Chapter 8: Call of the wild

A/N: I own nothing. Characters are all Stephenie Meyers' creations. This is unbeta'd so apologies for any & all mistakes. Please take the time to leave some words if you really loved it or really hated it! This is chapter is a bit of fluff between Edward & Bella – sorry, but I need to get this out of the way.

-Edward POV-

We lay in each other's arms, our discarded clothing scattered as widely as the rose petals we lay on. We had been so wrapped up in each other I had no idea how much time had passed. It may have been minutes, it may have been days. There was so much to be said but I didn't want to speak for fear of ruining this perfect moment. I curled my body around hers, absently stroking the skin on her stomach. I wanted to lean over and kiss the spot my hand was touching but I was too afraid that if I moved she might leave. I had no idea why she had allowed me to know her so intimately or what it meant for me, or her.

Eventually she let out a sigh, it sounded contended but was it really regretful? She gently pushed me off her but clasped my hand tightly. She stood and the sunlight hit her body, sending rainbows in all directions. I had never seen anything more beautiful. She pulled my hand gently and I followed her lead as she walked towards the stream. I picked up my pants as I passed them and tugged them on as we walked.

"This was where I woke up," she said. Such a simple sentence yet it did something profound within me, my whole body seemed to sing with the notes she produced in her clear bell-like voice. I had never heard such a beautiful sound. She laughed a little and music filled the forest. "During the night they would lay me in the river to cool the fire."

She let go of my hand and lay down in the stream. The water caressed her body closer than I had been able to. I felt jealous of its ability to be so close to her, hugging every curve. She stared up at the sky, her eyes unfocused, a small smile dancing on her lips. The scene was somehow familiar but I couldn't concentrate enough to realise why, not with the way her lips turned up slyly.

"You're beautiful when you smile." I said to her and she turned her head in my direction and positively beamed at me. The sight took my breath away.

"Why did you come here?" She asked.

"I found this spot a couple of weeks ago. It was so beautiful and calming, I hoped it would be again."

Bells filled the forest again as she laughed, "You didn't look very calm when I arrived."

I cast my eyes downwards. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

She shifted her position to meet my eyes, "Don't ever be sorry. I want to see every part of you, to know every part of you."

"But why?"'

"Because I love you."

I choked back the sound that was on my lips. I wasn't sure if it was a shout of ecstasy or a sob. "But look what I did to you."

She looked sad, "I will miss my family and my old life. But I think I understand why you did it. And I am thankful you found a way to stop when you did."

"I didn't choose to stop." I don't know why I was telling her this, she would run once she knew the extent of the monster I was.

"Then why did you?"

"I don't know." The memory of the taste of her blood swam in my head, "You tasted so good. I wanted to take every part of you into me but I couldn't. I don't know why."

I thought she would be frightened or angry by my confession, instead she nodded like I was confirming some suspicion she already had.

"Do you know why Alice hid it from me? Why she didn't tell me that you weren't dead."

"No, sorry, but I know she has been very worried about you. They all have. And her visions of you shift so much she is never sure what you are going to do. I think she was worried how you would react – what you would do. To me." She said it so simply, as if she was completely reconciled to the fact that I might have hurt her. That I had hurt her.

I thought about it for a breif moment. What would I have done if I had found out about Bella earlier. Early enough to stop the transformation. The answer that sprung to my mind was horrifying. I would have stopped it. I would have done everything in my power to save her soul before it was too late. But then the beautiful vision before me now wouldn't have existed. I pulled my hand through my hair to try to get rid of the thought. I wanted to run from the very idea of destroying her, a physical need to put one foot in front of the other and go. My breathing became erratic and I took a step away from her.

I didn't even hear Bella move but suddenly her hands were on my face. Steadying and calming me with nothing more than her eyes. I felt like she was my protector. She would keep me sane regardless of what the world threw at me.

I wrapped my arms around her waist and pushed my head into the crook of her neck. I allowed my senses to be filled with her. Her scent on my tastebuds. Her hands in my hair. Her bare skin pressing against my chest. There was no denying the profound effect she had over me. She nestled me like a child until I felt calm enough and surrendered into her.

She pulled back to look at my face. I wondered what she read there. If she knew how much of an effect she had over me. If she knew I loved her too. But should I? Did I deserve the love of this angel?

"You shouldn't think so much," she chuckled, running her finger over the furrow in my brow. Then she leant forward and kissed the spot.

"You're too good for me." I couldn't help the words from spilling out as soon as I thought them.

Her laughter filled the air again, "Hardly. I've done things I should be ashamed of too."

"Don't worry about slipping up with those men. You shouldn't have to be ashamed of what I made you into. I should be."

"I wasn't talking about that silly."

"Then what?" She seemed almost embarrassed and that thought pushed me to question her further.

She looked away for a second, as if debating whether she should tell me. I wished I knew what went on inside that head of hers. Finally she whispered, "I read your journals. I'm sorry. I didn't realise what they were until I started but then...I couldn't stop."

I laughed, "That's what you're ashamed of?"

She nodded, "I invaded your privacy when I had no right."

"I took your life when I had no right. That's worse."

She laughed, "You're right – that is worse." But the wide smile on her face told me she wasn't serious.

I ran my hands through her hair, "How can you be so flippant about it?"

"I was upset at first, but I have experienced the bloodlust of a normal hunt. I can only imagine how much worse it would be if I found my singer."

"Singer?"

"It's a term Alice used – my blood sang for you. I don't think you ever had a choice."

"There is always the choice."

She smiled her knowing smile at me, "Maybe. But what's done is done."

She pushed her lips back onto mine and slid her tongue along my lips, requesting entry. I parted my mouth slightly and allowed her to take control. It wasn't long until my body was aching with need for her. I pulled her gently to the ground and caressed her again amongst the rose petals.

*****

-Bella POV-

The day with Edward was without doubt the best experience of my life. If I had known pleasure like that could exist I would have sought it out. It wasn't just the physical pleasure, it was as if our soul connected and communicated in their own way. I thought I understood him from his journals but seeing him in person made me realise there is even more that he is hiding, that he couldn't even write in his private journal. It made me want to learn even more about him.

I felt him trying to pull away a few times during the day. He was scared of something but I didn't know what. It was almost as if he didn't think he was deserving of love. It had surprised him so much when I told him I loved him. It had surprised me too. I knew it to be truth with my entire being but saying the words out loud made them more real.

I knew our perfect day was coming to a close. After hours spent doing nothing more than learning every inch of each other it would soon be time to decide to move onward into the unknown or return to the Cullen's. I didn't know what Edward wanted but I knew my decision. I would follow him to the ends of the earth if I had to. I would feed however he needed to. I existed for the sole purpose of satisfying every need Edward ever had. The only way I would leave him now was if he sent me away. He would have to say the words though, I wouldn't allow him to simply run away.

I slowly gathered my clothes, enjoying the sensation of Edward's eyes roaming over my body. I dressed slowly, with deliberate motion and care. Then I helped Edward into his shirt before pulling myself close to him and laying my head upon his chest. "Where to now?"