The first few minutes of the car ride home was endured in silence, with an unexplainable tension. Bella had taken a few deep breaths when we left the house to clear her senses and was now gazing out the car window as the night began to fall thickly upon us. I reached over for her hand on her lap and took it in mine, bringing it to my lips to kiss it. As I did, she turned to look at me with a soft smile, weariness in her eyes.
I was driving at a near human pace, lost in reflection. I was still in shock at what she had done, it was incredible, her strength, her focus so early into realizing this gift. But, she was contemplative for some reason.
"Love?"
"Hmm," I could see how tired she was. An unusual state for our kind. "I am incredibly proud of you. The fact that you are able to control and focus your ability within just days of learning of it is astounding. None of us were able to so early."
"Thanks Edward. I'm still not sure how I did it, but it felt good to be the one helping for once." Her lips curved up, not quite making it into a smile, having a hint of sadness. "I feel incredibly drained by it though. I think I will need to hunt in the morning." she looked down at her free hand that lay in her lap.
"Can I ask you something?" Now that it was over and she was okay, I was consumed by curiosity. What had she experienced? From Carlisle and my perspective, it was as if nothing happened, other than the jolt of electricity that flowed from her to me.
Her eyes rose again to meet mine, I saw only a deep love in them, "Anything."
I wasn't quite sure how to phrase it other than to be direct. "What does it feel like? I mean it doesn't seem as thought it was as entirely conscious act. Why did you run your hands over his body before you touch it? "
She was pensive for a moment, I imagine piecing together her account so I could understand. Much the same way I had explained to her how it felt to hear people's thoughts. "You are right, it is not entirely a conscious act, but like we discovered I have to want to heal, to make the decision, to want their pain to stop. When I hovered my hands over Jacob's body, I could feel where he was injured. There was a decrease in the energy of that particular area. It felt like a…reverse pressure almost. When I finally touched him, all I was thinking about at that moment was that I wanted him to live for Sarah. That she didn't need to feel that kind of pain, to lose the love of her life. Then the energy somehow passed from me to him. I felt his body absorb and disperse it." She smiled, slightly befuddled herself.
"Yes, I felt the energy as well, it was much stronger this time. Like being struck by lightening. I dare to say that if a human were touching you at that moment, you would harm or possibly even kill them."
She had returned her gaze out the window. I was starting to get worried that her melancholy mood was not entirely from her physical state. "Bella, I have to ask you this, and please don't get upset with me, but I need to know what is going on inside your head right now. You are obviously troubled for some reason…" I felt my cell phone vibrate in my pants pocket. I pulled it out and recognized the number immediately.
"I believe this is for you." I solemnly said handing the phone to her. She looked back at me with confusion until she saw the caller ID on the front display of the phone.
"Hello." She answered.
"Hi Bella, it's Jacob." I heard through the phone. His voice was still crackly from the stress of the day. I am certain it felt like a very bad day for him, most likely his worst. First burying his father, to a nearly fatal car accident and ending with seeing that his first love has been changed into a vampire, his kinds' mortal enemy. At that moment I felt rather sorry for him.
"Hi Jake, how are you feeling?" she said with concern in her voice.
"That's not why I am calling, but I'm okay thanks, much better, still sore. Bella…I had no idea that you…healed me, Sam just told me. I didn't even know that something like that was possible, but I guess I shouldn't ever doubt the mysteries of the world after all we've seen. I didn't get a chance to talk with you. I don't even know what to say other than…thank you," earnestness in his voice.
"You are very welcome. I figured it was the least I could do since I was the once that broke you in the first place," Bella responded with a light laugh, but there was a glimpse of pain in her eyes.
"I have to admit, it was a shock to see you, when I woke up, but then relieved that you were okay, I mean that he didn't kill you. I never thought I would say this, but I am not angry anymore that you chose him; I always knew he was like a drug to you. I can see now that it is how it was meant to be, and from what I saw you seem happy. Ironically enough, your decision...it saved my life." He said with a low, deep, chuckle
"I am very happy Jacob. I truly am." Bella smiled into the phone, the conversation lightening
He continued, "Did you get a chance to talk with Sarah?" his voice brightening at the mention of her name.
"No, I didn't. She seems lovely though. She was very worried about you." Bella paused, "I'm glad you found her Jake."
"Me too! I had come to terms that I would be one of the few that didn't find their "one", I mean I thought I had, but now see why it couldn't work out, but you know how that goes," I could hear somberness in his words, "so I was completely surprised when I ran into her a couple of weeks ago. I was in such a miserable state still, even worse being back home. She was in town visiting one of Paul's cousins and it was instant." I could hear a grin in this words, "We have been practically inseparable ever since. Luckily she wasn't riding with me when the accident happened." His voice dropped to a whisper, "If I barely made it out alive…" he stopped and took a in a swift breath.
