All songs can be found on my blog drotuno. blogspot. com (without the spaces) and as always...SM owns everything.


CHAPTER 7

EDWARD

Bella stayed quiet through most of the ride and the run out to the meadow. I knew that she must still have been upset about the things she'd told us earlier. My mind was fighting with guilt and anger, and at this point, I couldn't tell which one was winning.

I spread out a blanket for us and pulled her down to me. "Love, are you all right? You haven't said much since we left the house."

We sat across from each other, legs crossed in front of us. I took her hands in mine and traced light patterns on her palm.

"It was a little weird saying all of that. I'm sorry if any of it upset you. I'd never mentioned any of it to anyone. Ever. And then all of a sudden, I'm ranting in front of your whole family. You guys must think I'm a fool for not being able to get away from him."

"On the contrary. I think you have to be the strongest person I've ever met. And my family loves you. They would never think less of you. In fact, they were all in awe of you." I smiled when she looked up at me. Putting my hand to her face, I lightly traced the bruise with my thumb.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Well, some of us were here the last time there were wolves. We remember what they can do. How volatile they can be. Esme was mortified that someone would hurt you. 'My sweet Bella,' she kept saying. Carlisle worries as to what damage he may have done to you and couldn't believe you were still standing. Emmett was angry – he may take them all on in defense of you," I said, smiling.

She snorted.

"Jasper is worried about you emotionally. He just tried to keep you calm. But Alice...she's feeling quite guilty."

Her eyes snapped to mine. "Guilty? Why? She couldn't do anything about it. She didn't know!"

"That's just it, love. She's upset with herself that she can't see them. Rose was the most intriguing. She was shocked that you would still try to protect us, even though we weren't here. She was impressed by you. She didn't think even she would've been able to do that.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked, still touching her face.

She nodded, looking into my eyes.

"When did this..." I paused, tracing the line of the bruise up her cheek. "When did this happen?" I tilted my head, waiting for her to answer.

"Um, like last Wednesday, why?" she asked, looking into my eyes.

"Let me get this straight. You told Jacob that you would rather be with me two days before I came back? Even after all this time? Even after all I had done?" I was shocked. "Why?"

Tears welled up in her beautiful, deep eyes. Her voice was low, and she looked down when she answered. "Because it was true. Because I was tired of fighting it. I was tired of wearing a mask. I was tired of the pain. I was tired of trying to love someone I didn't. He knew exactly what to say to get me to that point, to break me down."

"Oh, Bella, it seems I have even more to apologize for," I said, wiping away her tears. "You love me more than I deserve. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry that any of this had to happen to you."

She didn't say anything; she just sat there, looking around the meadow. "Do you remember the first time we came here?" she asked finally, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Of course," I answered, smiling. "How could I forget?"

She picked up my hand and watched the sun glint off it. We had declared ourselves to each other that day – the lion had fallen in love with the lamb. My life hadn't been the same since.

"Would you say that we always tell the truth here?" she asked, looking up at me. "That there are no lies in this place?"

I thought for a moment and said, "I would have to agree with that. Why, love?"

"Then, can I ask you a question?" She was still staring into my eyes but tracing my hand at the same time.

I nodded. "Please."

"Are you really staying? Are you really back...here...with me?" Her warm eyes were so full of worry.

"Yes, Bella. Yes," I swore, kissing the palm of her hand tenderly. "I can't leave you again. It hurts to be away from you for a moment. I can't go through that again. I feel whole for the first time since I left. I'll swear upon this place if you like, but I'm not leaving. I'll be here for as long as you want me. I love you, and I was a fool for making the decision in the first place. If I go anywhere, I want you with me." I wanted so much for her to believe me. I needed her to believe me because I loved her. I needed her.

My angel took a deep, shuddering breath and closed her eyes. "Then as of right now, what do you say to no more apologies? Because I don't want to live with the mistakes, or the pain, or the guilt around us anymore. I just want to be with you. Can we do that?"

