Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and its characters. No copyright infringement intended.
Author's note: Sorry to keep you waiting a bit longer than normal. Thanks for everyone that takes the time to read.
Edward felt the phone vibrating in his pocket, but did not answer. He already knew what Alice would have to say.
The plane carried the most precious of cargo: his lover, his partner, his friend, his life. Every bit of which was contained in one man…a man that Edward had let go as easily as releasing the string on a balloon, and he rose higher and higher, farther and farther away, taking Demetri somewhere that Edward would never find.
~*~
Edward watched the sky long after the plane had gone from his exceptional sight; its movement had seemed so slow that he almost convinced himself he could run faster than it could fly.
Finally shifting his eyes from the gray clouds, he focused on his reflection in the glass, barely resisting the urge to shatter it.
Demetri had actually left; love, meaning, hope, and laughter had gone with him.
Edward wanted to break down. He wanted to claw himself apart, set himself ablaze, anything to feel something that wasn't empty. The space where his dead heart resided was cavernous; when he breathed in shakily and sobbed quietly, he swore he heard the sounds reverberating off its inner chambers, creating a lonesome sonata.
Trying to formulate a plan, Edward's thoughts kept spinning back to the ways he should have handled things, could have handled things, but it was a pointless diatribe, because what was done was done; Demetri told him that many, many times. How could he move forward without Demetri's guidance?
Resolving himself, Edward decided that no matter how long it took him, he would find Demetri. He wasn't sure how yet, but he somehow felt hopeful that what they had shared would allow him to be found. Demetri would see him coming, but he couldn't avoid him forever, and Edward would get his chance to explain. Edward had proven he could be a patient man.
Finally jolting himself from the spot he'd been rooted in, he quickly made his way back to the ticket counter; he would get the next flight available leaving for Athens. It wasn't until he was within a few feet of the counter that he realized he did not have his credit cards or passport.
"Damn," he muttered under his breath, remembering everything he needed was in his luggage in the trunk of the car. He had become so used to travelling on the Volturi's private jet, and having everything handled for him, that he'd stopped carrying those things on his person; he would have to correct that practice immediately.
He rushed outside, hoping that the car would still be there, but doubting that it would be. He had left the car running, door wide open, and in a no parking zone. His fears were confirmed when the spot he'd left it in was empty.
Letting out a fierce growl, he plopped down on the curb, laying his face in his hands. He'd never felt so utterly…abandoned. With a start, he realized this must have been how Bella felt when he left, how his family felt when he had fled to Volterra, or how Demetri felt watching Edward run with nothing other than a muttered apology. Edward despised the idea that he had ever been the cause of such misery, and to those he thoroughly loved no less.
Get it together, Edward, you have forever. You're alive…he's alive, there's plenty of time, Edward thought, rubbing his cheeks vigorously. Turning his gaze towards the overcast sky, Edward wondered how many miles separated him from Demetri; it made him incredibly uneasy to ponder. Demetri's scent still hung in the light wind that caressed and further tousled Edward's hair, almost like phantom fingers reminding him of what he had let get away.
He tried to understand why he was in more agony over Demetri leaving than when he thought Bella was dead. There was still a chance with Demetri, but he decided it was that Demetri willingly left Edward behind. He didn't attempt to fight; he had no faith in Edward, but being the self-deprecating creature he was Edward blamed himself. However, finding fault in himself did not diminish the anguish he was experiencing over being abandoned. Shaking his head in an attempt to clear his thoughts, his body began humming in anticipation of the task ahead.
Something like a survival instinct overtook Edward, and he swiftly rose to his feet. His determination was spurred on by the need for Demetri's proximity to breathe, think, and live. He would run back to Forks, get the documents he needed, come right back here, and start tracking.
Edward took a deep breath, steadying himself, trying to decide the fastest route back to Forks on foot. He would have to remain under cover as much as possible so he could run.
Taking a few steps in the direction of Forks, Edward felt Alice's phone jostling in his pocket, bouncing against his thigh. Feeling the slight weight of it caused Edward to remember that Jasper had a contact in Seattle who provided them with legal documents. Maybe he could give him something quicker than going all the way to Forks.
Smiling slightly that he had thought of something useful, Edward pulled the phone from his pocket and flipped it open. Immediately he saw the icons flashing, indicating he had a missed call and a new voicemail. Not wanting to waste the time to listen to what he already knew, Edward cleared the screen and went to the address book, finding Jasper's number.