"It was really good to see you Jacob. You stay out of trouble." She said, knowing that this was finally giving closure to both of them, sealing up the small fissure that had struck her heart only months ago, but seemed like a lifetime.
"You too Bella, you take care of yourself." With that he hung up the phone.
"I'm sorry Edward, what were you saying before he called?" she smiled, taking my hand in hers. We were nearly home, but I needed to clear the air before we replayed the evening for everyone.
My heart didn't want to know the answer to my question, but it would consume me if I didn't ask. "Bella, did seeing the fact that Jacob has moved on, upset you, make you wish it were you?" My voice dropped to a murmur at the end.
She looked away from me, seeming to decide how she was going to answer, then she tightened her grip on my hand and brought it to her lips, I felt a tingle where her skin made contact with mine, our eyes locked and I saw love pouring out of hers, "On the contrary, it made me love and want you more."
A coy smile spread across her lips as she continued. "It made me see how we truly are meant to be together, to even further solidify my choice, not that I ever had any doubt, or choice." She said quickly before I could contradict her. "I feel reminiscent to the days when we first met, and every touch was new, the exploration of each other. The way you dazzled me to the point of fainting." She chuckled. "I know it sounds strange that seeing them together would make me feel that way, but it did. I love you Edward, I always have and I always will."
"I love you too Bella." I whispered back with a silly grin on my face, absorbing her loving words, internally reprimanding myself for ever doubting her.
"Now, what I want more than anything," she beamed at me, a sparkle in her eye, "Is to be alone with my husband. Today is the day that would never end, and I know only you can make it all go away." I reached up to caress her face and stepped on the gas pedal. She let out a light laugh; it was like a melodic kiss to my ears. It seemed like a long time since I had heard it.
As we pulled up to the house, my thoughts were pleasantly drifting to what I was about to do to my wife to make our day be long forgotten. It seemed like an eternity since we had been truly alone enough to really share ourselves with each other, though in reality it had been less than a week. Just as I pulled the Volvo into the garage I was barraged with blaring thoughts from my family.
Edward, they're here, Jane and Felix, I didn't know, I never saw it. It's going to be okay so don't overreact! Alice yelled to me
Edward, I don't believe they mean to cause us any harm, they are just checking on the status of Bella. Do not tell them about her gift. I doubt Aro would find it useful, but we cannot chance it. Carlisle thoughts overpowered everyone else's.
I turned to Bella. She was oblivious to the tension raging inside the house. I put my hand on hers as she went to unlatch her seatbelt, a habit she hadn't dropped from her human life, "Bella, we are going to have to postpone our time alone for just a little while," her mouth fell into an adorable pout. "Why?" she replied incredulously.
"Because Jane and Felix are inside the house with everyone. They have come to check on you."
I tried to keep the strain out of my voice, to keep her calm, but she saw the concern in my eyes. I felt panicked for a moment, as her eyes grew wider. I couldn't take even the thought of then trying to harm her. I was desperate to protect her. I knew it would do no good to run, they would never stop until they tracked us down. Hopefully Carlisle's thoughts were right, they didn't mean to harm us.
I reached over and fervently pulled her lips to mine, breathing in her heady scent, letting all of my love for her through our connection. I clung on to her like a person drowning in open water does to the one buoyant object within reach. Her hands were twisted in my hair. I was completely lost in her, the awaiting stress washed away, when I heard it. Edward, it is not the time for that when you have guests to attend to. Jane's childlike voice ripped through my lusty thoughts like a chainsaw.
I looked up to see her standing on the passenger side of the car. I pulled myself away from Bella. She looked at me in confusion, but followed my spite-filled gaze over her shoulder to Jane's cloaked figure.
"It's going to be okay," I reassured Bella with as much confidence as I could muster.
Bella and I got out of the car in silence and followed Jane back inside the house. When we entered the front door, everyone was sitting quietly in the living room. Felix was glaring at Emmett, waiting for Emmett's control to crack so that he would have reason to use force on him. Emmett did look upset, but his thoughts were only on his wife and protecting her. He had no intention of lashing out unless absolutely necessary.
I'm so sorry I didn't see it. Edward, I was able to tell everyone that they don't mean any harm, before they arrived. Let's get this over with so they can go back to the hellish place they came from. Alice didn't even look at me, not wanting to set them off to our private conversation. She pushed her small body closer to Jasper's. Carlisle and him were completely impassive, the best at controlling their emotions, from their centuries of practice. Jasper was sending out waves of calm.
