Author's note; Many thanks to all of yourwho reviewed the previous chapter. I do hope I have replied to all of you. Many thanks to all of you who have put this story on your Favourites/Story Alerts lists. I am very encouraged. This chapter is Bella and Carlisle's last evening together. I'll leave you to enjoy it.
Disclaimer; I own nothing Twilight but I thought of this story.
Agony and Ecstasy
Silent Declarations
I can hardly believe that my holiday on Orcas Island has almost finished. I leave tomorrow afternoon, to return to Seattle.
I'm sad to be leaving for two reasons. It has been the only holiday when I have truly relaxed. This island is truly beautiful and almost magical. The colour green has never been a particular favourite of mine but staying over here has made me realise how wonderful the different hues of green are. Because of Carlisle's work, I have learnt that the range of green is vast.
Of course that would include Carlisle's, piercing green eyes. I know that I will miss him too. We seemed to have reached a comfortable almost easy going co-existance these last days, since the upheaval, that was Friday. He paints in the morning while I sleep. One of us then prepares lunch and we share some time out in the sun. Then it's time to focus on my portrait.
It is developing well. He seems to have captured all it is he wants to remember about me. I'm just relieved that this picture will be hanging somewhere in his cabin and no where else. I have enjoyed the experience of posing for him but to actually see the picture hanging anywhere else but here, I think I would die of embarrassment. It will be the only time that I will pose for a portrait, of that I am sure.
I promised Carlisle that I wouldn't tell anyone about our time together. I know that he trusts me. The weight of the possible power he has over me, felt so heavy.
I cannot possibly return to this island in the future. When I leave Friday, I will move on with my life.
I certainly won't be picking up where I left off as far as my personal life is concerned. That would mean having regrets. I have so far managed to keep to my new mantra, no regrets, pretty well this week and I just hope it continues when I get back to Seattle.
I will just have to be extra careful and little more fussy about who I meet and decide to share my personal time with. I will not fall into the old traps ever again.
I will no doubt still have to give myself a pep talk every once in awhile. This new attitude is still in it's infancy and will need to be nurtured in order that it grows strong and becomes a part of me as if it had always existed.
I'm looking forward to seeing Alice and Rose again and catching up on all of their news. As for the questions that they are bound to ask about my holiday, I will just have to tread carefully. This island will hold our secrets.
"Bella? Are you ready?" I quietly shut my journal and turned in my chair to smile at him.
"Yes. I'm ready, Carlisle." As I stood up, placing the journal and pen on the chair, I stretched a little, reaching my arms upwards and arching my back. I had sat down a little longer than usual after lunch.
Carlisle had already organised the room with the chair and blue cover in position. He was just waiting for me. This was my final sitting. Carlisle wanted to make sure that he had all the detail that he needed so that he would be able to finish the painting once I had gone home. I was a little disappointed that I wouldn't be able see the end result but I would just have to be happy with that. We don't always get what we want in life and this was one of those times.
As I undressed, I could feel Carlisle's eyes on me. He was standing at the easel, a paintbrush held between his teeth and another in his hand. He was ready and waiting.
I took up my position and held his gaze for a moment. Not a single word was spoken and yet, so much was being said between us. I couldn't really understand it and now was not the time to ask.
He gave me a small smile and turned his attention to the canvas in front of him.
I kept quiet not sure whether he needed silence in order to concentrate. I would always wait for him to dictate the mood of the sitting. Sitting quietly was not something that particularly bothered me. I had always enjoyed peace and quiet and to a certain degree, my own company. I think the fact that Carlisle and I were so similar in our likes and dislikes was the reason that we had such an understanding.
Would I ever meet another man, who had the confidence and charisma equal to Carlisle?
"Have you packed your things yet, Bella?" He voice was almost absentminded in its tone.
I shifted my gaze from the floor, as he broke me out of my thoughts and looked up at him.
"No, not yet. I thought it would be something I could do in the morning. If I packed it today I would probably only end up re-packing it in the morning." I chuckled to myself.
My habit of making sure that I had everything was not far short of comical.
"So you have nothing planned for this evening?" He asked, focusing his attention on the canvas again. Why did I have the feeling that he did have something planned?
"If you do, Carlisle, you only have to say and I'll go back to my cabin when you're done." He didn't answer me at first. It felt like he was taunting me although I wasn't sure as to the reason why.
He finally stopped painting, putting down the brush he was holding and walked over to me. The look on his face took me by surprise. My stomach flipped and my heart literally skipped a beat. His 'come to bed eyes' were in full working order. When he finally stood in front of me, he reached down and cupped my face in his hands, tilting it up so that I was looking into his eyes.
"Yes I do have something planned for this evening, Bella. It happens to require your presence. So while you go and get something on a little less informal, I shall see about getting myself ready. We have an hour." He grinned at me as I sat dumbstruck. Putting anything on at this precise moment in time, would have made me less informal!
"I'll knock for you when I'm ready." He whispered, his breath fanning over my mouth. I shut my eyes for a moment enjoying the flush that was rising in my body. His hands were still cupping my face and then his lips were on mine. The kiss was soft and tender, as if it were a promise of things to come.