Placing the phone to his ear, Edward continued walking away from the airport. Either place he had to go –Forks or Jasper's contact—would be well away from the airport. Jasper answered on the first ring.
"Edward," Jasper answered in an upbeat tone, "How are you?" Edward scowled. Not wanting to meander through pointless pleasantries, Edward began his questions.
"Jasper, do you think you could contact that attorney here in Seattle for me? I need a passport, identification, and some money as soon as possible. If he can't I'm sure I have something at the house-"
"Hey, Alice wants to talk to you," Jasper interrupted, "She's about to rip my hand off if I don't give her the phone," he chuckled. Jasper's good mood only served to make Edward irritable; he wished his brother were close by; so he could spread some of his good humor to Edward.
"But, I don't need to sp—"
"Edward," Alice said loudly as she abruptly came on the line, the volume of her voice vibrating the earpiece. "Did you get my message? Why didn't you answer the phone?"
"Because I'm at the airport. I know he's gone to Athens. Now, Alice, please put Jasper back on the phone, I need a passport to follow him and my car has been stolen." Edward could not understand why Alice was so calm. Did she not comprehend that the longer Demetri had to run the harder it would be for Edward to find him? Edward had started to jog slowly, his patience wearing thin.
"Demetri didn't leave, Edward," Alice blurted, smile evident in her voice.
"What?" Edward blubbered. "How can that be? He bought a ticket… The plane took off… They told me he was going to Athens…" Edward was babbling, afraid to hope even though it was already awakened.
"He changed his mind. He stole your car, or rather, took it back," Alice chimed out. Edward stopped jogging and doubled over, phone in the crook of his neck and hands on his knees. He wanted to laugh or cry with relief, he was not sure which.
"But, how did I not hear him around the airport?" Edward asked disbelievingly.
"I don't know that, Edward. Duress causing you to slip?" she ended, the statement sounding like a question as she giggled. Edward couldn't understand it, but supposed she had to be right. Demetri was good at covering himself, and airports had always been difficult for Edward.
"Anything else? Do you know what he'll do now?" Edward requested further, pacing back and forth. He so badly wanted to move and find him, to see, feel, smell, and taste Demetri again, but had no clue which way to go. Only a few hours had passed since he'd last seen him, but those hours might as well have been weeks.
"He's almost certain to be at Mt. Rainier," Alice responded promptly. Edward let out a quick breath; he was extremely familiar with the national park as it was a place he'd frequently hunted. He could be there in less than an hour. Before Edward even realized he had started, he was running, and had to force himself to keep it human; he was still very much out in the open.
"Okay, Alice, thank you," Edward replied, sincerity emanating from his voice.
"I'm glad to help," she replied. "Oh, and Edward…get everything you need out of the rental car before you find Demetri, okay? Your wallet, luggage, everything." Edward didn't have time to decipher her cryptic comment so he simply agreed and said goodbye.
Edward ran with angels on his feet. His body was precise and agile, darting under the covering of trees as swiftly as he possibly could. Hope spurred him forward, the chance at reconciliation coursing through his body like adrenaline. To be in the presence of Demetri again would be a soothing balm to the aching that had grown in his spirit since their parting. Edward had always been the fastest, but pushing himself to his limits he still could not fly fast enough.
What would normally be a two hour drive Edward ran in forty minutes. He saw the rental car abandoned and pulled off haphazardly on the side of the road. He emerged from the cover of the trees to inspect it. The keys were left in the ignition and the doors unlocked, so as Alice had suggested he got the luggage from the back; he had one small bag that contained his wallet and a few days worth of clothing. Looking at Demetri's bag, Edward decided to grab it, as well. Reentering the forest, Edward ran another mile before putting down the bags in a place he could retrieve them later. Demetri had to be close; his scent in the area was very fresh.
Edward travelled a few more miles before he picked up on Demetri's thoughts.
I see you, E, Demetri thought mockingly. Should I stay or go?
Please don't go....Edward thought to himself, knowing it was pointless to try to think at Demetri.
Your tongue has been rather vicious today. I don't know that I want it anywhere near me…
Edward tried to run faster. Demetri's musings had never been so very direct, and the tenor of them was somewhat malicious. He was quite obviously angry.