"I would like nothing more. I love you, Bella, more than you could possibly imagine," I told her, cupping her face in my hands.

"I love you, too, Edward. I always have," she breathed.

I brought her lips to mine, focusing all my love in that one kiss. I loved everything about her. I loved her strength, her wit, her reason, her smell, her taste. I never wanted to live without it. Ever. I traced my tongue across her bottom lip. Our tongues crashed into each other. We were getting rid of all past apologies. This was forgiveness in its purest form.

I laced my fingers into her hair to bring her closer to me. Her hands wove into my hair, and I moaned into her mouth. I pushed her back onto the blanket, and our bodies were flush, fitting together like two missing pieces.

When she needed air, I pulled back to look at my beautiful girl. She was perfect. The sun highlighted her dark hair, casting red glints. Her chest heaved with desire for me. And I wanted more.

I was just about to kiss her again, when a strange scent caught me. It was animal-like and woodsy. I heard a mind say, I think there's someone ahead.

"Bella, did the wolves come out here?" I asked, and she shot straight up.

"Yes, they killed Laurent not far from here. They chased him away from me when I was here alone once. Why?" she asked, looking around. Her heartbeat changed. She was scared...

We stood up, and I looked around. I heard the mind before I saw the boy. Crap, there is someone out here. Hey! It's Bells!

The figure that came from the trees was a young boy of about sixteen. He was tall, with dark hair and dark skin, and he was wearing a pair of cut-off jeans and no shirt.

"Bella, he knows you," I said.

"Oh, it's just Seth." She instantly relaxed. Turning to me, she explained, "Seth Clearwater. He's saved me from Jacob more times than I can count. He's a sweet boy, honest, Edward." She looked up at me, taking my hand, and we walked toward him.

Seth made his way up to us and almost looked relieved to see her. "Oh, Bella, are you all right? I haven't seen you since Jake lost his mind the other night." And it looks like the jerk left a nasty one on her face, too. She's too good for him.

"I'm fine, Seth. Thanks for everything that night, really," she said softly. "Seth, this is Edward."

I nodded to him, too tense for anything else. Bella squeezed my hand to let me know it was okay.

He waved to me. "Hey, look, Jake isn't far. Maybe you guys should get out of here, okay? As soon as I change, he's gonna know I've seen you," he said. He's so gonna kick my ass for letting them go, but it's worth it. She's put up with his crap for way too long.

Bella was right. There was a kind mind behind the large boy. "Thanks, Seth. If it's possible, could you let Sam know that we're all back and need to mind the treaty again? That way, we're all on our respective sides. If he has any questions, he can come to the house or call," I told him.

"Oh, yeah, no problem," he said, smiling a warm smile. "Hurry up, and get outta here, okay? I saw the Jeep parked back there. You're clear to go. And Bella?" He paused until she looked up at him. "Be careful. Jake's on the warpath. I've never seen him like this, okay?" He's crazy...simply lost it. Even Sam can barely keep him in check.

"Thanks, Seth. You be careful, too. He's going to hate you for this. You know that, right?" she asked, and he nodded but was smiling.

Bella snatched up the blanket and handed it to me. Once she'd climbed onto my back, we took off toward the car.

~oOo~

BELLA

It wasn't long before we were back at the house. I went up to Edward's room, grabbed my backpack, and came back downstairs to sit in the living room to work on my paper.

The house was pretty quiet, considering everyone was home but Carlisle. He had already started his new job in Port Angeles. Edward playing the piano was the only sound in the room.

I opened the laptop that Charlie, Renee, and Phil had purchased for me for my high school graduation, tossed my hair into a loose bun before securing it with a pencil, and then got to work. It didn't take long before I was completely absorbed in the project.

