Chapter Seven

Now that Bella had finally fallen asleep Alice turned to rest on her side facing her sleeping companion. She took this opportunity to more closely examine the sleeping girl by her side. Her relaxed expression, the steady rhythm of her heart beat and breathing. She looks even sweeter when she's asleep, she thought as she gazed at her face. The attentive vampire passed the time by comparing the relaxed and sleeping Bella with the Bella she's only seen until now. Fully conscious Bella who seems a little unsure of herself whenever in her company. Sometimes stuttering nervously in that cute way of hers, or moving clumsily in a way Alice finds strangely endearing. Here in the comfort of her warm bed the sleeping girl's face looks totally relaxed and at peace. No signs of any tension, anxiety, or concerns...just complete serenity. Alice started to feel a bit envious at that, as she can't remember what it's like to really sleep. She seems perfectly at peace and looks like a sleeping angel, Alice mused. She became so engaged with her ruminations while regarding sleeping Bella that time easily passed without notice. She may have been thus enraptured for an hour, maybe two. Eventually it occurred to her that her lingering perusal of sleeping Bella was in some ways too similar to what Edward had been doing. She flinched at the unbidden comparison of her actions with that of her creeper brother. Alice began to understand how this was so alluring to Edward, watching her sleep. Yes she was watching Bella sleep, but she didn't have to sneak in through the window uninvited to do it. Bella had invited her and here she was lying next to the girl they both wanted.

Bella let out a soft moan in her sleep, as she rolled onto her side facing Alice. She scooted her smaller frame closer to her side of the bed to avoid being rolled underneath the sleeping girl. She's obviously not used to sharing her bed. If she keeps this up I'm not going to have room to stay on the bed myself, she thought bemusedly. They both now lay on their sides with minimum space in between.

She looked again at Bella whose face was covered by her long chestnut brown hair. Alice reached out her hand to gingerly brush strands of her hair back. Bella's breath washed over Alice's face which tested the limits of her self control as she took an unnecessary deep breath in, inhaling more of the sleeping girl's intoxicating scent. It evoked a pleasurable response that begged for more, as if she had consumed the sweetest ambrosia. Like a gift from Morpheus delivered through a beautiful sleeping vessel that lay warmly beside her. The vampire shuddered at the overwhelming impact of Bella's exhalation as it filled her nostrils and she let out a small moan.

She had been holding up surprisingly well most of their night together, even going so far as to let Bella wrap an arm around her, adjusting herself to their close proximity. But now it was starting to pull her in stronger than ever. The girl already had a special scent that held more appeal than any other human she's come across. Her hair and skin smelled like sun ripened strawberries. Even the scent of her warm breath carried a unique brand that belonged only to Bella.

Alice felt herself drowning in the sea of Bella's special scents, the warmth radiating from her sleeping body began to affect her more than she would have liked. She made a conscious effort to calm herself before losing all semblance of self restraint. Alice wanted to wrap her arms around the sleeping girl and be completely enveloped by her and all the things that made Bella human. Her warmth, breath and scent. The softness of her delicate skin. Her sleep and her dreams. The steady beating of her heart, the blood flowing throughout her beautiful warm human body...

All these thoughts also served to increase Alice's hunger for the human girl. It wasn't purely blood thirst that was starting to unnerve her. Though the girl's blood scent was still alluring, she was finding herself less affected by it as the night wore on. It was more a desire to be completely enveloped within the sleeping human's warm embrace. To forget what she was and let herself go completely, if only for a moment, to allow herself to love freely and experience what it felt like to be loved. Without any hidden secrets in the way, to allow herself to be fully known for who and what she was without fear of repercussions. To be accepted and forgiven for being what most people would consider as unnatural and monstrous. These torturous thoughts and cravings consumed the beautiful vampire and she had to put all her effort to ease her wants and desires.

Alice covered her face with her hands as she rolled onto her back and let out a deep sigh while brushing her fingers through her hair. Maybe this sleepover wasn't such a good idea, I should have given myself more time to get accustomed to being so close to her...

Alice had to keep telling herself that she could do this. She needed to do this, if she could get through this night without losing her mind and doing anything rash, then it would only get easier in time. At least that's what she hoped for.

It was at this very moment that Bella reached out in her sleep and Alice felt an arm slide across her stomach.

"Mmm...Alice..."

Alice froze as she felt Bella shift closer unconsciously bridging the small gap that separated them. The sleeping girl rolled over so that she lay partially across Alice who had run out of moving space on a bed that seemed to gradually be diminishing in size.

She turned to look at Bella who apparently was in the throes of a dream.