I'm sure your girlfriend is eager for your return; after all, you've been apart for quite some time. Are you sure you want to waste the moments of her precious human life to talk to me?
Edward understood Demetri's ire, but was growing irritated with Demetri's absolute lack of trust in him; especially at that moment when Edward could answer none of his thoughts.
How does it feel to be the one left behind, E?
Being left behind felt wretched and Edward never wanted to experience again. His sense of self had been left blank, erased as effortlessly as footprints in the sand, forgotten like a broken toy.
Edward was within seconds of Demetri, and suddenly broke into a large clearing. Demetri reclined against a tree trunk on the far side, arms across his chest, glaring at Edward. Even though his stare was fierce, Edward breathed out in respite then inhaled quickly, the pain in his chest easing noticeably.
Oops, you found me.
Edward chuckled darkly; Demetri was not going to make this easy.
Approaching him slowly, Edward retained eye contact until Demetri abruptly pulled a wildflower from the ground and began plucking off its petals in an overly destructive version of he loves me, he loves me not. Once all the petals had been plucked, he crushed the remnants in his palm and began the process again.
"You know, it's illegal to pick wildflowers in a national park," Edward quipped, trying to lighten the grave mood that divided them. Demetri merely cocked his head, glowering at Edward pointedly, and pulled up a handful. Edward returned his glare unfailingly.
Wanting to choose his words carefully, Edward let several more moments pass before he spoke. "Why did you leave?" Edward knew Demetri's reasoning, but needed to hear exactly what Demetri was thinking and feeling when he ran.
"Several reasons," Demetri started, looking at the plants in his hands as he shredded them. "For one, I wanted to make it easier for you. I didn't want you to suffer the discomfort of telling me you chose her." He swallowed and clenched his jaw. "Two, I didn't want to see you with someone else." He looked up at Edward and his expression had softened from resentment to grief. "Three, I didn't want to go back on what I'd told you before." Edward looked at him quizzically, confusion wrinkling his forehead. "I told you that if Bella was somehow returned to you, I would let you go with joy in my heart. Well…I couldn't be joyful no matter how hard I tried," his voice cracked, "so I left."
Edward thought he had been devastated when he was under the impression he'd lost Demetri forever, but that was a small shard in a sea of glass compared to the misery plainly displayed on Demetri's features. He had become so interwoven with Demetri that anything he suffered directly affected Edward, and the burden of Demetri's dejection weighed a ton; he felt it pushing on his shoulders and had never felt gravity so profoundly. He sank to his knees and sat on his feet.
"Why did you stay?" Edward asked reluctantly, taking a slow breath through his nose.
"I didn't think you deserved to be let off so easily," he snorted mirthlessly. Because I love you, and couldn't begin to comprehend never seeing you again, he thought, his expression never changing.
"Nothing's changed—"
"Everything has changed," Demetri interrupted rising to his feet and turning his back on Edward. I smell her all over him, his thoughts anguished. He pressed the tips of his fingers to his temples as though fighting a headache. He looked so out of place surrounded by wildflowers with the backdrop of snowcapped mountains looming over him. Edward could not help but think how wrong everything seemed. Washington wasn't his home anymore; his home was with Demetri in Volterra, and he would make Demetri understand that.
"De—"
"Edward," Demetri said whirling around and facing him. "You left me. All I got was a mumbled apology and your back! Your family just stood staring at me. I wanted to scream and run after you, but how would that have looked? They have no clue about us, and I didn't see any point in telling them since your decision seemed so clear."
"I'm sorry." Edward stood and took a few steps towards Demetri.
"I am not ready to hear an apology from you," he interrupted. Demetri breathed deeply and took a few steps away from Edward.
"I've known from the beginning that you could be capricious. I have known that you were impetuous, immature, and hopelessly devoted to Bella, even in memory," Demetri sat again, looking extremely careworn. "But, I truthfully felt like you'd changed—that you'd grown. I thought we were…something more than convenience or temporary comfort. I can't even begin to describe… how lost I am," Demetri said, his voice crisp and cold. He put his elbows on his knees, burying his face in his hands.
Demetri's thoughts inadvertently went back to the moments after Edward ran from the clearing, leaving him with his family.