Like I'd mentioned to Carlisle, I was only taking a few classes: English lit and creative writing. The paper that I was working on was for the former. We were studying Shakespeare. It shocked me how repetitive college courses were to high school classes. It was an easy assignment, something I was able to do without much thought.

I'd planned to write about Much Ado About Nothing, but since Edward had come back into my life, it seemed easier and much more appropriate to use Romeo and Juliet. It didn't take long before I was finishing up.

As soon as I was finished, I really started to listen to the music that Edward was playing. My lullaby was first, and then he transitioned into Esme's favorite. As he started playing Moonlight Sonata, I decided to check my email.

There was the normal something from Renee, so I answered her first. There were a few from old school friends. The only one that I still answered regularly was Angela. She'd asked how I was doing and had included pictures of her beautiful wedding dress. She'd also asked about Charlie, Jake, and Renee. I gave her a quick update and shut my laptop just as Emmett sat down with me.

"Hey, Bells, ever get tired of piano music?" he asked with a smirk.

I looked over at Edward, and it seemed like he was in another world. It was still one of my favorite sights ever. He was so beautiful when he played. His uncontrollable hair hanging in his eyes, his long fingers caressing the keys, his sharp jaw set...it all drove me mad. "No, never. Besides, it beats what's on my iPod," I said, laughing. "I seriously need new music. I just never know what I want."

"Well, what kind of music do you like?" he asked, grabbing my laptop. "Let's see what we can get you."

I shrugged. "I like everything, anything...old, new. It doesn't matter – well, no rap..." I scooted over and looked at the screen as Emmett pulled up a download manager.

Edward started playing Bridge Over Troubled Water, and it was beautiful. Renee had played that over and over when I was young.

"Download that, Emmett. I forgot about that song."

He nodded, and I saw Edward smile as he continued to play.

"Clay Aiken, or Simon and Garfunkel?" Emmett asked, laughing.

"Um...not Clay Aiken, that's for sure," I said, laughing with him.

"How about Pink?" Rose asked, coming in and joining us. "I like her. She's smart and tough."

I smiled and nodded. "I like her, too."

Emmett searched her out and started some downloads just as Alice came into the room with Jasper right behind her. "Ever heard Into the Mystic by Van Morrison?"

"Alice, you really enjoyed the seventies way too much," Emmett said, laughing. "But she's right. That's a good one." He typed it in and added it to the queue. "She made quite the little hippie."

We all laughed when she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Oh, there is something I want, Em," I said. "Lifehouse has a few songs that I like. Can you get those?"

"Yeah, no prob," he said. "How about Africa by Toto?"

"You enjoyed the eighties too much, Emmett," Rosalie teased. "What a rough decade for music!"

"It wasn't all bad," Edward said, finally joining me on the couch, pulling me back to his chest and gently tugging the pencil from my hair to let it fall down around my shoulders. "Elton John, Billy Joel...they were good."

"Piano again, Bells," Emmett whispered to me, and I giggled.

Edward nodded, chuckling. "Sue me," he said.

"How about Raining on Sunday by Keith Urban?" Jasper piped up.

I had forgotten he was from Texas. Country music seemed fitting for him.

"Country? Really?" Emmett asked him and then looked at me.

"Go ahead, I don't care. I'm telling you, anything is fine." I was having way too much fun to stop them.

"Oh, Bella, that song is so romantic!" Alice said, looking at Jasper and smiling. I knew there was more to the story.

"Romantic? If you want romantic, Alice, you need Wicked Game by Chris Isaaks," Rose said.

"No," Edward disagreed, squeezing me closer, "romantic is At Last by Etta James or Someone To Watch Over Me by Ella Fitzgerald."

I looked back at him, and he kissed my nose, smiling my favorite smile.

"Well, if you're going to have Etta James, you might as well have Frank Sinatra's All The Way," I said, and Edward nodded into my shoulder.

Emmett was typing away and downloading them all as we called them out. "Keep 'em coming!" he said, smiling.