"Mm-mine...sweet Alice.." Bella mumbled as her arm shifted up Alice's torso. Bella's hand traveled as she played out her dream as if searching for something. Once she found her intended prize the corners of her lips tugged into a smile and she heaved a small sigh of satisfaction.

Alice let out a little squeak as her eyes shot open wide. Oh god...the captured vampire let out a low moan as the sleeping girl's body snuggled even closer as if to merge with her own. Alice glanced down and looked at the hand over her breast that seemed to have a mind of it's own as it twitched in semblance of a squeezing motion.

Bella was in the midst of quite an amorous dream, with Alice playing the starring role. Though it pleased Alice to find herself the object of her affections while the girl dreamt, a part of her started to panic once she felt the girl's leg start to wrap around her waist.

"Oh Bella...what are you doing to me?" the pixie vampire whispered as she started to feel the heat enveloping her in more ways than one. Then it hit her like a tsunami wave and she felt herself drowning in the most enticing aroma that exceeded even the sweetest of scents. A scent she had only detected in subtle amounts before, like when she descending the stairs in her silk pajamas and Bella looked at her in wide eyed wonder. It was the scent of arousal coming from the girl wrapped around her in an increasingly possessive fashion. Never before had Alice endured such tantalizing temptation and it was such sweet torture. She shut her eyes and bit her lip as she struggled not to yield to temptation and ravish the girl right then and there.

As Alice willed herself to relax, delightfully dangerous fantasies came unbidden from the recesses of her mind. She saw herself snuggling even closer against the sleeping girl, enveloping herself with her human warmth and sweet sleeping vulnerability. Sliding an arm behind her and using her hand to gently brush back her long hair back behind her. Taking a moment to enjoy the silky texture of her long chestnut brown hair, combing soft strands between her fingers while playfuly letting the hair fall to lay perfectly back on her pillow. Nuzzling into her exposed neck and inhaling her intoxicating scent. Placing soft languid kisses on her collar bone and along the slope of her neck until she reached below her ear. Sliding her tongue out to run against wonderfully soft warm skin, feeling for the pulse point and the sensation of it throbbing against the tip of her tongue...

A low growl born from lust and desire began to rumble deep within her chest.

The animalistic sound reached Bella's ears and snuck past her subconscious mind into her conscious one, and her sleepy eyes fluttered open. Slowly she tilted her head up and her gaze reached Alice's eyes which were not only wide open and alert, but darker than she's ever seen them. It was startling, the expression on Alice's face. It was a look of pure primal lust. Alice's eyes fixed on hers, her pupils now engorged ebony orbs encircled by a thin ring of amber. She possessed the kind of eyes that you usually only see on predatory animals - like a wild cat. Sizeably large, alert and focused with the keenest of vision. Eyes that seemed to glisten under the moonlight streaming through the window. There was also the hint of a predatory expression that flashed across her beautiful pale face. It seemed to radiate under the soft moon light.

Until now, Bella never knew it was possible to be both frightened and aroused at the same time. There was complete silence in the room as the newly awakened girl tried to process the two warring primal urges that tugged on her conscience simultaneously...

to flee...or to fuck...

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"ALICE IS SLEEPING WITH BELLA?"

It was not so much a question as a shriek that reverberated throughout the Cullen household. Edward had returned home. He looked a frightful mess as he'd been running through forests punching and kicking his way though trees and dense foilage, from Forks to Canada and back. His clothes were in dirty tatters and his usually carefully coiffed hair sticking out in all directions with bits of leaves and other debris added for good measure. His facial expression wore a look of shock and rage. He stood in the living room where he found Rosalie and Emmett engaged in playing video games. If it weren't for the intensity of his Edward's rage Emmett would have made a grab for his camera to take a snapshot of his brother. Never before had he looked like such a complete mess, and the added bonus of the horrified expression on his face made it sinfully tempting for Emmett to capture the moment. He imagined it as one of those pictures he would enjoy having for all eternity whenever he needed a good laugh. He couldn't help find Edward's appearance comical in it's unusual disarray. Yet he held still and even managed to suppress a snicker. Edward, who was usually the most stoic of all the Cullens, now looked like something out of a Munch painting.

Upon his arrival just minutes ago his two siblings paused in their game to look at him as he closed the front door.

Rosalie quirked an eyebrow at his disheveled appearance.

Emmett grinned and greeted him with, "So did you have a good tantr-er trip?"

"Fine, just fine", he answered dully.

"So where's everyone tonight?" He looked around in disguised casualness. What he was really wondering was - where is Alice? Also, was she alone or with a certain human girl who he still had hopes of winning?

Rosalie replied, "well, Esme is in her bedroom studying architectural plans for a new house, to build someday on land they just purchased just outside of Nome, Alaska. And Carlisle got called in at the hospital."