Bella was alive. Demetri could see the conflict written all over Edward's face. He would go to her. Demetri was nothing but a passer of time, a convenience, an experiment. Edward mumbled an apology as he ran from the clearing, demons on his feet, his angel awaiting him. No, she was not an angel; she was living, breathing, and oh so, unbearably human.
Demetri looked at his hands, stone fingers and hardened knuckles, capable of peeling flesh from bone; they were the exact opposite of what Edward craved, what he needed, and what he would have. Demetri was left with nothing. He would go back to what he was before: a beast, a murderer, a soulless wraith lurking in shadow and existing solely for himself.
He'd never felt that kind of agony, his body could barely withstand his traitorous heart as it yearned to claw itself out. He would've loved to let it; without the damned thing he would've felt nothing.
Demetri loved him. Damn it, how he loved him.
His untamed hair, his gentle nature, his sinuous body beneath Demetri's, even his impeccable manners and endearing immaturity made Demetri's adulation for him multiply with each day he resided in Volterra. When Edward told Demetri he loved him, he wanted to die because nothing could ever compare to those exquisite words tumbling from his silken tongue; they were fragile and heartfelt, and Demetri had believed him. He wished he had died; if only Edward's utterance could've burnt him alive, or if Edward had been some type of bloody incubus and murdered him, then he could've been at peace in the soothing, balmy darkness of nothing.
Instead he was there, watching Edward's back as he ran away from him, his choice made perfectly clear. He thought the view could be much worse and laughed out loud humorlessly. Alice looked at him apologetically. Demetri smirked at her and nodded. No need to let anyone know just how fucked up the situation had him. He loathed feeling like he wanted his life to end; it was the exact opposite of what he'd told Edward. Demetri should've known he would pay for his arrogance.
He thought of going back to eating humans, possibly starting with Bella, which caused his smirk to widen. Alice's eyes snapped to meet his.
"That wouldn't be the best way to go about things," she stated warningly. Demetri had nearly forgotten how little Alice could see the future just as soon as he'd made a solid decision. "I don't know that Edward," he held out his hand, indicating he did not wish to hear the name, "would readily forgive that type of slip." Demetri chuckled again; that was actually funny.
"Why should it matter to me anymore?" he asked sardonically, holding his arms out in surrender.
"You should come back to our house, Demetri. Everything will work itself out. The best thing for you now is to wait," she replied, her gaze steadfast and knowing.
"Why would I want to wait? So I can see firsthand his happy reunion with that girl?"
"Get out of my damned head!" Demetri shouted abruptly, turning his thoughts to the stages of decomposition of the human body. Edward cringed.
"You know I can't turn it off," he replied apologetically. Edward had never so badly wished he could turn it off; Jane's wrath was a pinprick compared to Demetri's painful musings.
"Tell me what you came here to tell me so I can leave," Demetri said flatly, finally looking at Edward. "I want you to have what you desire, Edward, but don't expect me to hang around to see its fruition. I'll go back to Volterra and try to reason with Aro…explain why you're not coming back." His voice broke at the end, images of an empty room where Edward once resided flashing through his head.
Edward gulped. How could Demetri still not see? How did he still not know that what Edward felt for him was more than friendship, more than lust, more than a fleeting passion that could be flippantly tossed aside?
"Demetri," Edward started, his voice low as he once again brought his knees to the earth, before crawling on them to Demetri. He stopped within inches of his face. "You're right about one thing Demetri. That empty room you picture…my room will be empty because I think I would be much happier if I moved my things into yours." Demetri looked at Edward disbelievingly, and Edward took Demetri's face in his hands, forcing him to look at him, hoping he could see the honesty in his eyes. "You're what I need, what I desire, what makes me alive. You are my life's answer, not Bella." Edward could not stop his fingers from brushing across Demetri's parted lips as he continued to stare at him. Sighing with relief that Demetri was allowing the touch, Edward waited on Demetri to say something.
How can I believe that? Demetri thought, not trusting his voice.
"Because I have never spoken anything truer, or felt anything stronger… Why would I be here now if it were Bella I wanted? Why not let you leave?"
"To torture yourself." And me, he thought. "You seem rather fond of that." Demetri shrugged off Edward's hands and stood once more, walking out of the clearing. Edward quickly followed.
"Why don't you trust me? Have any faith in me at all?" Edward inquired, his frustration growing.