"Okay, how about Broken Road by Rascal Flatts?" Jasper added. "Or Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones."

I felt the blush before I could stop it, but Edward added, "Yeah, but don't do the Stones version. Get the one by The Sundays."

I felt him kiss my hair, and I couldn't look at him when he put his hand in mine and squeezed. The song brought back all the memories from that night, and it was all I could do not to attack him right there in front of his family.

"How about Home Sweet Home by Motley Crue?" Emmett asked, looking at Edward and laughing. "That's fitting for you, huh?"

Edward just rolled his eyes at him.

"What? It's got piano in it!"

I busted out laughing and asked, "Emmett, did you wear the leather jackets and spandex?"

"Hells, yeah!" he said, grinning.

The whole family was nodding, looks of disgust on their faces.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" I asked, shaking my head and smiling. "Just tell me you didn't have the Flock of Seagulls hair, okay? Please!"

"No, but Edward could have done it. His hair would have been perfect, but he wouldn't do it...so we made Jasper do it once for Halloween."

"It was awful," Jasper said with a look of disgust. "We went to a party, and no one would leave me alone. Both girls and guys hit on me!" He shuddered with the thought, and the whole room exploded in laughter.

Emmett must have ended up with about sixty songs by the time we all finished. "Okay, little sis, give me your iPod, and I'll load them all on it for you."

I reached into my backpack, pulled it out with the cable, and handed it to him. "Thanks, Em!" I turned to Edward and said, "I'm going to go grab something to eat."

"Okay, I'll come with you."

Once we'd made our way into the kitchen, I looked around for a few minutes and found everything I would need for spaghetti. I started the water for the noodles while Edward leaned up against the counter.

Esme came in and joined us. "Bella, hon, let me finish this. Sit. I never have anyone to cook for. It's a mother's job to spoil you."

I started to protest, but she gave me a stern look and told me to sit one more time. Smiling, I sat down at the table and asked, "Okay, so, who has Bella babysitting duty Tuesday?"

"I do." Edward smiled smugly. "And it's not babysitting, Bella. I just want to make sure you're safe. You know that, right?"

I nodded and said, "I know. It just sounds really boring to hang outside my class for two hours and then outside my work for another six, just to do it all over again on Wednesday and Friday."

"Bella," Esme said as she set my plate in front of me and sat down with us. "Just count yourself lucky that he won't be sitting on your desk in class."

Edward rolled his eyes, and Esme and I giggled.

"True. We can't have that. I wouldn't learn a thing!" I told her honestly. Edward chuckled, winking at me. "But you can come into the book store. Miss Gail won't care. People read in there for hours. She's fine with it. You should meet her. She's funny." I shook my head, trying to get the thought of Edward on my desk out of my head before picking up the fork and starting to eat.

"Isabella Swan, you mean you don't want to take classes with me again?" he asked in mock shock. His eyebrows rose up, and he could barely contain his smile.

Blushing, I took another bite so I wouldn't have to answer.

"That's my cue to leave," Esme said, snickering as she got up from the table.

I swallowed and said, "Thanks, Esme. It's delicious."

She just chuckled again and left us in the kitchen.

I looked up at Edward, and he had one eyebrow raised, waiting for my answer. "No, I have no problem taking classes with you, Edward. Again. Just stay in your seat and off the top of my desk," I said, raising my eyebrow back at him.

He fought his smile and asked, "And why is that?"

I finished my food and stood up to clean my plate, taking everything to the sink and beginning to wash up. It wasn't long before I felt him behind me. I turned off the water as he snaked his arms around my waist.

"You didn't answer my question, love."

Coherent thought went out the window.

"I think you know why. You're proving my point right now," I whispered. It was the only voice I could muster when one hand pressed itself to my stomach and pulled me back flush to his chest. His other hand was moving my hair, and he started lightly kissing me behind my ear.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he said, slowly sucking on my earlobe.

