IMPORTANT: Notice that I changed the rating from "Teens" to "Mature." There is a reason for that this chapter. Ye have been warned, proceed with caution. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Rewind to read it.

Chapter 10: Beautiful

As we turned onto the black highway, I pressed down on the accelerator, anxious to begin my new life with Mrs. Bella Cullen.

Soon we arrived at the Seattle International Airport. While I checked us in at the front counter, Bella looked at me questioningly as she saw our final destination: Chicago.

After Bella had agreed to marry me, I bought a house in Chicago, mainly for two reasons. First, Chicago didn't get too much sun this time of year, so I wouldn't keep Bella cooped up in the house—not that I would mind. To be stuck in a house with her would be a kind of heaven, maybe the only that I will ever know. The second—and absurd —reason is that I wanted her to see where I was born, where I came from. It was stupid and childish, but I wanted her to know me.

"Chicago?" she asked once we were on the plane, a crease in her brow.

I brushed my hand against her face from her cheek to her jaw. "Yes. I bought us a house there."

Instead of complaining about me spending any money on her, she surprised me by merely smiling and leaning her head against my chest. I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her closer to me, pleased that she had finally gotten over her aversion to me buying her things. Maybe I could overindulge her with the 'after' car…

The plane ride was quiet, neither of us speaking. More than ever, I longed to know what Bella was thinking, but I was too uneasy to ask. My empty stomach was twisted into unfamiliar knots that made me…nervous? What was this feeling? I had a hard time keeping my breathing at an even pace. My right foot tapped on the carpeted floor, keeping a constant rhythm. If my heart wasn't frozen, it would have been pounding furiously. Was I nervous?

Was Bella nervous?

She seemed to be concentrating on her breathing as much as I was. Her fingers drummed against her leg, in tune with my wayward foot. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest. She stared out the window, apparently preoccupied with the view, but every once in a while I glanced down to see her gazing up at me, her teeth biting down on her lip, before we both turned our heads away.

At last, I felt the plane angle downward. Bella reached up and grasped my hand tightly in hers.

"You marry a vampire, and you're afraid of a little turbulence?" I teased her in an attempt to distract her.

She didn't answer, her expression panicked.

"Bella," I whispered, brushing her hair back. "It's going to be fine, love."

She didn't relax her grip, so I leaned down to kiss her. And, just like our first kiss, I didn't anticipate her reaction.

Her hands knotted into my hair, pulling me closer. Her mouth was urgent against mine, and my hands automatically slid to her waist.

I tried to make my body pull away, but my mouth and hands were glued to her, refusing to break away.

Only until I heard the flight attendant announce our arrival did I find the control to pull away.

My breath was as ragged as hers, and the fire in Bella's eyes did nothing to help my sudden decision to be responsible.

I rose quickly, before I could change my mind, and offered her my hand. She took it, and, after I grabbed the suitcases from the overhead compartment, I led her out of the airplane.

Outside of the airport, our driver was waiting beside a small but private car.

"Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cullen?" he asked as we approached him.

"Yes," I replied, setting our suitcases in the trunk.

Despite the darkness and the instincts telling him to be afraid, the driver was intent on remaining polite.

"I am Mr. Ian Roberts and will be your driver today."

He walked over to the left side of the car and opened the door. Bella climbed in, smiling slightly at him, and I slid in the backseat from the right side, not wanting to make him too uncomfortable.

Ian started the car, and I settled in to wait the twenty minutes it took to arrive at our house. It was located on the outskirts of Chicago, in a private and secluded area.

Bella leaned against me, and I placed my arm around her waist.

The comfortable silence lasted only a couple of minutes before the familiar electricity began to generate between us.

I clenched my fist tightly, fighting the urge I felt to explore Bella's body.

Bella, ruled by her human hormones, stretched her neck up to press her lips into my throat. I tried my best to ignore her warm mouth trailing along my jaw, my face leaning away from her and into the glass window, but nothing could distract me from her—she was my everything.