"You made it clear that I didn't matter, E. Three times today," Demetri remarked angrily, continuing to walk away.
"For that, I am so very apologetic, Demetri. The last thing I would want to do is hurt you…"
"Well, it's never your intention to hurt people, E, but it's what you're horribly good at. I spoke with your family today. Do you have any idea how heartbroken they were when you ran? They love you. I find it amazing that someone like us could have that much love, and you chose to leave it. Now I know exactly how they felt—how Bella felt. You're spoiled, E. You throw people away like…like dried up animal carcasses, and at least you bury those, show some kind of respect," Demetri ranted, struggling with words in his annoyance. Edward's own anger was growing; he tried to push it down, because Demetri was right, but he needed Demetri to understand that he was different. Yes, he had been self-absorbed, but he knew that. Those rash decisions had brought him to Volterra.
"I know, Demetri. I know. I see how awful leaving my family was, but I cannot regret it," Edward countered trying to catch up with Demetri.
"Why?"
"Because I would never have known you, obviously," he said. What was meant to come out as a sweet sentiment almost sounded like ridicule to Demetri. He abruptly stopped walking and spun around to face Edward.
"Don't talk to me like I'm an idiot. I might not walk around with a stick up my ass all the time, but I've got centuries on you, and I haven't wasted that time relearning everything I already know in high school," he finished mockingly before turning around and walking again. Edward huffed in frustration; it seemed he couldn't say anything right. Every word seemed to push Demetri further and further away from him.
"Please, Demetri. Listen to me," Edward caught up with Demetri enough to grab his arm, "I never had any intentions of staying with Bella. I should have explained to you ages ago, but especially before I left you in that clearing, how much different the two of you are."
"I know we're different, believe me I know—"
"Would you shut it for a few moments, please?" Edward interrupted, growing tired of Demetri taking everything out of context. Demetri growled, frowned, and his eyebrows pulled together in irritation, once again taking an aggravated stance.
"So, how did Bella take it when you told her about us?" Demetri asked condescendingly. Edward moaned internally; why did he have to ask him that?
"I didn't get the chance to tell her really," Edward answered abashedly.
"I figured as much. How about your family? How did they take it?"
"Demetri, you know I had to chase after you," he replied.
"Why wouldn't you tell Bella, E?" Demetri asked, evidently hurt further.
"Her father was coming home. She knows I'm with someone, just not who."
"You couldn't have quickly told her my name? I'm sure she asked. I know that I would be curious were I in her situation," he pressed.
"I don't know, Demetri. It really doesn't have anything to do with me and you—"
"I would have to argue with that. Are you ashamed of me? You don't want anyone to know? You quite easily dismissed me in front of your family in the clearing."
"What? No! I love you and I am not at all ashamed of you. I'm just certain it's not what any of them would've expected from me. I don't know that they would understand."
"Understand what?"
"I don't know," Edward said, looking at his shoes. He was beginning to feel harassed and was tiring of it quickly.
"Understand how you could love someone like me? A man? A member of the Volturi guard?"
Edward didn't answer, but continued to stare at his shoes. Everything he said was wrong. Demetri was standing close enough for Edward to touch, but yet he couldn't reach him. Demetri had put up a wall, just as strong as the one he put on his thoughts, and Edward was having much difficulty breaking through it. Nothing he could say was right.
"I tried to tell you in Monte Carlo. You wouldn't let me talk about her, remember? I loved Bella but," Demetri groaned throwing his arms to the side, starting to turn away again. Edward grabbed him and held him in place. "Listen to me!" My God, Edward thought, Is this what it was like trying to talk to me?
Demetri shoved Edward away from him roughly and started to walk away again. He shouted over his shoulder, "Stay the fuck away from me," and continued forward.
Debating on whether or not to follow him, Edward crossed his arms over his chest, trying to hold it together. Knowing there was no way he could ever give up on Demetri, he followed him again. Demetri was fast, but Edward was faster. He caught up with Demetri easily and decided he would just have to tackle him from behind and make him listen.
Edward grabbed Demetri, forcing him to the ground and quickly flipping him over. Edward had never seen Demetri's expression so lethal.
"When I said 'stay the fuck away from me' I meant leave me the hell alone," Demetri growled, the timbre of his voice animalistic.