"Um...you are just...oh...a little...distracting," I barely got out when his hand slowly slid under my shirt. I started to shake, and I felt him smile against my neck.

"Am I?" he asked against my skin.

I was flooded with his smell. It was all I could do to keep my knees from giving out.

I turned around in his arms and looked up into his highly-amused face. His normally golden eyes were so dark. "Yes, you are. Very."

I reached up, running my hands into his hair, and pulled his lips to mine. He moaned when I glided my tongue across his bottom lip. I didn't think there was a more erotic or honest sound I would rather hear. Our tongues crashed into each other, and I thought the taste would take my breath away.

One of his hands went to the small of my back and slightly lifted my shirt. The other cupped my bottom. I moaned at the feel of his hands on me and then gasped as the hand at the small of my back went to my bottom and I felt myself being lifted to the top of the counter. I wrapped my legs around his waist, bringing him closer to me. I could feel his arousal between my legs, and we both moaned at the friction.

"Aw, in the kitchen, Bells?" Emmett whined playfully as he and Rose came busting into the room.

Edward and I broke apart with a gasp from me. I felt the blush creep up my face, but I was a little upset with being interrupted. "Well, Emmett, it's a good thing I'm the only one that eats here, right? So sue me," I said, using the words Edward had said not long before.

Edward chuckled into my shoulder, whispering, "I love you."

"Yeah, but it isn't sanitary," Emmett mumbled.

Rose slapped him in the back of the head and said, "Shut it, Emmett. Leave them alone!" She took him by the hand and headed out into the garage, mouthing, "Sorry," on her way out.

I just shook my head and sighed. "Okay, human moment. I guess I'll get ready for bed. Help me down?"

Edward nodded and set me down, still smiling.

I went into the living room, grabbed my laptop and iPod, and tossed them into my backpack before heading into Edward's room.

"Hey, love, would you be okay for a few hours? I'm going to go hunting with Carlisle when he gets in," he explained once he'd shut the door to his room.

"Yeah, sure," I answered, nodding. "Will you be gone by the time I get out of the shower?"

"Yes. He's on his way home now. I'll try not to wake you when I get in, okay?"

I nodded and kissed him before heading into the bathroom.

~oOo~

EDWARD

Carlisle and I didn't hunt long. We were home before one a.m. As we ran up to the house, I saw Jasper outside.

"Edward, bro..." Jasper started, shaking his head. "You need to check on Bella. The girls are with her now. Her nightmares...they're awful. It's pure fear coming from her."

Carlisle stopped me and asked, "How bad are they?"

"She's always had them, but they're worse now. She had one the first night I came back. They're heartbreaking. It's like she's fighting someone in her sleep, but she won't talk about them," I answered, shaking my head.

"Edward, with all that she's been through, it's understandable," Carlisle said as a cry from Bella rang through the house. "Go to her, son."

I flew up the stairs to find Alice and Rose sitting on the bed with Bella. My sisters' faces were full of worry. Bella's face was covered in sweat and tears. She was crying but completely asleep. There was a part of me that was undecided whether I should wake her or not.

"Oh, Edward. Thank God!" Alice cried too quietly to wake Bella, jumping up from the bed. "And I agree with you. Wake her."

"I got this. Thank you," I said softly. "Alice, take Jasper out. This was too much for him, I think."

She nodded, and then she and Rose left the room, closing the door behind them.

I walked over to the bed and lay down beside Bella, wrapping her in my arms. I put my cool hands to her face and realized her face was on fire. "Bella, love?" I said softly, not wanting to scare her even more. I started to hum her lullaby, and her breathing evened out.

I stared down at my angel. She looked so fragile, delicate.

She started talking in her sleep. "Edward, don't go..." she said, clinging to my shirt.

"I'm right here, love," I murmured, running my fingers across her face and through her hair. I'd thought for a moment that she'd woken up, but she still continued to sleep.

