A/N: Major apologies are in order here folks. School got in the way with finals, we had lots of family events scheduled, and a last minute wedding was thrown in the mix. I'm also moving from one house to another, so that made things pushed back an extra week. And I didn't have Wifi until literally just a few minutes ago because this was the soonest they could come and install it. Flower Ashworthh Hiiiiiiiiii! We're glad you could join us on our little adventure! And we're sorry we're so late! We're both so sorry, but we hope we made it up to all of you who read with this chapter!
I looked out the window as we drove through the winding driveway and onto the road. The full moon lit our way as we turned onto the highway and headed for the airport.
I yawned and leaned my head on Carlisle's shoulder as he drove.
It felt like only a few seconds had passed when he shook my shoulder.
"Belle, wake up. We're here."
"Too tired." I mumbled as he helped me sit up.
"You can sleep on the plane I promise."
"Okay."
He helped me out of the car and he retrieved the suitcases from the trunk and we were off.
I could barely keep my eyes open as he had to literally tow me through the airport.
When we boarded the plane, we sat in the first class, of course. We were going to land in Seattle, but that's all I knew.
I yawned and the flight attendant appeared with a can of Coke and a bag of cookies.
"Enjoy." she said with a smile.
"Oh thank you." I said yawning. The day's events had finally taken a toll on me, and it would probably take years for me to recover.
"Don't force yourself to stay awake." Carlisle said as they closed the doors and they prepped for takeoff.
"Mmm hmm." I set the snack down on the seat next to me and I rubbed my eyes. "Maybe I'll just close my eyes for a minute."
That minute ended up turning into the whole flight. I felt like I was dead on my feet as we walked from one gate to the next at Sea-Tac.
"Texas? Why are we going there?"
"Just a stop." he said an arm around me as he led me to our plane. That flight blurred into another and I hardly remembered getting from one plane to the other.
I guess I fell asleep then too. I didn't open my eyes until a while later. By then, the cabin was bright and the attendant was just announcing our descent into Rio Dejaniero.
That fact didn't register with me until the plane circled and touched down hard on the runway.
"Rio?" I said my voice thick with sleep.
Carlisle who had been been running his fingers through my hair smiled down at me.
I realized then that I'd been transferred from the seat into his arms. I looked around and I caught the eye of a girl that looked about Carlisle's age smiling halfheartedly at me. She sat two seats away from mine. When she saw me she smiled, a light blush creeping up on her heart shaped face.
"Oh hi. I'm sorry if I was intruding. Are you guys dating?"
I grinned. "Married." Carlisle answered and she beamed.
"Oh how long?"
"Almost an entire day now." he said proudly.
"I love newlyweds." she said enthusiastically. "Congratulations. Have fun in Reo! I'm here to visit my Dad. He asked me to take on my cousin Rosalinda's job at what he told me is a splendid house on this island. He said it's new. Very nice and remote."
"Wow! Have fun." I said as the plane pulled to a stop. Carlisle let go of me and I returned to my seat, feeling absolutely refreshed.
When we were let off the plane, we grabbed our luggage and went through customs. The girl was behind us in line, so while Carlisle spoke in fluent Portuguese to the woman behind the counter, I was kept occupied by the girl.
"So this is your honeymoon destination?" she asked.
"I don't know." I said.
"You don't?"
"Nope. I just knew we were flying."
"Well, where ever it is, I hope you two have a splendid time. My name is Fransisca Villanueva."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Annabelle Swa… Oops, I mean Cullen." It was the first time I'd used my new last name in public. I felt way more excited than I should have been.
"Ooooh! I like your last name. Well have fun Mrs. Cullen."
"Thank you." I said.
"Are you ready?" Carlisle asked turning to me.
"I am." Carlisle took me away. A young man walked behind us with the cart with our luggage. A car waited for us by the curb. While the man loaded our luggage into the trunk, Carlisle gave the driver directions.
I was amazed by the sights around us as we drove through the bustling city. People danced in the streets, bands played, there were vendors along the roadsides, and couples walked hand in hand.
We stopped at a small house that had a white fence around it. The driver helped with the bags and we went inside. I thought we'd head inside, but Carlisle steered me to another car.