"I can't," came Edward's simplistic reply, before crashing his mouth to Demetri's, deciding that since his words weren't right, perhaps his mouth could serve a better purpose. Demetri was unresponsive, but Edward knew his wall was crumbling. Edward's hands found themselves in Demetri's hair, clutching it roughly, trying to get Demetri to respond.
"Do you really want me to stay away?" Edward murmured against Demetri's stone lips.
"Yes." No.
Demetri's lips had puckered slightly which encouraged Edward, and he swiped his tongue over Demetri's mouth, humming as Demetri sighed, reveling in the familiar flavor.
"Do you not want me anymore?" Edward asked, his mouth travelling to that spot just above Demetri's collar bone that he knew was so sensitive. Edward's tongue darted out –barely—flicking the spot teasingly.
"No." Yes.
Demetri whimpered so quietly, Edward wasn't even sure he'd heard it. He pressed his hips into Edward's, his arousal evident. Feeling pleased that Demetri's body was responding when his words would not, Edward began pulling Demetri's shirt out of his trousers, wanting to lay his hands on the body he was so certain he'd lost.
"I can't lose you, Demetri," Edward panted, ripping Demetri's shirt, his mouth beginning to trace a path across Demetri's sternum, his eyes closed at the blissful feeling of Demetri's flesh against his lips.
I would rather you didn't, Edward, Demetri thought, still too angry to speak the words aloud. Demetri started to remove Edward's shirt, as well.
"Rip it," Edward commanded, his want for Demetri overwhelming him. Demetri finally looked in Edward's eyes and complied, pointedly maintaining his stare as he shredded Edward's shirt, and followed with the rest of his clothing without being told. Soon the two men had completely stripped each other, leaving their clothing in absolute shreds in a hurry to feel each other.
Edward still laid heavily on Demetri, rolling his hips against the other man's. Demetri undeniably began responding, and was digging his fingers into Edward's lower back, holding him as securely as he could.
Elation buzzed through Edward's system, Demetri was really under him, Demetri still wanted him. He wanted to cry and laugh, fly but remain on the ground with his lover.
"Are you going to fuck me, Edward?" Demetri asked, nipping his way down Edward's throat, growling against his adam's apple. Desire left him mute, and Edward could not speak for the throbbing in his groin. He swallowed thickly, his throat moving against Demetri's lips. Edward realized that Demetri was asking Edward to claim him entirely, express his desire and need for him by doing something they had not done before. The thought of burying himself inside of Demetri made him answer.
"Yes," he groaned out, "I am going to fuck you." Edward kissed Demetri again, losing himself completely to the man underneath him. Demetri broke away from Edward and flipped onto his hands and knees.
"Don't you want to face—"
"I want it this way," Demetri interrupted. Edward thought it strange, but was overcome by his ache for Demetri, and would give him whatever he wanted.
Crawling behind him, Edward bent at the waist as his lips reverently traversed Demetri's elegantly sculpted spine before nipping at his buttocks. His hands wanted to be everywhere, beginning in Demetri's mess of hair before kneading his shoulder blades, and finally resting on the small of his back. Watching the muscles in Demetri's back ripple and move fluidly nearly caused Edward to come undone; the quiet concupiscent sounds that escaped Demetri's beautifully parted lips caused Edward to tremble. He looked towards his hand on the small of Demetri's back and brought it closer to his opening. Edward was overpowered by longing to taste Demetri there, and wondered if he would let him.
"May I put my mouth on you here?" Edward asked, while running a single digit across Demetri's backside. He looked backed towards Edward, eyes onyx and hooded, his breath coming out in short gasps. Edward loved that his words had done that to him. Finally, he nodded, biting his lower lip.
Edward wasted no time in bringing his mouth to Demetri's entrance, holding apart the flesh that kept it hidden. Experimentally, Edward's tongue darted out, encircling the sensitive area. Demetri moaned loudly –a resonating, erotic sound—and looked back at Edward licentiously. He felt bolstered by the reaction and brought his tongue to a point and pressed past the tight opening, wiggling his tongue once it was inside. Demetri inhaled sharply and pressed back into Edward's face, causing Edward to dig his fingers into Demetri's flesh to keep him still.
"God…Edward, oh…you have no idea…nnnn…" Demetri muttered, lowering his head to the ground and burying his face in his arms, arching his back.