"Victoria...Jacob...kill me..." she mumbled, trembling in her sleep.

"Shh, Bella," I said. "I've got you." I continued humming her lullaby.

Just as I thought she was going to settle down, she gasped and sat straight up, looking around. Her heart was flying.

"Bella, love, it's okay," I said, sitting up with her and wrapping my arms around her shoulders.

She looked at me, studying my face. It was almost as if she couldn't see me. Her face crumbled into sobs. "Oh, Edward!" she cried, throwing her arms around my neck.

"It was just a dream, love," I told her. "Can you look at me?"

She pulled back, still trembling. I looked in her eyes, which were red and swollen from crying. Her face was flushed and sweaty. I wiped away the tears and sweat, smoothing her hair away from her face. She was still effortlessly beautiful to me.

"It's okay," I murmured again, kissing her forehead and then her nose.

My Bella took a deep, shuddering breath, and then I felt her relax. She nodded and fell back onto her pillow.

"Talk to me, Bella. Tell me about the dream, please," I begged, lying back down beside her and pulling her close.

"I was somewhere I didn't recognize. It was dark, cold. Jacob was keeping me there. Victoria was there, too. They both were trying to kill me...waiting for something or someone. I don't know, it's starting to fade," she groaned, putting her hands to her face.

I pulled her hands away. "Your face is way too beautiful to hide. Please don't cover it up," I said, and she rolled her eyes. She never had seen herself clearly. I smiled at her reaction and kissed her forehead.

The electricity was back, thick. It seemed to glow in the room. We both looked at one another for a moment.

Bella's brow furrowed, and she asked, "Do you feel that, too?"

I nodded. I could barely restrain myself from touching her. Finally giving in and tracing her bottom lip with my thumb, I murmured, "It's always around us. At times, it's stronger. I don't know what it is."

She reached up and touched my face. "Like that time in Biology, when Mr. Banner put the movie on. It was there, too," she said breathlessly. Her fingers were gliding over my face, tracing my eyebrow.

I chuckled at the memory. "I remember. I wanted to touch you so badly, it was painful."

She started to giggle and said, "Oh, God...you, too? I thought my fingers would break from holding onto the table."

I nodded, laughing. "Exactly. I wanted to do this so much." Sliding my hand up her neck and into her hair, I weaved my fingers through it. I brushed my lips lightly to hers, skimming my nose along her jaw line, placing an open-mouthed kiss to her neck. Her heartbeat picked up, along with her breathing.

Bella took her other hand and put it on the other side of my face. "It was all I could do not to touch your face, your hands," she gasped softly, gliding her hand down my arm, entwining our fingers together. Our breathing was heavy and expectant.

I pushed our hands above her head and hovered over her lips. "I knew that day," I whispered, "that all I would ever want was you."

When our lips met, it felt like two magnets slamming together, and we both moaned loudly. I licked her bottom lip, and she gasped. Our tongues met. Her taste was strawberries, spring flowers, and salt from her tears; it was incredible, glorious. Her hand fisted in my hair and pulled me closer. I pushed myself up from her side and positioned myself above her. When she opened her legs to me, I lowered down between them.

She wrapped her legs around my hips, causing me to grind into her, and she groaned at the friction. The scent of her arousal increased the more we slid together. She pulled her mouth from mine when she needed air, but I couldn't stop tasting her. I kissed my way down her neck to her collarbone and then up to her ear. Her hands roamed my back to the bottom of my shirt and underneath. Her touch was like fire as she lifted it up. Breaking contact for just a moment, I pulled it off and tossed it to the floor.

Our lips met again in a frenzy, tongues and lips colliding. Balancing myself on one elbow above her head, my other hand glided down her arm to her hip. I slipped my hand under her shirt to the warm, soft skin of her stomach. She moaned at my touch, throwing her head back and arching closer to me when my hand cupped her breast. I lifted her shirt over her head, tossing it somewhere in the room.