I opened my eyes as he moved away from my lips and turned my face slightly to place a kiss on the palm of his hand. At that moment if he had said that the arrangements were cancelled, I wouldn't have complained.
He slowly stood as if he were as reluctant as I, to end the moment we shared.
"You only have fifty eight minutes now, Bella." He smiled, turned on his heel and disappeared into his bedroom.
I sat for a moment staring into the space where his form had stood. And then like something possessed I got up and quickly put my clothes back on. Key in hand, I walked back swiftly to my cabin. I had such mixed emotions in the time that I did have,to get ready.
As I brushed through my hair and put it up out of the way, forming a messy bun, I could feel the excitement of not knowing what he had planned for this evening, building in my chest. And yet the tinge of sadness was ever present.
I had a quick shower to freshen up, picked out fresh underwear, a pair of black smart pants and my dark blue silk blouse. They were the only two items that I considered formal, that I bothered to pack for this holiday. I smiled as I looked into the mirror, happy with the end result and quickly grabbed my purse.
I didn't have time to put very much make up on so decided to just put on a little of the candy pink lipstick, the only lipstick I bothered to bring with me and popped that into my purse. A quick spray of my perfume and just as Carlisle knocked on the French doors, I picked up my black jacket and walked over to greet him. He quickly appraised me and smiled his approval.
I in turn, smiled my approval of him. He was wearing a pair of smart black pants with, what looked like a very expensive white button down and a grey casual jacket. He was freshly showered and smelt really good. I took a step closer to him and reached up to kiss his cheek.
"Let's go shall we?" He whispered, huskily. I was very tempted to say 'no'.
After I locked up the cabin, he took my hand and led me to the Vdub which he had already parked outside. Our journey to Orcas Village was a silent one. I had grown so accustomed to the fact that we didn't need to talk just for the sake of it and simply enjoyed a chance to take in the scenery of the early evening.
Carlisle neatly parked the car, locked his door and walked around the car to open my door. He took my hand, locked the passenger door and led me down to the harbour.
I eyed him suspiciously as we walked toward the quay. He smiled at me and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.
"We're going over to San Juan for the evening. Nothing sinister, I promise." He said, taking a deep breath and checking his watch. As the private boat pulled in we made our way over to it carefully boarded and made ourselves comfortable.
As soon as we reached Friday Horbour, Carlisle made sure that the arrangements were correct for our return journey.
Once again he took my hand and led me up to the main street.
"Are you going to tell me now, where it is were going?" My curiosity was getting the better of me. I thought I had held out pretty well, considering how much notice I had been given to get ready.
We walked a little further until he stopped and finally turned to me. "I thought as we had enjoyed the food so much, when we went whale watching, I would book a table for our last evening together." I looked behind me and found that we were standing outside the entrance to the Downriggers Restaurant.
I couldn't help but smile. It was an excellent idea and if my memory served me well, a little romantic. I pushed that thought out of the way quickly. He was just being his most charming self, as usual.
"That's a lovely idea. Thank you." I said quietly, as he led me into the restaurant. We were swiftly seated at a window table, the perfect spot to watch the yachts and small boats coming in after a day out at sea.
As our waiter handed us the menus, Carlisle ordered two glasses of La Crema Chardonnay. We were left to choose from the very extensive menu.
"Have you ever eaten oysters, Bella?" He asked, looking at me over the top of his menu.
"No, I haven't but I'm not averse to trying something new." He gave me a broad grin and nodded. I realised at once what the look on his face meant. I had indeed tried out many new things on this holiday and almost all of them in some way involved the man that was sitting opposite me.
"Oysters it is then. What would you like for your main course?" I looked down at the menu again and scanned the choice.
"The Lemon Seafood Pasta, please." I shut the menu just as the waiter came over with our wine.
Carlisle placed our order and lifted his glass towards me.
"To you, beautiful Bella." He began. "When you arrived for your holiday, you gave me fresh inspiration to enjoy working again. You have been a breath of fresh air in what was, my rather stale existence. Thank you, Bella for a wonderful two weeks and I wish you all the very best when you arrive back in Seattle." He smiled gently and took a sip of his wine, his gaze not leaving my face. I could feel an emotional lump rising in my throat and swallowed it back, quickly.
I lifted my glass to him. "I came on holiday to discover myself. To decide what it was I wanted in my life." I began, taking a deep breath. "I can happily go home knowing that I have met a very special man. I will never forget you, Carlisle and if you do decide to show your work again in the future, I would be very proud and honoured to stand by your side that day." I said quietly. I meant every single word.
His face was still for a moment, showing no sign of emotion. It was difficult to know what he was thinking at the best of times but in that moment, I really was none the wiser. As I took a sip of my wine I noticed out of the corner of my eye that our first course was about to be served.
Carlisle quickly refocused his attention to the waiter and nodded his approval, as the plates were placed in front of us. He looked over to me and grinned.