After a few more seconds he abruptly brought his head up and looked at Edward over his shoulder once more. "Do it now. Please, I need you." Demetri's skin was slightly flushed and his expression was wanton. Edward loved him; Edward wanted him; Edward would have him.
Edward kissed his way back up Demetri's spine before brushing Demetri's hair out of the way so he could pay attention to the nape of his neck, all the while grinding his stiffness into Demetri.
"I've wanted to be inside you for so long, Demetri," he said, his words muffled by Demetri's flesh.
"Then don't make me ask again," came the reply as Demetri pressed against Edward.
He obliged by sitting up, taking himself in his hand, then swiping his venom weeping stiffness across Demetri's opening.
"Okay, that's enough," Demetri panted, his hips pressing backwards. Edward willingly conceded and finally began pushing past Demetri's entrance. When Edward was a quarter of the way inside, he thought he would die; once he was halfway there he knew he would live forever, and once he was completely sheathed inside of Demetri's excruciatingly warm and welcoming body, Edward knew there was such a thing as perfection, paradise, Avalon, Heaven, Utopia; whatever label was put on it seemed antiquated because they all meant Demetri.
Edward stilled all movement as both he and Demetri adjusted to the new sensations. Edward's eyes rolled upwards and he could not stop the moan that escaped him when Demetri arched his back, pressing himself firmly against Edward's hips. He knew he would not last long; there was no preventing it. The absolute complete --once unimaginable-- comprehension of being whole would be his undoing. Demetri simply felt too good.
"You…you can…move, Edward," Demetri breathed, once again putting his face in his hands.
"I have to go slow," he replied apologetically, "I'm sorry. Are you ok?" Demetri nodded furrowing his brow. Edward pulled back slowly, the friction just enough to tempt him into going faster. He tried to control his breathing.
I don't want to finish as quickly as a seventeen year old kid, Edward thought, trying not to laugh out loud, because that's exactly what he was.
"Go faster. It's ok. Just…please…I," Demetri gasped as Edward plunged into him faster than before. "Yesss…like that…mmmm…" he practically whimpered as Edward hit that spot inside of him; Edward enjoyed his thoughts almost as much as the feeling of his body embracing him. Edward went faster still, wanting to please him. He already felt his orgasm building, clenching in the pit of his stomach, his toes curling and tingling.
"Do you feel good?" Edward asked, leaning over Demetri's back and grabbing his erection, beginning to stroke it in time with his thrusts.
"Mmmmhmmm," Demetri hummed pursing his lips, closing his eyes. Edward wanted to be able to see him fully without having to stare at him over his shoulder. Abruptly he pulled out of him, flipping him over and looking at him. He lowered his mouth to his and kissed him, trying to make up for the hurt he'd caused, wanting Demetri to understand what he refused to comprehend with words. Demetri broke the kiss and looked at him sadly.
Will you leave me again? Demetri thought sorrowfully.
"Don't you know, Demetri?" Edward asked, once again plunging himself into Demetri. Both men groaned in tandem, Demetri throwing back his head, Edward nipping his chin. Edward lifted Demetri's head so that he would once again meet his eyes, and thrust into him. "Don't you remember what I told you?" He thrust again, and Demetri whimpered. "Forever is not something I want without you." Edward thrust into Demetri repeatedly without halting, advancing him closer and closer to the edge. "You are my deliverance. No, I never want to be parted from you again." Demetri pulled Edward down to him, hiding his face in the crook of Edward's neck, his sweet breath fanning across Edward's throat.
Edward held Demetri tightly against his body because he knew it was what Demetri needed. He felt Demetri's erection trapped between their two bodies and he started to unwrap his arms from him so that he could fulfill his need.
"No, hold me like this. I don't care about that. I want you close and that's all," Demetri murmured quietly. Edward understood that their coupling had turned from lust into intimacy, and reveled in the joining of their bodies, just as Demetri was.
Rolling his hips into Demetri slowly, Edward made sure that each time Demetri breathed out, he breathed in, his essence becoming a necessity. Even at the slow pace, Edward's climax was about to overwhelm him. Knowing this, Demetri encouraged him to speed up.
"Harder, Edward," Demetri groaned, beginning to press himself upwards, finding the friction of their two bodies writhing together satisfying. Demetri allowed Edward to slip a hand between the two men to add a bit more pressure where it was needed, and it surprised Edward when Demetri's orgasm overcame him.