One of her hands left my chest and slid down to the buckle of her seatbelt. I caught her hand in mine before she could release herself and gently pushed her back.

"Patience, love," I said quietly, releasing her hand. Physical contact made it harder to keep my hands off of her body.

Bella's face slipped into a pout, adding to the temptation. I eagerly turned to the divider that separated our driver from us in an attempt to distract myself.

"Mr. Roberts?" I asked, struggling to make my voice sound calm. Hopefully, Bella couldn't hear the uneasiness in my tone.

"Yes, Mr. Cullen?" he answered, stopping at yet another stoplight.

"How much longer till we reach the house?"

"About another few minutes, sir."

"Thank you." I raised the divider once more.

I turned my gaze to the tinted window and ran my hand through my tangled hair, frustrated.

Bella fidgeted incessantly with the hem of her dress, looking down. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders in silky curls. Suddenly, she glanced up, and our eyes met. I swiftly turned my gaze away.

"Edward," she whispered, and I could hear the worry and pain in her voice. "Edward, what's wrong?"

Unconsciously, I turned to meet her gaze. The fire in her eyes reined me in, and, as her mouth opened in anticipation, my lips attacked hers.

Despite her surprise, Bella didn't resist as my mouth explored her neck. Instead, she tangled her fingers into my already-disheveled, bronze hair. Instinctively, my fingers grabbed her waist, pulling her closer to me.

She pulled my lips back to hers, and my hands found the back of her knees. I slowly slid my hand up to the edge of her dress, enjoying the smooth feel of her skin. Bella abruptly wrapped her legs around my hips, forcing me lower onto her, and we both moaned in pleasure.

I heard Ian put the car into park and reluctantly pulled away from Bella, breaking her hold easily. The broken rhythm of our heavy breathing filled the cab.

"We're here," I said breathlessly before Bella could attack me again. Only she could make my breathing erratic.

"Finally," she gasped and unbuckled her seatbelt. This time, I didn't protest.

I threw the door open and removed the suitcases from the trunk. Before Bella could stumble out of the backseat, I leaned down and swept her up in my arms. Her expression was startled as I carried her up the steps of our new house. In my haste to get inside, I flew up the stairs faster than I should have, but I couldn't find it in myself to care.

I unlocked the door and carried Bella over the threshold. I gently set her down on the hardwood floor—along with our luggage—and turned to close the red door behind us.

"It's beautiful," she whispered, her voice full of amazement.

I smiled. "I'm glad you like it. Would you like me to give you a tour of it now?"

Slowly, I pressed her into the giant front door, our bodies molding together.

"Um…may-maybe later," she stuttered. The skin over her cheeks took on a familiar pink glow.

"Bella, if you don't want to do this now…" I stepped back.

"No," she said in a sure voice, grabbing my waist. "I want this."

She didn't have to stretch far in the shoes Alice had given her to press her lips against mine.

Her fingers found the buttons on my shirt and started unfastening them. As she undid each button, she ran her fingers along my bare stomach, creating a trail of flames. My lips kissed her throat greedily.

As soon as she discarded my shirt on the floor, I swung her around and pressed Bella against yet another wall. I twined my fingers into her hair and pulled her face up to mine once more. Her tongue met my bottom lip, caressing it, and I sighed in contentment.

I pulled away, allowing her a chance to catch her breath. My lips pressed into the hollow beneath her ear.

"So, that was a 'no' on the tour, correct?" I asked in a low voice.

"Uh huh," was all she was able to respond.

"Very well, then."

I swept her up in my arms, cradling her form gently. I ran quickly up the stairs to our room on the second story. As I ascended the steps, I heard Bella kick her shoes off and did the same. When I reached the door to our haven, I threw it open and walked over to the enormous, white bed in the center of the room. The bedroom was large and open, with windows opening to the scenery outside. There was an assortment of mismatched armchairs in front of a fireplace. The fire sent dancing patterns across the floor and filled the air with the soft crackling of the firewood.

