness but the..." he trails off as he brings attention back to my mouth. With one more soft kiss he stops his assault on my body. I groan at the loss of contact, my skin begging to burn once again.
"Right," I say sounding dazed. "I like that we are actually talking, honestly – to each other." I smile as I cradle myself into his chest willing my pulse to slow. "It feels good to be able to share everything with you."
"Yes it does," he murmurs taking in the scent of my hair. "Maybe they go hand in hand, the physical and the emotional?"
"Maybe," I pause, "and maybe they feed off each other. The physical only feels so amazing because we have the emotional too." I smile inwardly at my sudden insight.
"Sexy, kind and brilliant. Whatever did I do to deserve you?"
I bring my gaze back to his eyes, wanting to connect with him before I say this. "Nothing more or less than being yourself."
"Thank you," he whispers with sincerity.
"Anytime." I playfully pat him on the head and stand up. "Now you mister are going hunting tonight. I need you at full strength so I can take advantage of you later."
"It appears I have no choice now," he laughs, "my brothers heard you mention hunting and are planning on forcing me to go whether I want to or not."
"You know," I say deliberately placing myself in Edward's lap, "you shouldn't be so resistant to hunting." I kiss him deeply and thoroughly with all the passion I can muster. I pull away slightly, my lips hovering over his. "There are benefits to you being at your... best." I kiss him quickly once more and remove myself from his lap. "Now go. I'll get Alice to take me home."
I smile proudly at myself as I take in Edward's astonished expression. I love having this effect on him. It's nice knowing that he's not the only one with power in this relationship.
The sounds of thundering footsteps echo through the air and just as I register them Emmett and Jasper come bounding into his room.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he yelps as he is dragged out of my sight.
God I love him.