"Nnnnn….oooh…Edward," Demetri cried, his release coming out in spurts trapped between the two men. Demetri's body clamped down and spasmed around Edward, eliciting moan after moan from Edward as his own release manifested seeming ceaseless and constant, incessant and unbroken.
"Demetri," Edward whispered, once again melding his mouth with Demetri's as the last of his orgasm jolted through his highly sensitive skin; Demetri's body extracted every last bit of bliss it could. Edward collapsed on top of him, and Demetri's fingertips lightly massaged his back.
"I'm so, extremely sorry, Demetri. Please believe me," Edward begged, bringing his face up to look at Demetri.
"It's alright, Edward, we can go again in a few minutes," Edward looked at him quizzically, "Oh, you mean about what happened earlier today?" Demetri chuckled. Edward was relieved to see his humor was back, even if it was at his expense. "I should've waited for an explanation. I am as much to blame as you. I would like to apologize that I didn't have more faith in you."
"It really was my fault. I should have—"
"I don't want to play the 'who's to blame' game, Edward," Demetri huffed, smoothing the hair from Edward's face.
"But I still have to tell you, and you need to listen. All this mess might not have happened if I'd told you sooner. We haven't even really made up yet," Edward said. Demetri gestured for Edward to continue.
"I loved Bella; she broke me completely and changed me beyond recognition." Demetri rolled his eyes. Edward shook him slightly, drawing his attention back. "You put me back together, and rebuilt me the way I was meant to be." Edward's voice lowered, Demetri's expression softened somewhat. "When I think of you, the word love doesn't even begin to cover the tumult that completely seizes me mind and spirit. Love is only four letters, and if I spent forever with every alphabet in every language on every planet I could never come up with the right thing to say to you that would cover it." Edward's thumbs traced the bridge of Demetri's nose before swiping across his jaw. "The way I feel for you is too encompassing to be demeaned by words that once spoken die; it is a feeling, pure and simple. It surpasses anything and everything, leaving me crippled and invincible, messy and clean, uncomplicated and invested. You have to remember that, and believe it," he finished breathlessly. Demetri smirked at him, the only response to Edward's statement a lengthy kiss on the mouth.
Feeling Demetri once again aroused against his stomach, Edward began making love to him again, and there was no need to push back inside him because Edward had never left. More than their bodies connected, and more than words were spoken as they moved together, trying to define with their joining what Edward could not with words.
~*~
Edward helped Demetri to his feet, using the leverage to pull him into a final lengthy embrace. Once he let him go, Demetri looked around perplexedly, wondering loudly what they would do for clothes as he held up the strips of cloth that once covered them.
Laughing loudly, Edward remembered Alice telling him to get everything out of the car before finding Demetri.
"What's so funny, Edward?" Demetri asked, unable to help the chuckle that escaped him.
"Our bags are close by. Alice gave me a heads up; she told me to get out bags out of the car before I came out here," Edward guffawed. Demetri joined him in a full out laugh, partly from embarrassment that Alice knew what they'd be up to out there.
"Okay then, let's prance naked through the wilderness to our clothing. It'll be like Lord of the Flies: The Vampiric Edition. You'll be Piggy," Demetri joked, gesturing Edward to lead. Edward shoved him playfully, and gathered up all their clothing before heading out, unable to justify leaving it in a national park.
The pair quickly found the luggage, dressed, and began the trek back to the car.
"It's funny that Alice told me to get everything and not just clothes," Edward remarked as they grew closer to the spot the car had been left.
"Maybe she just didn't want to go into detail with you?" Demetri suggested. Edward shrugged.
The two men broke out of the covering of the trees to where the car should have been, but it was nowhere to be found. "I guess that would be why," Edward said, still smiling. Even a stolen vehicle could not dampen his mood.
"I don't mind a bit of a walk, do you?" Demetri asked, entwining his fingers with Edward's.
"Not at all," Edward replied bringing Demetri closer so that he could pepper kisses across his face. "I would like to get back to Forks soon, however. I need to properly introduce you to everyone."
"As what exactly? Your friend? Lover? Partner?" Demetri questioned.
"As my everything," Edward answered.
End notes: Okay, so I could've drawn their separation out horribly, but I love you guys so I didn't. :) Hope everyone is having a lovely day.