I gently set Bella down on one of the leather armchairs and slipped her shoes off. I sat down next to her, meeting her gaze critically.

"Bella," I said, running my hand through my hair. "You know that this may not work, that I might lose control? That we are simply trying?"

I hated to have to remind her that I could lose control, but it was necessary to keep her alive and aware of what we were about to do.

"Yes," she answered, nodding solemnly.

"Well, I think we should take this…slow."

She smiled and brought her hand to my cheek. "Okay," she agreed, "slow."

I moved my mouth to kiss the palm of her hand softly. Our lips met and that was all it took to rekindle the electricity between us.

She moved to straddle my waist with her legs. Here, surrounded in her warmth, was where I belonged. I wondered at how I had existed an entire century without her heat to keep me warm; no wonder my heart was so cold. I felt that since I had met Bella, my heart had almost started beating again—she made me feel so human.

Bella claimed that I dazzled her when in fact she was the one who had me wrapped around her finger. When I left, thinking it was best for her, I found myself constantly thinking of reasons to return to her, my personal sun. She lit up my world, setting everything ablaze with her brilliance.

Bella moved her mouth to the base of my throat, her scent burning my nose. I laced my fingers into her hair, gently massaging her scalp. I felt the need to comfort her, to reassure her that everything was alright.

Softly tilting her head back, I leaned down and kissed her shoulders delicately, gliding my fingers across her collarbone. She started to tremble slightly, and her breathing became even more erratic. I smiled as I realized that I had made Bella quiver with pleasure.

"You're beautiful," I whispered against her jaw, breathing in her intoxicating scent.

At the sound of my voice, she pushed herself lower onto me, molding her body with mine. I was suddenly aware of the excess of clothes that we were both still wearing. But we needed to take this slow, so I slowly glided my hands across her ribs and down to her back. My mouth found hers while my hands continued to trace along her hip and down her leg, around her knee.

Wrapping her legs around my torso, I stood up and carried Bella over to the huge, white bed that stood in the center of our room. Without breaking the kiss, I set her down and hovered over her, carrying most of my weight.

Her lips moved to my jaw, her legs still wrapped around my hips.

"Edward," she whispered into the skin of my throat, her voice seductive.

She pushed on my chest, and, knowing what she wanted, I rolled onto my back, pulling her on top of me. With one last kiss, she pulled back to gaze at me. I didn't understand the look in her eyes. She looked at me as if I were the prize rather than the amazingly lucky winner.

Her hands moved to my bare chest and traced patterns across my stomach, causing me to shudder slightly. Her eyes were filled with awe while her fingers moved across my abdomen. I let her marvel at my alien figure, for I knew that I was designed to be attractive to her, my prey.

As she leaned over me, her hair created a curtain around us, separating us from the rest of the world. It was as if we were the only two beings on Earth, attempting to discover each other's secrets. I wanted to know her and all of her secrets, inside and out.

She trailed her hands up to my chin, leaving flames in her wake. She caressed my cheek, delicately stroked my eyelid. She traced the shape of my nose and then softly traced my lips. I kissed her fingers tenderly as they passed my lips.

She met my gaze, and I smiled impishly. With inhuman speed, I flipped her over so that I hovered over her once more.

I kissed the length of her shoulders while my hands explored the back of her neck and down along her spine. As my fingers reached the pearl buttons of her dress, they slowly undid them, revealing her bare skin. I gently slipped the Persian blue dress off of her body and threw it to a corner of the room.

My eyes glanced at her striking form, and I gasped quietly. I could feel the wonderment and amazement on my face as I seen her for the first time. Her skin warmed, and she lowered her eyes, embarrassed.

Each of her little moments of doubt, her persistent insecurities, ate away at my core. No matter how hard I tried to convince her how beautiful and simply exquisite she was, she could never quite bring herself to truly believe it. I would never stop trying, though.

