SM's characters, my story

Eternal gratitude and hugs and kisses to getshorty and whenpoetryrises. They make this worth reading.

Chapter 11 – Boiling a frog

Do not attempt too much at once, The Boy and the Filberts, Aesop

I led her from the store, her book in the small of my back, under my shirt. I was certain if she read that particular chapter then she would know what I was and that was something I simply could not allow. If she did then she would run screaming. For all of her mild acceptance of her pet dog, I was doubtful she would extend the same to me. They had been friends for many years. I was the man pushing her for sex, and possibly more.

My level of frustration was growing, and yet I was beginning to see progress. Each time I touched her, kissed her, she gave an inch more. I could see that if I stopped as soon as she asked then she wasn't as upset. If only I could read her mind! I raged internally as I pasted a smile on my face towards her. Then I could push her to her limit and not make her feel the need to stop me. I could tell it would help with the seduction if she didn't think that was all I wanted.

And then it hit me. I could be that boy! I knew I had thought of him before. I didn't want to risk becoming him again, feeling it would gain me nothing. But, if it was for only a short time? Just long enough to lure her to my bed? That I could do. I was sure I would have him in control and not be in any risk of changing permanently. After all, like her, my mind was in control. Not my body, nor my heart. It was the perfect manipulation technique, given her love for classic literature. Of course that didn't mean I would give up on my physical advances on her body, I smirked to myself, I would only be more subtle in my approach.

"What are you smiling at?" Bella asked, breaking into my thoughts.

I smiled down at her, making it as innocuous as possible, "You and how happy I am that you are willing to spend time with me even though I push your limits." I drew the hand I had hold of up to my lips and placed a light kiss on the back. "I do treasure my time with you, Bella, and I'm sorry for acting the way I have. I will admit you are the first woman that's been interested in more. It's refreshing."

She glowed, obviously this was the right tact to take. I ignored the threatening murmurs I could hear from her pet dog around the corner before I decided to put his mind at ease. The last thing I wanted was more interference from him. He was her friend and could possibly sway her away from me. "Dog," I called to him in a voice that wouldn't be discernable to Bella.

"What, leech?" he rejoined, the level of his voice matching mine.

"Your little trick didn't work," I taunted him. "All you've accomplished is exposing yourself." Then I remembered I should be quieting him, not riling him up further. "She will be perfectly safe. I will have her home tonight." I could hear he didn't believe me, but I had at least tried.

"Why are you so quiet?" I heard next to me and glanced down to see a confused look on Bella's face. "You really seem to be concentrating on something. Is there a problem?"

"I was trying to figure out what to do with you today," I answered while tucking a lock of hair behind her ear that had been blowing in the gusting wind. That was when it hit me. I knew exactly what would make her smile and consider giving me more. I could feel a grin split my own face as I looked at her. "I've got it. Come on!" I grabbed her hand and tugged her behind me to the car. Once she was safely in, I drove quickly to the grocery store and admonished her to stay put.

I grabbed what I needed. A loaf of bread, a sampling of cold cuts, cheeses and vegetables all went into the basket as I walked swiftly through the aisles. I was glad to see a portable water heater that would plug into my car, so I grabbed that and a box of herbal tea and sugar cubes. There were even small blankets there, so I grabbed two. Who knew how handy they would be. We could start out on separate ones, and end up together on one with the other over us.

Finally, after thoroughly searching the store, I found what I hoped for the most. There was some assembly required, but that would be fast. I asked the clerk to double bag them so they were hidden from her sight. I had vague memories of this activity as a young man, and how couples would go to the park to join in. I only hoped Bella would enjoy it.

I drove back to the spot I had come to the night when Bella was so angry with me. I remembered the direction to the meadow I had found pleasing, and thought that it would be nice with the fall leaves dancing with color. I only hoped it wasn't too long of a walk for Bella.

Gathering all the supplies from the trunk, I watched as Bella hopped out and tried to help. I had to grab quickly to keep her from the special package I had found, lightly swatting at her hand while telling her it was a secret. Apparently she hated surprises but was trying to play along anyway since she could see I was excited about it. I looked down at her feet and was glad to see she had on comfortable shoes. As I recalled the meadow was about five miles into the woods. We had some walking to do. The last thing I grabbed was a small tent that could be set up quickly. It looked like it big enough for both of us. I didn't purchase it or put it in my trunk. It was there when I had opened it to put in the groceries. I guessed Alice had seen a need.