I was fighting my instinct to instigate a fight, just on the principal of them coming here unannounced. But, I knew better. There was only one of us here that was impervious to Jane's power; the rest would suffer immensely if I acted out. I decided I would be the spokesperson since I had the most amount of experience with Jane and Felix, and my wife was the reason they were here.
"What can we do for you Jane, Felix?" I asked in an overly courteous tone, bordering on condescending, as I nodded to both of them in acknowledgment. I held Bella tight to my side.
"First of all, I would like to thank you for making this so convenient for us. I assumed you would no longer be with your family and we would be required to track you down. You've made my job much easier by your ludicrous love for each other." She said with disgust in her voice, pausing then continued, "You know why we are here Edward." Jane smiled coyly
"Yes, I believe I do and as you can see Bella is no longer human, therefore your mission is accomplished. We wish you a safe trip home." I said starting to motion my free hand towards the door.
"You don't think we are going to leave that quickly, after such a long journey?" she said with an evil snicker, she looked up at Felix briefly who was like a statue in the corner of the room. "We may have quenched Aro's curiosity by confirming Bella's change, but I have my own reasons for traveling this far."
I knew where this was going. Jane's pride was severely wounded when her powers of mind manipulation did not work on Bella. She was going to demand to try again. I knew in my heart that she still would not have power over Bella, after all, I still could not hear her thoughts, but my anger was starting to boil over.
Edward, calm yourself. Bella will be fine. Carlisle sternly said to me. I looked down at Bella, her arm tightly wrapped around my waist, and was amazed that I did not see any trace of fear in her face. She was gazing patronizingly at Jane.
It all happened within less than a second. Without a word, Jane turned on Bella and let the full force of her torturous glower meet her. I pulled Bella closer to me, when she started to shake and whimper in pain, she fell to her knees. Everyone took a gasp of air, no one thought she would be affected.
Jane had a sinister smirk of triumph. I wanted to rip it off her child-like face. But somehow I resisted and reached down to pick Bella up, when she suddenly jumped up to a confident stance, her hand on her hip and a wicked smirk on her angelic face. Jane's eyes went wide with disbelief and shock. It was obvious wasn't done with her hate-filled actions.
"Sorry Jane, you still don't have me." Bella said in a sweet apologetic voice, with a hint of defiance. A light growl reverberating from her throat that I'm certain only I could hear. I hastily pulled Bella back to me letting a growl out of my own, waiting for Jane to lash out, but she seemed to be too stunned to retaliate. She looked as if she could murder all of us with her eyes alone. Carlisle took the lapse in her concentration to stand up and speak, authority in his voice. "Thank you for coming to visit, I believe you have found the answers you were seeking. Please give my regards to Aro."
Felix glanced over at Jane for instructions. I could hear her mind was flying with indecision, working through various scenarios. Aro had specifically instructed her to not use her power on us unless we initiated force. He still clung to the notion that one day Alice and I, and possibly Bella would want to join his guard, make a contribution to their world with our gifts. It was not possible for Jane or Felix to hide their actions from him either. His ability to extract memories with physical contact was incomparably strong. I knew from experience the way he purposefully explored every memory in my head as if leafing through an encyclopedia, only stopping on the subjects of great interest.
Felix spoke up for the first time, startling all of us a bit, "Does she have a gift?" he said without looking at Bella, boredom instead of curiosity in his voice, as if she wasn't in the room. I would imagine he still regarded her as a useless human.
I was praying that everyone would comprehend the need for me to lie in this situation and not react. Although the Volturi would most likely see Bella's gift as useless, like Jasper's, I could not chance it.
"No, she's just an ordinary vampire." I smiled down at her as I said it, the irony of the statement not escaping anyone.
"Come Felix, we have a long journey home and I'm thirsty." Jane said, her tone that of a bratty child who didn't get their way. She had thrown in that latter comment to upset us. There was nothing we could do nothing to stop them from taking human lives if they so choose. Sadly, I didn't care at the moment. My only concern was for their departure.
With that Felix and Jane turned on their heals and headed for the door and were lost into the moonless night. I instantly yanked Bella to my chest, holding her tight for several moments. I put my lips to her ear, "You know love, that was incredibly…reckless. Strangely, it makes me want to take you right here." The lust was rolling off my tongue. She shivered in my arms. She pulled back just enough to gaze into my coal-colored eyes, the sign of desire was mirrored in hers. Without acknowledging our family, I swiftly scooped her up in my arms and fled to our bedroom.
Before we even made contact with the bed, my lips were feverishly exploring hers. We knelt on the bed facing each other, her arms grasping at my back; my stone hands on her glorious, porcelain face. I pushed her hair from her neck and buried my lips behind her ear, taking in her scent, letting it fill me and erase the angst of the day. I realized if I felt drained, she must feel even worse. I let out a breathy whisper in her ear, "you okay love, it's been a long day."
