Disclaimer: Ms. Stephenie Meyer owns everything in the Twiverse, and, alas, I am not she. But I can still have lots of fun playing with her characters!

Happy New Year, dear readers!

Here is chapter 10. I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 10: Afterglow

Bella's POV

Edward whisked me upstairs, his arms protective and strong around me, and I couldn't wait to get to his room and continue what we'd started. I felt as if my entire body was aflame, tingling everywhere he'd touched me. I couldn't believe the ways he'd touched me, the places he'd touched me.

The new places he'd touched me….

He touched me.

Edward touched me.

Edward saw me and touched me.

Edward saw me and touched me and kissed me and licked me and sucked me.

Mmmmm.

He usually seemed afraid, unsure of himself even.

But out there…with late-summer winds blowing around us…he had been tenacious, uninhibited.

His eager lips against my throat, his possessive hands gripping my hips, his slick tongue swirling around my breast.

Sweet Mother of all things holy...

I replayed every caress and sound, relived every amazing moment, and shivered in anticipation of what would come in the next twenty minutes.

Twenty uninterrupted minutes in his bedroom.

Couldn't he move any faster?

Finally, we reached his bedroom door. He kicked it open with his foot and then came to an abrupt halt.

Something had changed.

Edward's music collection and desk were exactly as they had been on my last visit. There were no new window treatments or shopping bags indicating that Alice "just had to get him" twelve more shirts he'd never wear.

But his black leather sofa, the one on which we had snuggled so many times before, was gone.

In its place was a bed—king-sized, at least—covered by a golden filigreed bedspread. Six coordinating pillows lay invitingly against the tufted leather headboard.

At least that was still black.

As Edward tensed and shook his head, assuring me that he had had nothing to do with this, I recalled a mysterious text I'd received earlier:

I did you one last favor. Don't make me regret it.

Rosalie had been quite the busy bee today.

The bed was luxurious and of much better quality than my lumpy old twin. But here in Edward's room, it was almost obscene. For in a house full of creatures who never slept, beds only served one purpose.

One obvious purpose.

I stared the bed, and despite my desire to roll around in it with Edward, I suddenly felt shy. It was senseless to feel that way—I was, after all, still naked from the waist up—but the blush coloring my cheeks could not be stopped.

Edward's distress was palpable. He wouldn't look at me and couldn't look at the bed. Thanks to the untimely appearance of this well-intended gift, the heady heat from our outdoor rendezvous dissipated. I felt cold and uncomfortable; I wanted desperately to hide.

I shifted in Edward's arms, and he looked at me for the first time since our arrival. As I studied his guarded eyes, I understood. The bed scared him to a point, but his real concern was my possible reaction. My running away had made him skittish, and I couldn't blame him for that. He was already trying not to feel guilty about what had happened outside. Now we've come upstairs to find a ginormous bed in his room? I was surprised that he hadn't run away himself.

"Edward." I stroked the back of his neck. "Let's lie down." Uncertainty clouded his brilliant eyes, and he did not move. I nuzzled his chest and tried again. "Like we do at my house."

His apprehension lingered a moment longer, and then he stepped into his room. Approaching the bed with caution, he laid me in its center and stepped away, clasping his hands behind his back.

That would not do. Not after what those beautiful hands had just done to me.

I rolled onto my side. His eyes flitted to me then back to the light fixture in the ceiling. I reached for the cashmere duvet lying across the bottom of the bed and covered my top half with it. With a smile, I held out my hand to him. "Come here."

Edward hesitated before stepping out of his shoes and climbing onto the bed. He tucked the blanket around me tightly, and then busied himself with rearranging my skirt. I stilled his hand with a light touch, resting my free hand against his cheek.

"It's fine, Edward," I whispered. "Really."

He gradually brought his eyes to mine, and I refused to look away. He needed to see that there was no pressure or expectations. The bed was just an expensive piece of furniture purchased by his overzealous sister. Nothing more, nothing less.