"No, Bella," I said, pulling her face up to gaze into her eyes. "You're beautiful."

I caressed her face affectionately, gently, trying to soothe her. She reached up to twine her fingers with mine.

"I love you," she said quietly.

"I love you, too," I whispered back, rubbing the back of my hand along her cheek.

She brought my face back to hers, knotting her fingers through my hair roughly. I responded to her ardor, hitching her leg around my waist. She pulled me against her, and we both gasped slightly as our unclothed chests molded together. This feeling was unlike any other, and I wondered how I had been able to deny her for so long.

I allowed more of my weight to press down onto her. Her warm breath washed through my mouth as she sighed in contentment. She clutched me closer, and I could feel the deep love she had for me. She truly wanted me as I wanted her—forever. Somehow, I had won her love.

Her lips, her scent, her body, were all drawing me in. She intoxicated me, cutting off all of my other senses until she was the only person in my world. She was the only person, vampire or human, who had ever possessed the key to my heart, and it would forever be hers.

I was growing impatient as the tension and love between us intensified. I wanted to make her mine; I wanted to belong to her and only her for the rest of eternity. The fire, already present between us, began to build into a raging wildfire, bringing our bodies closer to ecstasy.

Bella was losing her control as well. She locked her legs around my waist securely, pushing her abdomen against me. I tried my best to restrain the groan that threatened to escape my lips and ended up burying my face in Bella's hair.

As if reading my mind, she pushed herself against me once more. This time I couldn't contain the growl that emerged from my throat. This seemed to encourage her, and she pressed her body against mine vigorously. I groaned yet again with the pleasure she was hurling into me.

My hands, on their own accord, moved down to her waist, pulling her up into me. My fingers playing with the ends of her hair while my lips assaulted her neck hungrily. Her small hands gripped my hair tightly while her lips whispered my name.

I was ready to have her, and it pleased me when she opened her legs further, luring me in. One of her hands reached back to grasp my waist, pushing me even lower onto her.

I unthinkingly thrusted forward, and Bella sighed in pleasure.

I froze and pulled back as I realized what had just happened. I had acted on pure instinct.

"Edward?" Bella asked, and I could hear the pain in her voice. "Edward, what is it? What's wrong?"

"I…" I hesitated. I didn't want to see the disappointment on her face that my confession would surely cause. "I-I don't think this will work, Bella. I wasn't even thinking just then. I let my instincts take over, and that can only lead to you getting hurt."

"You didn't hurt me, Edward," she said in a quiet voice. There was still sorrow ringing in her tone.

I was disgusted with myself. I couldn't even love Bella without putting her in danger of my own monstrous instincts.

"I'm so sorry, Bella," I said, my voice thick with remorse and my own self-hate.

"It's fine, Edward," she muttered. "We tried." The pain in her voice tore made me sick with revulsion.

She turned her face away from me, and her teeth bit into her bottom lip. As the fire crackled in the fireplace, I saw something glisten, like a crystal, on her cheek.

Agony ripped through me. I was truly a monster. There was no end to my selfishness and ability to hurt the one I truly loved. I had made her cry. Again.

"Bella, no," I said, wiping the tears from her eyes. "No, Bella. Don't—"

"It's okay, Edward," she interrupted me, looking down. "I'm fine. I'm s—"

"No, Bella," I said firmly. "No, it's not okay."

I cradled her face gently between my hands and stared at her until she looked up. There were tear stains running down her flushed cheeks.

I gazed into her eyes while I warred with myself. I could hurt her if we continued, but I would hurt her in a much different way if we stopped now. The temptation her body held for me did nothing to help me remain unbiased. How could the idea of doing the wrong thing give me so much happiness? Surely there was something amiss in that.

"Bella, I'm sorry," I started, my voice fervent with regret.