She retracted back and stared at me with a slight scowl, "I'm fine. I just want you. I need you," thick desire in her voice. With that we crushed our lips together once again, I let the tip of my cool tongue gently explore her mouth, she groaned into me and pulled me harder against her, feeling my arousal. Reaching up for the buttons on my shirt, she started to undo the top one, but in one swift movement ripped it off my torso and flung it to the floor. My desire for her increased ten fold at her palpable want for me. I felt like I couldn't make enough contact with her smooth skin. I pulled her t-shirt over her head, put my hand around her thin waist and roller her on top of me as she straddled my hips. At our skins' points of contact there was prickling pleasure radiating out. My hands were buried in her silken hair as I greedily explored the curve of her neck with my lip, my tongue, my teeth, down her shoulder. She let out small whimpers of pleasure as she ran her hand over the planes of my chest, sending waves of delight through my body.
I led my hand down her back and unclasped her bra as she let her fingers dance around my neck. She quickly wiggled free, letting her breasts settle in sensual contact with my chest, feeling their excitement. I swiftly rolled my body on top of hers, relishing the ability to be free with my movements, to lose myself with her. No worry of harming her. I reached my hand and let my fingers linger around her naval before I undid the button on her jeans. She arched up her hips to help me pull to them off, throwing them across the room with a thud to the wall. Once standing, I unfastened my pants as well, letting them drop to the floor.
I took a moment to gaze at her figure sensually sprawled on our bed, one hand on her toned stomach, and the other grazing her almost flushed cheek, her hair spread around her on the pillow. The mere sight of her naked body took my breath away. She was indescribably beautiful, perfect in every way. She was my goddess. I saw a mixture of deep hunger and anticipation in her eyes. I was in no hurry to see this union end. I thought devilishly, she was going to have to ask for it.
I took her ankle in my one hand and brought it to my lips, making swirls with my chilled tongue on her silky skin. My other hand explored up her body to grasp her waist, then cupped her breast causing her back to arch. I continued very slowly creeping up one leg and down the other, glancing up at her to see her eyes full of a painful desire. She attempted to pull me too her, and I pinned her hands at her side with my strong grasp. She didn't fight me; she only gave me a coy grin. I kept her arms at her side and continued my oral exploration of her body, taking in every sweet drop of her. She let our small moans that made me grin against her flesh, nibbling her with my razor sharp teeth.
I flipped her over on her back and worked my way up her torso, straddling her hips, feeling my manhood graze her, making me gasp from the building pressure. I leaned over and unrelentingly kissed her back and shoulders up to her ear and hair, my body absorbing her scent like a dry sponge. "Please Edward…I need to feel you…inside me." She whimpered, her body trembling with yearning.
Hearing that, I could no longer control my consuming desire for her. I required the same. I slowly reached underneath her and led my hand to fondle her breast, the other pinning her arms above her head on the pillow, and then gently let myself move into her. We both let out a raspy moan at the pressure-filled connection as I began to rock into her. The way she held me was indescribable. Even after months of our coupling, I find it inconceivable that I existed for over a hundred years without experience this; I could not imagine how I lived without this level of physical connection. Not just for the unadulterated pleasure, but the way it melded us together as if we were one being, moving in a choreographed dance.
I was overwhelmed with the need to gaze at her magnificent face, to lock her desired-filled eyes with mine. I rolled her over, pulling her small frame onto my lap. She locking her legs firmly behind me, our bodies fit together like two puzzle pieces, as only two lovers could. She ran her hands through my tousled locks, causing my eyes to close in delight. She let her lips trace the lines of my mouth, moaning into me. I clawed at her back, pulling her deeper to me, the internal tension building like a runaway forest fire. The surrounding room seeming to blur as if we were in a heavy snowstorm, only being able to see what is right in front of us, each other, nothing else mattered. Limbs and lips intertwined, our bodies moved in smooth rhythm with our exuding desires, breaths becoming raspy and quick, until the waves of climax crashed over us. Bella let out a guttural whimper into my shoulder as I felt her tighten onto me. My need for air becoming desperate. The waves of heat washing through me, feeling the pressure release in me, as I grasped at her face and hair, frantic to feel and touch her in every way. We slowed, exhaling onto each other's skin, sending chills, still clinging urgently to one another. If we were still able to sleep, I would have stayed there until unconscious, our bodies connected in the most primordial of ways.
"Thank you Edward," she mumbled in a seductive purr onto the skin at my neck.
"You are very welcome, love. Anytime," I smiled into her hair, my eyes still closed, the most at peace I had felt in days.