"What are we doing?" I asked.
"It's just a stop my love. We're almost there."
"Okay then." I said as the driver waved and we pulled out into the street.
We drove down the road and turned on a few more streets before we reached the beach.
I was beginning to think that I was right, and we were going to just set up a tent, but he surprised me yet again.
As soon as my feet touched the ground he scooped me up into his arms and he walked us away from the car. I looked around and noticed that this place was completely deserted. Palm trees swayed in the slight breeze and the was just beginning to rise, turning the sand a bleached white.
He walked for what seemed like hours through a maze of palm trees and hills before we finally reached a house set atop a hill. The lights were on, shining through the big picture windows at the front of the house. The front door was all expensively carved wood and glass.
He stopped in front of it and opened it. And as he stepped inside he kissed me. How romantic.
"You know, I always dreamed of the kiss as we walked over the threshold." I said grinning as we continued making our way through the house. The color scheme was just like the house in Forks.
We walked down a hallway and stopped in a room that had a magnificent bed. It was huge! It took up half the room. It had a beautiful wooden frame and the mattress looked absolutely fluffy.
The canopy was completely indescribable. It had what looked like clouds of blue and white lace cascading down the sides.
He set me on my feet in front of the bed and told me to look around while he went to get the luggage.
When he left, I flopped onto the bed and squealed with delight at just how soft it was. I kicked off my shoes and lay there for a few seconds before jumping off again and going to inspect the bathroom.
It was all blue and white marble. The shower was huge with shower heads the size of plates. The counter by the sink was full of fluffy white towels, cosmetics, and a few hand soaps and lotions.
"Wow." I breathed.
I turned around and went over to the sliding doors that opened out to the back of the house. There was more beach, and palm trees. In the distance, I could see a cove, and a waterfall.
As I watched the palm fronds move in the breeze, I smiled to myself. I looked over at the bed and I felt my whole body erupt into flames. Okay, I was probably exaggerating, but it felt that way.
This was it. It had finally arrived, and I had just realized it.
Tonight, I was finally well, going to have sex.
My heartbeat increased to about a million… somehow I wasn't dead, and I found it hard to breathe as I stared out the glass, trying to compose myself.
This was just sex. Sex with my husband. Husband! Mine! On our honeymoon! These things happen every night somewhere around the world. Come on now, Annabelle, get it together!
I counted to ten, and tried calming my breathing down. I felt sweat beading on my forehead and neck as I put a hand to my frantically beating heart. I sighed with relief when I was somewhat composed, and it was a good thing I was, because I wasn't prepared for Carlisle's entrance.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" I all but screamed and I whirled around to find him smiling in amusement at my reaction. My hand flew up to my face as I felt my heart racing again.
"Aah! You scared me! Yes, it is beautiful." I gestured toward the glass behind me and I said the next thing that came to mind before I actually thought about how it would sound.
"I like the bed too. It looks comfortable."
He chuckled and I sat back on the edge of the bed. I looked down and realized I was still in my dress.
Should I change? Shower? Wash my face? I didn't really get the whole first time thing. Did it just like happen?
"Would you like to go for a walk?" he asked and I nodded.
"Yeah, sure. I mean I should probably change out of this dress first. I don't think it's um… beach appropriate you know?"
"I agree." he said with a smile as I twisted my rings nervously around my finger.
"I'll be outside then." he said opening the doors and stepping outside. He shot me one last indulgent grin before disappearing into the whiteness that was the beach and trees.
I jumped up and raced over to the suitcases and found mine. I opened it and found the bag with my toiletries in it. I ran to the bathroom and brushed my teeth before throwing water onto my face.
I stepped out of the dress, and blushed when I realized I was wearing the lavender colored silk and lace panty and bra set Alice had said should be for our first time. Well, she got her wish.
I rummaged through my bag and found chapstick. I put some on and I added lipgloss just because. I didn't know why I did it, but I did.
When I was done, I looked at myself in the mirror. My reflection nervously looking back at me. I bit the inside of my cheek and took a few deep breaths.
Okay, you got this. Wait, should I get a towel on? No! I was skipping the towel. I wasn't going to be a little chicken anymore.