As the seconds ticked by, Edward began to relax. Propping himself on an elbow, he smoothed my hair, releasing one finger to trace the side of my face. I sighed into his touch, taking his hand as it reached my chin. I kissed the tip of each finger, the center of his palm, the inside of his wrist, closing my eyes to savor him blind. When I opened them again, the butterscotch warmth in his gaze hypnotized me. My hands impatiently wound around his neck, drawing him in.

This kiss was different. Outside we had been consumed by hormones, literally caught in the heat of the moment. But this kiss…it was teeming with the anguish he'd felt as he cried in this room last night. It was tainted by my memory of waking up without him this morning. It was the substance of all that we hoped for, the evidence of what we had almost lost. His lips were desperate, his moans bittersweet, every kiss and sound making me whole again. He wrapped arms around me, and I held on with all my might, afraid he might disappear if I let go for an instant.

He laid his forehead against mine, breathing heavily. "I thought I would never..."

"I know." My eyes were shining with tears. "I'm sorry I ran."

He kissed my tears. "I'm sorry I tried to leave you."

"I'll never run away again."

"I will never leave you again."

"Edward..."

"Bella…my love…my life…."

His lips were everywhere—my hair, my temple, my throat—returning to my mouth in sweet surrender. My fingers crept toward the top of his shirt, itching to touch him. He watched with awed desire as I unbuttoned his shirt, the tension mounting as I worked my way down. I reached his waist and tossed his open shirt aside, stunned by the ethereal perfection of his chest. I kissed him above the heart, and the blanket that been covering me slipped down. Our eyes followed it as it fell, removing the last barrier between us.

I slowly sat upright, watching his eyes drift toward my breasts. He stared as if he'd never seen them before, and they hardened under his gaze. Emboldened when he licked his lips, I leaned into him. His cold chest shocked me, and I pressed myself closer, craving more. His hands ran up my back, and I trembled as he enveloped me in icy heat. His lips brushed across the racing pulse beneath my jaw, and I felt dizzy. He laid me down on the bed, caressing me with his eyes.

"You are so beautiful," he murmured, dipping his head once more. He kissed my skin as if to worship, leaving a loving trail across my chin and throat.

"So warm…so soft…."

His velvety voice disappeared into my chest as his mouth closed over the left peak, suckling gently. I arched into him, intoxicated by each flick of his tongue. After attending to the other one, his lips made their way back to mine, and I rolled him onto his back. I needed to taste him, to make him feel what he was doing to me. I started at his navel and teased my way up. His chest tasted like fresh spring rain, cool and refreshing on my tongue. He slipped his hands from my hair, down my back, and across my bottom, gripping my hips as I sucked on his neck. He breathed my name like an incantation, the sultry sound making love to my ears. As he rolled me over again, we kissed and moaned between loving pleas and promises, maximizing the rest of our precious time alone.

—o—o—o—o—o—o—o—o—o—o—

Edward was resting against half of the pillows on the now-forgiven bed. I was snuggled against his side, warm and bundled in the golden blanket. He was humming my lullaby, causing me to drift closer toward unconsciousness. My fingers traced lazy patterns on his abdomen while his hand rhythmically stroked my arm. Lying this way, enveloped in his love, I couldn't imagine anything better.

Well, maybe one thing.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked softly.

I blushed against his chest. "Trees."

"Deciduous or evergreen?" he chuckled into my hair.

"Whichever ones are stronger."

"Evergreen, then."

We were quiet once more, and I closed my eyes. Another wave of desire began its crest, and I fought it down. The Cullens would be home soon, and discretion would be impossible with Emmett in the house.

We would have to take our show on the road.

"Bella?"

"Hmm?"

"I want you to know that I meant what I said."

There were trees near our meadow, right? "When?"

"When I promised to respect you and accept your choices."

"I know." Or what about that wide, flat rock near the edge of the clearing?

"And that acceptance includes all of your choices."

He exhaled when I didn't respond, and the noise made me look up. His nervousness had returned in triplicate and put the kibosh on my private plotting. I reached for his cheek, and he caught my hand in mid-air, something clearly on his mind.

As he brought my fingers to his lips, a strong vibration crashed against the walls. It pounded around us as if to break in, and I thought we were having an earthquake. But Edward merely seemed surprised.