"Edward—"

"No, please let me finish. I'll do whatever you want, Bella, love. I'm sorry that I can't be perfect for you, but we're going to do this your way. Because my way doesn't work. I call you stubborn, but look at what I've done. I've clung with such idiotic obstinacy to my idea of what's best for you, though it's only hurt you. Hurt you so deeply, time and time again. I don't trust myself anymore. You can have happiness your way. My way is always wrong. I'm tired of being a source of unhappiness in your life."

"No, Edward. You're not—"

I interrupted her with a kiss, pushing her down into the mattress. She responded by wrapping her legs around my waist, but, this time, I pushed down further onto her, causing both of us to moan in pleasure.

I moved my mouth to her cheeks, brushing away her tears. Her breath was hot in my ears as she hesitantly slid her hands down to my waist, pulling me lower onto her. I expected my reaction this time, so I didn't resist when I thrusted forward softly, causing Bella to sigh loudly.

My lips kissed her throat before moving to her ear.

"Bella, I am going to do this right," I promised her quietly. She shuddered beneath me lightly.

I pulled back slightly to examine her perfect form. My eyes gazed over her immaculate beauty—certainly there had never been anything so beautiful.

Her flushed cheeks told me that she didn't agree with me.

"Bella," I whispered, cradling her face between my two hands gently. "I wish you could see how truly exquisite and lovely you are."

She pulled one of my hands to her lips and kissed it tenderly—a silent thank you.

I grazed my hands slowly across her face, her cheeks, her eyelids, her lips, caressing it. I let my hands glide down her neck, stroking the soft, forgotten skin behind her ears. They trailed down her arms, touching the soft skin of her elbow. When my hands reached her scarred palm, I leaned down and pressed my lips to the moon-shaped blemish, remembering how I almost lost her. I continued to caress her hands, down to each fingertip.

I barely noticed the sudden downpour outside as my hands lightly traced the skin of her stomach and down to her waist. I paused slightly at the band of her undergarments but continued down the path to the back of her knees. I leaned down and kissed the sensitive skin of her heels, caressing the arches of her feet.

I wanted to attempt to show her how much she meant to me, to make her feel all of my love.

I bent over her form, my lips finding the skin over her stomach. I slowly created a trail of kisses up her abdomen. When I reached her heart, I kissed it softly, tenderly, and its music increased in speed.

I enclosed my arms around her, happy to have her warmth surrounding me again. She pressed her lips into my chest, and I buried my face into her hair, inhaling her scent. I noticed for the first time that she was quivering faintly beneath me. Had I done something wrong?

"Bella…you're trembling." I met her gaze, looking for signs of pain or distress.

She assured me with a kiss that she was fine. I had not hurt her.

I kissed her back affectionately, lovingly. I moved my hands to cradle the nape of her neck. As our kiss deepened, she slid her hands down my chest to my waistband. I pulled back slightly so that she could unbutton my pants. After she got them undone, I heard her fling them to a corner of the room, along with my boxers.

Now I was the one being admired.

Her eyes grazed over my predator form, her expression filled with wonder. I didn't understand her mind at all. How could she see the beauty in a monster and not in flawless being she was?

I leaned forward and pressed my lips into hers, attempting to distract her. Her fingers moved to my face, caressing it gently.

I moved my mouth to her ear once more.

"Are you ready?" I asked. No matter what I wanted, Bella would have the final say.

She nodded, keeping her eyes locked with mine.

I kissed her lips, her forehead, her throat—making sure I was in control of my thirst—before slowly lowering myself into her.

Her mouth fell open slightly, but no sound escaped her lips. Her hands dug into my shoulders at this new sensation, and I had to remind myself how fragile she was. I had to stay in control, so I didn't ruin the magic of this moment.

I kept my eyes trained on her face, watching for any sign of discomfort in her features. She delicately kissed my shoulder, assuring me that she was fine. I brought my lips to hers and kissed her lovingly.

And then, slowly, I began to move.