I wasn't going to be nervous. Nope. I'm going to walk out there and… Wait!
I looked at myself again and then I grabbed my hairbrush and yanked it through my hair smoothing it out and letting it tumble past my shoulders.
I turned away from the mirror, crossed my fingers, and with great purpose and determination, I walked across the room, out the door and out onto the soft, warm sand.
I could hear the waves crashing in the distance as I walked. I saw something moving in the trees and I nearly ran back in. I looked again and saw that it was just his clothes on one of the low branches.
I swallowed hard and kept going, following the path he'd clearly marked for me.
I finally found him standing by the water's edge, looking thoughtfully up at the sky as he waited for me.
"It really is beautiful." I said stopping by his side.
The nervousness I'd had just seconds before vanished and I felt anticipation creeping in.
He turned and looked at me. I could tell me standing here in just my bra and underwear caught him completely off guard and he seemed to enjoy the view. I had the urge to do a pirouette for him, but decided against it.
"Very beautiful." he said admiringly. Somehow, I knew it wasn't the view of the beach he was calling beautiful anymore.
He laced his fingers through mine and we began a slow walk down the beach, the water lapping up around our feet.
He turned to me and looked at me deep in thought before he spoke to me.
"If anything happens, you will let me know."
"I promise." I said squeezing his hand.
"And if I hurt you in any way…" I stopped his words with a kiss. I rapped my arms around his neck.
"You won't hurt me." I said confidently. So sure that he wouldn't.
He kissed me again, one hand cupping my face as we stood there in the moonlight.
I rapped my legs around his waist and he ran his fingers through my hair.
The taste of his lips against mine was one of the first things I'd remember from our first time.
"That, and the bittersweet taste of the venom I tasted when we were kissing. He didn't pull away as usual.
I felt like we flew through the trees as he took us back to the house, through the doors in the room, and finally as he lay me down on the bed.
He looked down at me and I felt a grin spread across my face as I waited for what would come next.
He was on me in the next second. He trailed kisses from my lips downward, stopping just above my left breast.
Knowing what would come next, I lifted myself so I could at least unhook my bra, but he stopped me and I couldn't help but breathlessly giggle as he took the delicate lace between his teeth. With a satisfying ripping sound the bra was now in two pieces somewhere on the other side of the bed.
I forgot all about that poor bra when I felt his cool lips enclose on my left breast.
A moan escaped my lips and I lay there all but writhing at the feel of it.
He lifted his head after a few seconds and he smirked at me.
That smirk, so sexy.
I tangled my fingers in his hair as he went back to it. But after a while, he moved downward, and soon the underwear was gone, poor thing.
He leaned over me and his lips met mine as he slowly lowered himself onto me. My skin felt hot under his cool marble body.
His hands wandered down my body, stopping at just the right places. I felt like I was jolted with electricity every time he touched me.
I traced the contours of his shoulders, back, chest, everywhere as we continued exploring each other's bodies for the first time.
He gently pushed my legs apart and he looked at me with a gentle smile his eyes burning with desire as he moved atop me, so slowly. I locked my eyes on his, not looking away as he slowly entered me.
Tears sprang to my eyes, and he looked worried.
"No… it's fine." I panted as I felt him still inside me.
He didn't move for what felt like an eternity, but when he did, I felt the pain that was supposed to be there for only a second more before it was canceled out by all the other things I was feeling.
He moved slowly at first, and I moved my hips in time with him before he went faster.
All thoughts left me from then on. It was a while before I felt myself tense up. He felt it to, and he moved faster.
I felt my breath catches I let go and it was like an explosion of heat raced all throughout my body as we soared higher than I could have ever imagined.
Sparks of light seemed to be surrounding us in silver and gold. I felt his lips on mine when we came down, and I felt my entire body relax beneath his.
He gently rolled off me and took me into his arms and I rested my head on his shoulder. I felt sticky and hot, but I didn't care. I felt my eyelids begin to close but I forced them open.
He pushed my hair from where it had been sticking to my cheek. He kissed my neck, and it all began again.
It was hot. Too hot. I felt as though I had been covered in a thick layer of syrup, or something just as sticky as I lay there, listening to the waves outside and the birds calling to each other somewhere nearby.