"The house stereo," he explained. "It has sufficient sound distortion to distract us from listening to each other. It's obnoxious, so we don't use it very often. But sometimes it can be quite useful." He touched my nose. "They're trying to give us a little more privacy."

"Oh," I nodded absently. "What were you trying to tell me?"

He swallowed hard and rubbed my hands. "Bella, you were right yesterday," he said. "Your life is yours to live as you wish, and loving you means that I should respect your wishes. So if you want to become one of us, to exchange your human life for one like mine, I fully support that choice."

My mouth dropped open. "What?"

"I had no right to repudiate your choices before, nor will I ever do so again. My concerns may be valid, but they are far less important to me than your happiness. And if immortality will make you happy, then you shall have it." He pressed our hands against his silent heart. "I swear on our love."

I closed my eyes and sighed, weakened by his unexpected concession. I could have believed that Edward would consent to my changing if something tragic happened, and it was either that or death. I might have even thought that Carlisle might have been able to persuade him if my solo efforts proved unsuccessful. But I never thought Edward would give me his unprovoked, wholehearted blessing.

Not in a bazillion years.

My heart burned in my chest, and I was starting to sweat. His eyes were so full of love and acceptance that I couldn't bear it. I had to tell him.

"I need to talk to you." My voice was already shaking. "And I need you to let me get it all out before you respond, okay?"

His eyes searched mine for clues but found none. "Okay."

I laid our entwined hands on my knees, hoping I could make him understand.

"The night of the party," I began, and he stiffened instantly. "I was stunned by how quickly things escalated. One minute, I was opening a pretty pink box, and the next, I was flying into a table." He shuddered and frowned. "But when I looked up and saw everyone staring at my arm, I was terrified."

His nostrils were flaring, and I could hear the low snarl in his chest. But he clamped his mouth shut and squeezed my hands, nodding for me to continue.

"Not of you or the Cullens or my impending death. I knew I was safe. Edward, I was terrified because for the first time, I saw a clear vision of my future as a vampire."

His shock was evident.

"I know the Cullens love me. But when they smelled my blood, their thirst trumped that love to the point where they wanted to kill me anyway. That's their nature, and I don't blame them for it. But if they could want to kill me—loving me as much as I know they do—then that means that I could want to kill Ms. Cope, Angela, even Renee or Charlie. And seeing that, realizing that…it scared me so badly…."

Edward pulled me to his chest before I could finish, kissing my hair as he held me. His tender words and touch unraveled the ball of emotions that had tumbled and tangled inside me since the party, and I found myself clinging to him, tears streaming from my eyes. I was grateful for the Cullen sound system now, as my uncontrollable sobbing would surely have filled the house without it.

Edward soothed and rocked me until my cries subsided. "I wanted to tell you," I sniffed. "But I…I was afraid you would.…"

"I know, Love." He kissed my forehead. "I am ashamed to think of how badly I would have handled it. Forgive me for being selfish and unavailable when you needed me most."

"You're here now," I murmured into his chest. "That's all that matters."

"I will always be here."

"And I will always want you with me," I sighed. "Even if I don't know what else I want."

"Are you changing your mind?"

I shrugged. "I finally see just how much I have to consider. I think it would help if we could discuss how you resist me...from a technical standpoint. But I don't want to upset you."

He lifted my chin, and his smoldering eyes consumed me. "Ask me anything. My life and all that I am are at your disposal."

His lips were soft as they met mine, and I settled into his healing embrace. As our kiss began to build, a firm knock on the door signaled that cuddle time was over.

"Are you going to stay in there forever?"

Edward growled against my mouth. "Leave us alone, Alice."

"We should go see your family now," I sighed before kissing him once more. "Would you mind getting my phone from the truck?"

As Edward reluctantly rose from the bed, Alice squealed from the other side of the door. "She'll be downstairs in seventeen minutes!" I could hear her excited steps receding toward the stairs. "Although….I really wish she would rethink that top. That color does nothing for her complexion."