I tried to be as gentle as I could, but the sheer bliss of this perfect moment made it impossible to think of anything except Bella.

Everything seemed to fall in its proper place.

Finally, Bella and I were one, and this was reason enough to have created the entire universe—so that I could be with Bella.

Her hips moved up to meet mine, creating the most breathtaking sensation. She wrapped her legs around my waist once more, this new position causing us both to groan with pleasure.

For the first time in a century, fire coursed through my veins. This must be heaven—nothing could ever compare with such a feeling. I could happily stay like this for all eternity.

My arm, seeking to relieve the sudden energy I felt building up, reached up and grabbed the first thing I felt: the headboard. In an attempt to expend my superfluous force, I closed my fist around a piece of the headboard, splitting the wood. Bella, seemingly unaware of my destruction, continued to kiss every part of me that she could reach—my chest, my throat, and finally my lips.

I noticed that Bella was trembling underneath me, as was I. Our breathing was ragged in each other's ears—coupled with the rain outside—creating our own secret song.

She ran her hands along my back, and I allowed more of my weight to press down on her. She responded by tightening her legs around my hips, her heartbeat increasing. I brushed my hand across her face, sweeping a stray lock of her hair back.

"Bella." I whispered her name incessantly—the only word I could think of.

The liquid fire simmering between us was growing hotter. We were the only two beings on the entire planet, alone in our own haven.

Bella pushed against my chest, and I rolled over, pulling her on top of me. Her hair cascaded down, creating a curtain around us and separating us from everyone else. No one else mattered except for Bella, my love.

The tension increased, hurling us into oblivion.

Bella ran her lips across my chest, producing patterns of her love. Her warmth was everywhere, and I wasn't certain where I ended and where she began.

I turned over and knotted my fingers into Bella's lush hair. My mouth attacked her throat with unfettered passion, causing her to sigh my name. Such a simple thing—my name on her lips—but it sent staggering emotions through my already-crazed head.

I could feel the liquid fire rising, flowing through every cell of my body. Bella gripped my back tighter, needing the friction of our skin to keep her anchored to Earth.

I buried my face in her hair as drifted into nothingness. Bella's grasp gradually eased, and she went limp underneath me.

Bestowing one last kiss on her forehead, I gently pulled out of her, laying down next to her. She turned and rested her head on my chest, wrapping her arms securely around my neck.

Our ragged breathing, the drumming of the rain against the window, and the crackle of the fire were the only sounds in our personal universe.

I met her gaze, smiling slightly. She smiled in response, her deep, chocolate eyes staring into mine.

While she kissed my chest tenderly, I reached over and pulled the white comforter around us both.

Bella's eyes closed as I pressed my lips into her hair, inhaling deeply. Her scent blazed in my throat, and I was glad. It was a pain that meant she was alive. As long as I burned, she was safe.

Author's Note: First off, I hoped you guys liked this chapter. It took much longer than I anticipated, and I'm sorry for that. Secondly, kudos to FictionalFascination for her amazing inspiration for this chapter!

Now, a little fun fact for you hard-core Stephenie Meyer fans, I did get the driver's name (Ian) from her novel The Host. I liked Ian so much that I wanted to give him a place in my story somewhere, so here he is.

This amazing chapter's song: "Release Me" by Mae. This is an absolute beautiful and perfect song for this chapter. "Could you be the one to release me?/Waiting for your love/Oh, to free me, so release me" accurately depicts what is going through Edward's head as he battles with himself and tries to give what both he and Bella long for. "Grey clouds, they infiltrate as every move you make/Gets me closer to clarity/While droplet drummers lead a complex beat, increasing speed/Somehow accompanies our intensity...Rain falls and you take me under/And flood my soul. " Another great song by my wonderful Mae, so check it out!

Please, please, please let me know if you guys did or did not like this chapter. I don't know what I'll do with the information, but I still like to know. Thanks as always for reading.