The only relief from the heat was coming from Carlisle. I opened my eyes and tried moving, but his arms held me where I was. I didn't object. It was too hot to be anywhere else but in his arms lying on his chest.
I felt the sun then, streaming in from the windows. It was probably baking my back by now.
"What time is it?" I said my voice thick with sleep.
"Just before eleven." he replied absentmindedly twining a strand of my hair around his finger.
He dropped his arms and I rolled off of him and onto the hot bed.
"Meh. Too hot."
I tried sitting up, and instantly regretted it. I was sore, and my body still felt like jelly.
I winced as I lay back and Carlisle looked over at me worriedly.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, just sore." I felt my cheeks burning as I said it and a slow smile spread across his face.
I managed to sit up the next time I tried. I looked down at myself and was amazed by the lack of bruises I had. I knew from stories Bella told me that there would probably be a lot but no. There were only a few. Mostly on my shoulders and sides.
I turned to Carlisle, about to say something, but his eyes were locked on the bruises. He didn't look happy.
He touched the one on my forearm, his cool fingers tracing the purple bruise.
I was pretty sure he was about to apologize, so I spoke before he could.
"Don't even apologize. I'm still in one piece, aren't I? These are just bruises. Bruises are just bruises. It doesn't matter that they're there. It's not like we didn't know this would happen."
"It matters because I hurt you."
"If you hurt me, I would have told you. Trust me, you did everything but hurt me."
"I don't want to hurt you again." he said finally after a long silence. I threw my hands up in frustration.
"Dammit, you just killed it! You killed a perfectly blissful morning. Are you saying that you won't have sex with me anymore?"
He cracked a small smile. "No, I didn't say that."
"Then what are you saying? That you didn't like it? That you didn't enjoy yourself?" I was beyond frustrated with my husband now.
"No. As a matter of fact, I did enjoy myself. More than you could imagine."
"Then what?"
"I hate myself for not being a bit more careful with you. I won't touch you until those bruises are gone."
"Urg!" I pushed my hair from my face and crossed my arms over my chest.
"You won't have sex with me until they're gone? Well then."
I smiled already thinking of all the things I'd seen online about bruises and how to at least make them lighter. I was not going to give up sex with my husband. Not this soon after our first time. Not ever, in fact.
"You aren't angry." he observed.
"No, no. You're right. I have to respect your decision." My stomach chose that moment to growl loudly and we both laughed.
"That, and I'm hungry."
"Let's get some breakfast into you." he said taking my hand in his as we headed to the kitchen.
Breakfast tasted especially delicious this morning. The fluffy scrambled eggs and crispy bacon hit the spot.
I took this time to explore the kitchen with all it's stainless steel appliances and fancy kitchen ware. I took a look inside the refrigerator and noted that the freezer had an ice maker which much to my delight, was just filling up with a freshly made batch of ice.
Knowing my husband wouldn't join me in the shower, I got in alone, and adjusted the temperature so that it was nice and cool. It was hot, and I hated feeling sticky.
As I ran the washcloth over my arms, I paused, and gently pressed it against one of the bruises. The cool water ran over it and I saw it disappear whenever I touched it.
I repeated this a few more times and by the time I was done, I'd noticed that they'd gotten slightly less purplish. It would take a while, but I thought I'd found my solution.
Picking the day's outfit was difficult. I had a feeling I should probably keep them out of sight. I also didn't want to wear something that would get uncomfortable in this heat.
I finally found a cute pink and white flowered cotton dress with white flip-flops. I pulled the front of my hair back, and I went out to the living room.
And that's where the adventure began. Carlisle and I went down to the beach and spent the afternoon relaxing under the palm trees, watching the big fluffy white clouds float by above our heads, and even looked for shells in the sand.
We made our way to the waterfall and we watched the sunset and the moon rise before he took me home, made me diner, and we watched a movie together.
He held me in his arms as I drifted off to sleep, my head resting in the crook of his arm.
The last thought on my mind was figuring out the bruise situation.
A/N: I missed you guys so much! I'm glad I'm back on Wifi! Autmn, Flower Ashworth, we saw you're reviews! We're back now! We love you! XXX 3
Until 2 weeks from now!