Edward nodded in silence for a moment. When they didn't continue he finally gave in and asked, "And Alice?"

Rosalie and Emmett remained silent as a look passed between them that made Edward nervous. Not a word had to be spoken as he heard their thoughts.

From Rosalie - Eddie's not gonna like this...

From Emmett - He's gonna blow his top when he finds out Alice is 'sleeping' at Bella's...

Edward howled and the scream that escaped his lips would have been devastating had any of them human ears to hear with. A moment after his "Alice is sleeping with Bella" exclamation, and Rosalie's and Emmett's wide eyed silent response, Esme darted down the stairs to attempt to calm the storm she sensed was going to hit.

"Edward stop that screaming!" Esme looked in mild shock at her son's disorderly appearance.

Edward hands ran up to his head and he grabbed fistfuls of his filthy hair as he continued to shout. "That slut! She only asked her out a couple days ago and she's already in her bed! I'm gonna tear that little shit apa-"

"Enough!" Esme grabbed his arms trying to steady the unkempt looking vampire that was quickly becoming unglued. She resisted the urge to slap him. It was unsettling - all this screaming about and acting like a child who's just been robbed of his favorite toy.

Using her most calming voice, she tried to sooth him and talk some sense into him. "Edward, Bella invited Alice over for a sleepover. I understand that it may be somewhat unsettling for Alice to get involved with a human. But whatever is going on between them is between them. Try to understand.."

"It's not just with any human, she's MY human! Bella is MINE!"

Esme sighed as Rosalie spoke up. "You don't own Bella. It's her free will to choose who she wants to spend time with. There's not anything necessarily going on anyway. They're just hanging out." She didn't actually believe the last bit, but thought it was the thing to say at the time.

"Well I'm going to make sure of that." Edward turned to run out the door.

Rosalie quickly darted in front of him blocking his path.

"What you need to do Eddie, is to clean yourself up. Take a shower, preferably a cold one and pull yourself together."

Edward snarled at her and looked as if he wanted to tear her away from the door. Emmett quickly ran by Rosalie's side and gave him a look of warning.

Feeling outnumbered he let out a groan. He turned and made his way upstairs. He decided he would have to just wait a little longer to deal with his treacherous slut of a sister.

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Bella continued to gaze at Alice in silence for a moment as she struggled with her conflicting emotions. She licked her lips and tried to muster the courage to kiss Alice, she felt her body start to instinctively close the gap. Blackened amber eye's followed her tongue's motion and Alice seemed unable to stop what she was sure would follow. Bella pulled herself up and rested her hands on the bed with Alice laying motionless in between. The taller brunette's eyes took on a darker hue conveying her arousal which sparked Alice's growing desire to spiral higher. Bella leaned further in towards her and paused a moment just as their lips were about to make contact, giving the smaller girl the opportunity to push her away or to tell her to stop. She hoped Alice wouldn't. When nothing prevented her from continuing, she kissed Alice.

It started slow and gentle, unrushed as they enjoyed the sensation of soft lips merging in an erotically slow explorative motion. Bella lowered her body further down, and lay partially against Alice's as the kissing became more open mouthed and sensual. Alice's hands found themselves combing through long silky tresses, gently pulling the girl above her deeper into the kiss. Bella moaned as she felt a tingling sensation from deep within her center and a wetness growing between her legs. She thought she would lose her mind when she felt a cool wet tongue slide between her lips and brush against her own. The kissing intensified and became more sexual as their tongues did an erotic dance, further stimulating all of their senses. Both began exchanging turns at sucking the others tongue and enveloping the others into their mouths. Bella couldn't get enough of Alice's tongue as she sucked more of it deeper inside. The girl's mouth felt so warm to Alice, she never tasted anything so delicious. She inhaled deeply taking in more of girl's sweet scent of arousal. Bella's tongue took a turn inside Alice's mouth and wiggled her tongue against the tip of her tongue. This illicited a groan from Alice and she was surprised and delighted at the girl's unexpected boldness and skill. It never occurred to her to wonder at the girl's experience in this sort of thing or whether she would be first in exploring intimate terrain with her. Maybe the girl was just naturally an amazing kisser. Bella finally released her tongue and pulled back for a much needed breath.

Alice stroked her slender fingers through her hair as their eyes looked into each others and gazed in amazement.

"Wow...that was really something", Alice breathed out barely above a whisper.

Bella nodded agreeably, the power of speech gone for the moment. She seemed to be taken over by her lust as her mouth quickly dove back down over Alice's and her body merged harder against her. Her hips started to do an instinctively grinding motion. It was all happening too fast, and Bella was caving into her teenage hormonal drive to sate it's sexual appetite. Alice also feared she was losing her grip on all self control and needed to reign herself in. She placed her small hands against the girl's steadily rocking shoulders and pushed her slightly off.