She was wearing a baby blue, lacy bra. She was flawlessly beautiful, perfect. My hand snaked its way of its own accord to her back and unclasped her bra. That, too, ended up somewhere on the floor. "Too beautiful," I murmured on her skin.

With the feel of skin on skin, my angel's legs squeezed me in closer, and she raked her fingers down my back, causing a moan to escape me.

"God, Edward," she gasped. "Why can't I get close enough to you?" She kissed down my chin and over my Adam's apple and then licked her way back up to my mouth.

I didn't have an answer for her, but I knew exactly what she meant. My hand left her breast, and I slid it down her waist, to her hip, and back to her bottom. She pushed against me with her hips, groaning. Sliding my hand down her thigh and coming to rest behind her knee, I hitched her leg higher.

I gripped the waistband of her shorts and looked down at her. "Bella, I want—" I leaned in and raked my tongue flat across her hardened nipple "—to taste you...so badly. Everywhere. But I..." I paused, gripping the fabric tighter, trying to control myself, and heard the fabric start to tear. "I need to know... Should I stop?"

I pulled back from her. Bella's breathing was heavy, causing her perfect breasts to rise up and down with desire.

"Edward, please don't stop," she groaned. "I'll die if you stop."

I pushed back from her, gripped both sides of her shorts, and lowered them down her legs. I tossed them to the side and took in the most beautiful sight on the planet. My angel's completely naked form was before me, and I couldn't believe the control I had. She was rubbing her thighs together, writhing with the friction. I lifted one of her legs and slowly kissed the inside of her thigh.

Her scent was no longer filtered through clothing. It was Bella, pure and sweet. I kissed from her thigh, all the way up to her apex and then dragged my tongue between her lips from her core to the little bundle of nerves. She was so wet, and her taste was intoxicating. Her hips bucked against me. I wrapped an arm over her hips with her leg over my shoulder.

I kissed and licked all that she had to give me. With the hand that wasn't holding her down, I slid one finger into her hot, wet center while licking the sensitive nub. It didn't take long before she was gasping for air, and I felt her walls clench around my fingers.

"Oh, God," she gasped, clawing the sheets for control and leverage.

I wanted everything her body would give me. I didn't want to waste any of it, so I continued to lick her until the spasms settled down.

When I crawled back up her body, her lips crashed into mine. She pushed me onto my back, hovering over me. "Jesus," she growled, her eyes dark and almost feral, "I can taste myself on you." She kissed me again, our tongues relishing the flavor of each other.

Her small, hot hands explored my chest. It was like she was trailing a branding iron on my skin. It was insanely wonderful. When her hands reached the button of my jeans, I whispered, "Bella, you don't have to..."

"I need to," she whispered back, sliding the zipper down.

I lifted my hips as she dragged my jeans down my legs. She dropped them off the end of the bed. Groaning, she raised an eyebrow at me. "No underwear, Edward?" Her eyes raked over my body, and she rested her hands on the top of my thighs.

I shook my head, smiling. "I don't like them much."

She groaned again and said, "I'm really glad I didn't know that before."

Before I could say anything, her hand encircled my erection. My head went back with the touch. I felt her hair lightly brush my thighs while she licked and kissed all the way up to the tip. I gasped at the sight of her mouth wrapped around me. What she couldn't fit inside her mouth was in her hands at my base.

It was the most beautiful sight, her lips on me. I had dreamed about it, wished for it, but never thought I would have it.

She moaned against my skin, and that was nearly my undoing. I felt myself twitch in her mouth, and I knew I wasn't going to last. "Love, move, please."

She pulled back just as I came across my stomach. Reaching down, she grabbed her shorts that I'd torn and cleaned me up before tossing them back to the floor.

I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her down, drawing up the covers around us. "I love you," was all I could say, kissing her hair.

"I love you, too," my love said as she relaxed against me, falling asleep almost at once.