—o—o—o—o—o—o—o—o—o—o—

Edward had stepped out of his room so I could shower and change. I liked my faded jeans and gray hoodie, regardless of what Alice thought. I also liked shopping with Edward because he trusted my taste and let me ransack the clearance rank. He was even learning not to complain that I only let him spend one hundred dollars or less. Alice could learn a thing or two from him.

I told Charlie that I was staying the weekend with Alice. When he asked who else would be here, I explained that all the Cullens were home, but Carlisle and Esme were extremely old-fashioned. "Besides," I added. "I can promise that wherever I sleep, Edward will not be sleeping with me." He didn't catch my drift, and with no real reason to object, he said he'd see me on Monday.

I was ending our conversation when Edward knocked softly. I told him to come in, but he just stared at me from the door. I plugged my phone into the charger I kept in his room. "What?"

"Your beauty astounds me."

I blushed and rolled my eyes. "Your bias astounds me."

He walked over and drew me closer by my hips. "Silly Bella," he said. "You have so much to learn."

I inhaled his fragrance and felt a familiar stirring inside. "Do these lessons involve a tree?"

He groaned and bit his bottom lip. "They do now."

I stood on tiptoe to receive him, our mouths colliding with passionate intent. He backed me against his closet door, unzipping my sweatshirt as I pulled his shirt out of his jeans.

"Oak," he growled as his tongue skimmed my ear.

I ran my hands up his back. "Is it?"

His wandering hands reached my bra. "Maybe pine."

I leaned back so he could ravish my throat. "Even better."

"You're late!"

We jumped at Alice's voice.

"I'm not done," Edward murmured against my mouth.

His thumbs rubbed the flesh inside my lacy cups. "Edward, we…."

"One more second."

He traced my lips with his tongue.

"Two."

He pressed into me with his hips.

"Three."

I was losing.

"Four."

And it had never felt so good.

"Don't make me come up there!"

He snarled, and the sound was somehow enticing. "So small and so irritating."

"I need to talk to them," I muttered.

"Later," he kissed the corners of my mouth, but I gently pulled back.

"If it weren't for Alice, we wouldn't have had that time alone. Let's go make nice."

He scowled but tucked his shirt in. "Small and irritating."

After making myself presentable again, we descended the stairs hand-in-hand. My heart warmed at the sight of my other family waiting for our arrival. Carlisle and Esme stood in the middle of the room, his arm around her shoulder. Emmett was leaning against the front door while Rosalie stood next to him, ignoring me as promised. Jasper seemed as if he might bolt from the room any minute, and Emmett's position suddenly made more sense.

Alice was tapping her foot and the face of her designer watch with a freshly manicured nail. Edward kicked at her as we reached the bottom of the stairs, and she stuck out her tongue as she neatly dodged his attempt.

Their playful actions broke the tension for a moment, but it was impossible for us to stand there without remembering the last time we had gathered in this space. No one seemed to know where to look.

"Why don't we go into the kitchen?" Carlisle suggested. "I'm sure you're hungry."

"Really?" Emmett asked. "I thought she would have fed enough on Edward by now."

Edward shoved him, and Alice snickered. "How about some juice?" Esme offered.

"Yes." My cheeks had to be ten shades of red. "Thank you."

They assembled around the table, and I took my time with the cranberry juice. I could feel their eyes on me, intent and curious, and my confidence faltered. Edward squeezed my hand, relaxing me again.

"Well," I smiled. "I guess it's obvious that Edward and I are back together."

"I could hear you getting together three miles away."

"Emmett!" Esme scolded.

"Sorry." But his grin suggested otherwise.

"But as I know there are no secrets in this family, I wanted to explain something I told Edward yesterday." It was my turn to give him an encouraging squeeze. "I said that you didn't respect me, and I meant it at the time. But since yesterday, I've realized how many great experiences I've had because of you. Like the baseball game."