Bella looked down at her with an uncertain expression mixed with lust and desire. She was so wound up and was actually panting above her.

Alice struggled to keep things at a steady pace and took a deep breath.

"Bella...as much as I'm enjoying this...maybe we should slow down before we go too far and can't stop", she gently spoke.

Bella opened her mouth and closed it a couple times before she finally managed to speak.

"Oh...ohh...I-I'm sorry...I don't know what got into me.." She slowly started to pull away but Alice reached out and touched a blushing cheek.

"Don't be sorry...I just don't want to rush you into anything just yet." She smiled and leaned in to give a quick kiss on her lips before letting her go.

"I believe I was the one doing the rushing", Bella spoke embarrassed as she laid her head under the smaller girl's chin resting above her breasts.

Alice softly giggled as she played with the brunette's soft hair.
"You took me a little by surprise, but I'm not complaining. Where did you learn to kiss like that anyway?"

She felt a slight shrug of the girl's shoulder and the heat emanating from her cheeks against her chest. "I just did what came naturally to me, I've wanted to do that with you for a while now."

"Oh really? For how long...hm?"

"I think since I first saw you Alice."

"Well I think I've wanted you for maybe even longer than that", Alice quietly admitted as she stroked the girl's arm wrapped around her.

"Alice?"

"Yes?"

"A-are you all right? I mean you weren't asleep when I awoke and you feel a little cold", Bella hesitantly questioned.

Alice bit her lip as she considered her response. How much longer before Bella realized there were too many things about her that just didn't seem normal for a human? Yet would could she tell her - "well Bella, you've just been making out with a blood sucking vampire"?

She wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. There was a time and place for everything. And now was not the time for such revelations.

"I'm fine...I just have a lower body temperature than most people...it's a blood circulation condition I have, nothing serious. You should go back to sleep."

Bella said nothing for a moment. She raised herself up slightly and looked at Alice with a curious expression, as if trying to figure something out.

Finally she spoke, "I'm not that sleepy right now. Is there anything I can get you to help you sleep..I could make some warm milk or something.."

"No thanks, really I'm fine Bella. I often get bouts of insomnia, it's nothing serious."

Bella pulled the covers higher to cover more of herself and Alice.

"I'll try to keep you warm. You should feel how cold you feel right now."

Bella reached over to take Alice's hand in her own.

"Alice..", she began tentatively as if considering her words, "I know we haven't known each other for very long. But if there's something troubling you...whatever it is...I want you to know that you can talk to me about it...if you want..."

Alice was so moved by the gentle concern Bella showed her. She smiled and moved her hand towards Bella's face, taking a strand of hair that had fallen in over her eyes to gently place it behind her ear.

"You really are such a sweet girl Bella", she spoke softly. She gazed into Bella's warm chocolate eyes.

"There's really nothing I have to say right now...maybe someday I can share more with you."

Bella gave her a gentle nod of understanding. She wasn't sure she really understood, but knew there was something Alice was keeping from her. She would be patient and wait for the time when the smaller girl would feel more comfortable in sharing whatever it was. There were things about Alice that made her seem quite odd at times. Things she couldn't quite explain to herself which made Alice so different. But she felt strangely drawn to her, unlike any one she's ever known. She wanted to get closer to her, closer physically and emotionally. There was something in the girl's eyes that seemed to hold secrets and she sensed a deep hidden sadness underneath all the charm and her usual perky personality.

Bella placed a quick kiss on Alice's neck before snuggling back down into a comfortable position against her.

"Mmm...it feels so good to hold you like this." She gave a contented sigh.

"Hmm...yes it does", Alice lightly stroked Bella's arm.

"Alice...", Bella murmured.

"Mhmm?"

"Whatever it is...that makes you so different...I don't care...I just know...I like being with you...I like you Alice..."

Alice didn't know what to say. She knew there was something that was happening between them. An unspoken connection that was bringing them closer together with each passing moment they spent together. Bella knew there was something about her that set her apart from others, and eventually would want to know more. If she was going to turn back she should do it as soon as possible. She probably should have already done so, before they became even more involved. Before either one ended up with a broken heart. But she didn't want to turn back now, wasn't sure she could even if she tried.

She kissed the top of the girl's head and gently stroked her hair.

"Try to get some sleep honey."

Alice closed her eyes and tried to relax as Bella snuggled closer against her and eventually drifted into a blissful sleep.


A/N: I may be playing around with Twilight's rules of vampirism as the story goes on. Some of you may have already noticed some of the differences - fangs that come out at certain times for instance.

As always, reviews are appreciated and may even motivate me to update a little sooner.