We started our hike and I was surprised by how slowly Bella moved through the underbrush. If I wasn't afraid of giving away my strength, I would have simply picked her up and carried her. At this rate, it would be quite late by the time we reached the meadow, leaving less time for my planned activity. Still, I couldn't rush her. Rushing her led to unpleasant consequences, and I was being that boy, the one that acted like a gentleman and was patient.

After more than two hours, we finally reached the meadow I could have run to in two minutes. I was glad I had decided to use the time wisely, asking her more questions about herself, telling her a mixture of truth and lies about me. The lies were only as protection though. How long had I been in Brazil? What had happened to my parents? What had attracted me to her first? These were questions for which lies must be told.

She spent some time asking me if it was my intention to take her out in the woods and cause her harm. She frequently joked that we were going this far so I could ravish her and then leave her for dead. If she only knew how close to the truth she was then she would be running and screaming.

When we reached the glen in the middle of the forest, her breath caught. The entire meadow was covered in grass that looked like spun gold wavering in the wind. The trees were dancing in the circle surrounding, their rustling leaves adding tenor notes to the soprano singing of the creek that bubbled on one edge. The same leaves were awash in color, ranging from the deep green of the evergreens to the bright yellow of the aspens and deep red of the maples.

I looked down and saw that her eyes were aglow with the beauty of the place. She turned a radiant smile on me as she whispered reverently, "Oh, Edward, it's so beautiful. Thank you for bringing me here." She then walked out to the very center while I stayed under the gently swaying branches of the leaves. I watched her as she twirled around, taking it all in, her smile joyful and her face angelic.

Walking out slowly to meet her in the middle, I began to shake out the blankets I had brought. The ground was cold and I didn't want her to catch a chill. Which was yet another thing that could cause harm to her, thereby foiling my intent to have her pregnant within the next month. This made me pause. What would I do to protect her from the chill of my body? Perhaps if I could take her away somewhere, someplace warm where it wouldn't be a problem for her, then she would be all right. Another plan began to form. I would need to spend some time on the internet, but I was sure I could find a place we could run away to.

With the blankets neatly spread on the grass, I began to pull the items out of bags for our picnic. Bella quickly made sandwiches, nibbling on bits and pieces as she assembled them. I had kept her from food for too long again. When she had them all put together, she handed one to me, which I accepted graciously and then just held. A speculative look came on her face, the same look she had given me in the restaurant and I knew what she was expecting. I took a deep breath, stealing my resolve, and took a bite. It was like eating sawdust, but appeased her so that she began to eat as well.

When it appeared she had finally had enough I excused myself. I needed to rid myself of this human food before it sickened me and I honestly began to wonder if it were worth the charade. Then I reasoned it was only for a couple months. One to seduce her, one more until the child was born. Then I no longer had to deal with the problem.

We were seated on the blankets again when I noticed her eyeing the package I had brought. With a smile, I reached for the object of her curiosity and opened it. "Kites?" she let out a laugh, "all that build up was for kites?"

I mocked a hurt expression, "I loved flying kites when I was young. I doubt much has changed and this is a perfectly safe, no-contact date activity. I would think you would approve," I teased her. She blushed as she apologized, but I merely laughed at her. It seemed I was doing that more and she was smiling more as well. Surely, this bode well for my schedule.

I had the kites assembled and up in the air in no time. It was then I found that kite flying wasn't necessarily a no-contact sport. Within minutes, she was attacking my kite with her own, pulling on the strings to affect a bombing maneuver. I had studied far more physics than she had, and was much more in tune with the vagaries of the wind and so was able to take out her kite. All while coming behind her and bringing my body in contact with her own. It didn't seem to bother her as long as there was the pretense of the activity. This was information I could use.

When her kite hit the ground, I managed to tangle my arms with hers, essentially tying her arms down and mine about her body. She laughed up until I allowed my own kite to crash while lowering my lips to her neck. With her back to me, I was able to wrap one arm around her waist, pulling her hard against my body. I could hear her heart beating a furious rhythm as I trailed my lips across her shoulder.

The sound of rain came over us and I could feel the droplets on my skin as I tasted her flesh. She gave a little squeak when a drop hit her in the face and I let go of her with a chuckle. I ran over as fast as humanly possible and opened the tent Alice had put in my car, grateful that it seemed to be one that you just had to take from the bag and it immediately opened for you, completely set up.