They growled and hissed, and I shook my head. "Not James, obviously. But because you invited me to watch you play, I can sit through a few innings with Charlie without my eyes glazing over. Your game is far more exciting, but Charlie and I sort of have something in common now. I never would have eaten succotash had Esme not made it for me. Now I have a new favorite dish, and she has a culinary guinea pig. And as much as I detest getting dressed up, junior prom—with all of us together—was one of the best nights of my life. Even with the birthday party," I looked up at Edward as I repeated his words. "You were just trying to show me how good it was to be human, and I appreciate that now. I'm sorry if I hurt you by suggesting otherwise."

Esme's eyes were somehow shining, and Alice was biting her quivering lip.

But it was Carlisle who spoke.

"Bella, you owe us no apology. In truth, you are more forgiving than we deserve. Our intentions may have been noble, but they don't excuse us ignoring your wishes. In this family, we respect each others' decisions, and that courtesy extends to you. Please accept our apologies for disrespecting you."

I appreciated his apology, but the person I needed to hear from the most was silent.

I hopped off the stool and walked to the far corner of the kitchen where Jasper was hiding. He tensed at my approach but didn't try to escape. "Jasper, I am not angry with you, and I never was. But if you need to hear this, I'll say it: I forgive you for trying to kill me." He winced, but my sincerity could not be doubted. "Now, for the sake of my sanity and yours, please forgive yourself so that you can be my friend and protector again."

He didn't budge, seeming to absorb my words and emotions. Then he met my eyes and bowed slightly. He might still be wary around me for a while, but it was a start.

"There's something else," I said as I returned to Edward's side. "Edward has finally given me his support and now accepts my choice to become an immortal."

The Cullens gasped in disbelief but none more so than Alice, as Edward must have hidden this decision from her. "Is she kidding?"

"You tell me," he said.

Alice froze, processing my revelation. Seven pairs of eyes—six golden, one brown—stared at her, waiting and wondering. A few moments later, she turned to me sadly. "Your future is uncertain."

"I don't know if I want to be a vampire," I said. "But my future with Edward is certain."

"Your place in this family is also certain," Carlisle declared. "You don't have to change to be a Cullen."

I smiled at Carlisle, refusing to cry anymore, and Esme wrapped me up in a forceful hug. Alice kissed my cheeks, following Jasper out of the room after his brief nod. Rosalie kept her distance, the faintest of smiles on her lips.

"You are adorable!" Emmett lifted me off the ground. "Like a life-size doll with movable parts and everything!"

"Put me down!"

He nodded appreciatively. "And you're anatomically correct."

Edward snatched me out of his brother's grasp. "Go get your own doll to play with."

"Oh, I've got my own doll," he grinned. "And I'll bet you wish you could play with your doll like I play with mine."

Rosalie smacked him in the back of the head. "I am not your doll."

Emmett wiggled his eyebrows. "That's not what you said this morning when I put my…."

I stuck my fingers in my ear, reciting the alphabet as loudly as I could. Edward backed us toward the rear door as Emmett continued to embarrass his wife in front of their amused parents.

"Thank you," I said as we reached the patio. "I don't know how Rosalie puts up with him."

As we reached the grass, our heads drifted toward the place where our reunion first began. Our eyes returned to each other, unified in their intentions.

I leaned up to kiss him. "Take me to our meadow."

He returned my kiss then scooped me on to his back. We flew together toward our secluded slice of heaven, leaving the past and its bad memories behind us.

Ahhhh, don't you love it when B&E are happy? I promise it will last… at least for the next few chapters, LOL.

As a side Author's Note, here are some amazing fanfics I highly recommend:

First up are the two fics from my dynamic Beta, CassandraLowery:

"Evening Star" is the completed story of the summer between "Twilight" and "New Moon." It is heartfelt and beautifully written entirely in Edward's POV.

"Pinned but Fluttering," her newest work, is a very different story. Based in canon but with some very important differences, it is dark, mysterious, rich, and delicious.

And there's "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" by Simaril. Bella loses her memory after the Cullens leave Forks in New Moon. What will happen when she runs into them again? You do not want to miss this story! I am completely hooked on this story.

Lastly, thanks to everyone who reads and reviews "Serenity's Prayer." I am so thrilled at the positive response to my first fanfic. Keep those comments coming—they really do make me type faster!