Bella laughed as it inflated into its proper shape. "A bit confident, are you?" she giggled.

"No, just prepared for anything," I answered. "However, I certainly won't mind being stuck with you in the small space." I reached out to take her hand and smiled at her. "What ever shall we do to pass the time?" I purred as I pulled her to the tent. I enjoyed the view as she climbed inside, and then passed in the blankets, knowing she would need the insulation from the cold. I followed last of all, the rain beginning to fall in earnest as I situated myself next to her.

"How long do you think we will be stuck here?" she asked in a small voice. I could hear concern in it and wondered why that was. Her heart was beating quickly and her skin looked flushed. I looked into her eyes and could see uncertainty. I shrugged to answer her question. I had no idea how much time I had and wanted to put her at ease and so asked again what she wanted to do to pass the time.

She looked at me sideways, her head tilted in a thoughtful manner. "Your tone was different this time. Why is that?"

I sighed and reached out to trace her jaw lightly with my fingers. "Bella, you know what I want to do." I chuckled, "I've hardly made it a secret. But you aren't ready yet. So, I leave it to you. What do you want to do to pass the time?"

Her blush was enchanting as she whispered, "I rather enjoy kissing you, you know. I'm just a little freaked by your foreign extremities." She must have seen the confusion on my face because she gave a little laugh and continued, "You know, rushin' hands and roamin' fingers? Russian and Roman?"

I snorted a laugh. I hoped that my child might inherit her sense of humor. "Well, how about I keep them in country," I whispered as I lowered my lips to hers. As I began to kiss her, I reached around her, spreading out one of the blankets for her to lie down on. She helped smooth it out and I deepened the kiss slightly as I lowered her down onto the blanket. I couldn't risk the venom meeting any open wound, and with her habit of biting on her lower lip, I worried she might have split the skin inside of her mouth. If she began to change, I would have to drain her dry and look for another human. Something I was loathe to do.

I broke the kiss from her lips when I felt her tongue against my lips. I couldn't allow her tongue in my mouth either, although I was curious as to how much I might enjoy it. I began trailing kisses down her jaw while I palmed her stomach over her shirt. My fingers itched to go underneath the fabric but I wanted to build her trust in me, no matter how misplaced it was.

"Stop me when I go too far," I murmured against her skin as I kissed along her collarbone. I began tracing circles around her navel, increasing the radius as I spiraled out lazily. Her breathing became irregular as I closed in below her breast and over her sex. The minute changes closer and closer not registering until my fingers brushed over the crotch of her jeans when she jumped and grabbed my wrist.

"Not that far," she breathed and I smiled against her skin. Emmett would call it boiling a frog. I started with what was within her comfort zone and worked my way out. I knew I could inure her to her boundaries, climbing the wall and crossing it as long as it was done slowly and with her thinking she was the one in control. And so I seemed to pull back in the radius when in reality I merely adjusted it. I was no longer going as low but I was also going higher and within a couple rotations, I was brushing underneath her breasts.

"Edward," she moaned, and I now knew the difference between this one and one of pleasure. She was telling me I had gone too far, again.

"Just learning the borders," I chuckled as I continued to touch and taste her. I pulled back barely from where she had complained, now making ovals to reach her 'borders', sometimes moving slightly beyond as if I had misjudged how far I could go.

After a time I could feel her ardor calm and her body relax. She was growing sleepy. I pulled away from kissing her and she let out a large yawn. "Sorry, I don't know why I'm so tired." I did; we had been kissing for an hour, after flying kites for over another hour, after hiking for miles. I had worn her out. I pulled the other blanket over her as we listened to the rain patter on the roof of the tent. I began to hum a tune softly, not knowing where I might have heard it before and held her as she fell to sleep.

When the rain ended, I pulled her from the tent, cradling her so she would remain asleep as I ran her back to the car. It was much faster, allowing me to return to the meadow, retrieve everything else, and be back to her side within minutes of placing her in the passenger seat. She seemed to wake a little when I was running her to the car, but I began to hum that strange tune again and she fell back to sleep.

Her father was sleeping when I placed her in her bed. I was tempted to return to the middle of the night touching of her body but worried what might happen if she awoke. Instead, I curled myself around her, watched her sleep and enjoyed the bit of her dreams that she shared.

So, ladies, will the façade work? Or, is it as much a façade as he thinks it is?

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