"Right, Bella. As you haven't had oysters before, let me show you how to eat them." He immediately squeezed a small amount of lemon juice on the oyster, put the shell to his lips, tilted his head back and swallowed the oyster expertly. I had no doubt that he had done this many times over the years. Good wine and good food would no doubt have been an expectation at one stage of his life.
He watched as I did the same. As I tiled my head back to allow the oyster to slide down my throat I shut my eyes not sure of what to expect. To my surprise as I swallowed, I realised that I had nothing to worry about and turned my attention to the next oyster shell. I actually liked them.
I washed it all down with a mouthful of wine and sat back in my chair while we waited for our next course, enjoying the view from our table.
The last few boats were now coming into harbour, gently manouvering through the water to take up their mooring positions. The sun was beginning to set and it was the time of day that could quite happily be described as twilight. Very soon the moon would take up position to shine down on our world.
I scanned the restaurant quickly and noticed that it was quite busy. I had been so lost in watching the boats that I hadn't even registered the gentle sounds of conversations going on around us.
Our empty plates had been cleared away in that time and the waiter was now on his way back with our main meal. My plate looked and smelled wonderful. I smiled up at Carlisle as his plate was set before him. He had opted for the grilled Lobster Tail.
No sooner had I stuck my fork into my meal, Carlisle stretched across the table with his fork, laden with succulent lobster.
"Here, Bella. Try this. It's absolutely wonderful." I leaned forward and opened my mouth to accept his gesture. I closed my lips around the fork and he watched as he pulled the fork from my mouth. He was seriously messing with my head. I had never shared food with a man before. Mike was always too busy shovelling it into his mouth, to worry about sharing any of it with me. I had always been told what a turn on it was by Rose but until now, I hadn't realised how much of a turn on it would be for me. I crossed my legs tightly as I chewed on the lobster. My body was beginning to react to all of the attention he was lavishing on me.
Clearing my head of an image of us in bed together later, I stabbed at my food and loaded the fork. I cheekily looked over at Carlisle from under my lashes and lifted the fork in his direction. He looked up at me and smiled rather seductively. As he leaned forward slightly over the table, he opened his mouth just enough to accept the forkful of food. He closed his eyes for a moment as he chewed and swallowed.
"Thank you, Bella. I hope that will not be the only thing we share tonight." He said quietly and took another sip of his wine. I felt the flush travel up my body from the pit of my stomach and finish at my cheeks. My body was a complete traitor as far as reacting to Carlisle's words, was concerned. Let alone all of the other things he did to me.
He seemed to take pity on me and for the rest of the evening we chatted about everything and nothing and enjoyed the rest of the meal. Neither of us had room for dessert at the time but Carlisle ordered dessert that we could take back to the cabin. Two slices of white chocolate cheesecake with a raspberry sauce.
We rounded off the evening with a black coffee. As we left, the waiter brought us our take out package and wished us a pleasant evening. It certainly had been a lovely way to spend out last evening together.
The journey back to Orcas Village was made in almost total darkness. I turned slightly in the boat and looked back to Friday Harbour and its twinkling lights and then looked forward to the lights ahead of us. We arrived back at the village and settled in the Vdub for the journey back to Deer Harbour. Carlisle had given me the dessert to look after. I was sure that by the time we got back to the cabin, I would have enough room in my stomach to eat the dessert.
Carlisle parked the car by the front door of his cabin, quickly opened the door and flicked the light on so that we were not in total darkness as he locked up the car.
As I made my way to the kitchen, I hung my jacket up in the hallway. I quickly found two shallow bowls and transferred the dessert into them, carefully pouring the sauce over the top of each slice of cheesecake.
Carlisle was suddenly standing directly behind me, his breath fanning over the back of my neck. "Umm. That looks delicious, Bella. Shall we eat it in the bedroom?" He whispered, close to my ear. A shiver ran up my spine and finished directly at the top of my neck. I had to shut my eyes for a moment before I answered him.
"Absolutely, Carlisle. Here." I turned to face him and handed him his dessert and a spoon. He captured my lips with his and gave me a very gentle kiss. He was certainly in full seduction mode tonight! He had already removed his jacket and button down. I felt completely overdressed, standing in front of him.
I followed him into the bedroom. I had to smile at the sight of the small candles that had been lit and were placed in strategic places around the room so that the ceiling light was not needed. He had obviously quickly organised this earlier and lit the candles when I was in the kitchen.
I smiled at his gesture and carefully took up my place on the bed. He joined me on the bed and we both savoured each mouthful of the dessert.
"This is the perfect end to the day, Carlisle. Thank you so much for this evening."
"The evening isn't over yet, Bella." He said softly, taking my empty bowl away from me and setting it down on the floor next to the bed with his bowl.
I looked around the dimly lit room and stretched out on the bed and relaxed into his outstretched arms.
"I'm beginning to think that you're trying to make it difficult for me to leave tomorrow." I stated, not wanting to look into his face, as I rested my cheek on his warm chest.
He hesitated for a moment and I was sure that I heard his heart speed up a little.
"I'd be a fool to say that I was looking forward to you leaving. Of course I'm not but I know you have to go." He lifted up my hand to his lips and kissed the back of it."It's good to end the time we've shared on a happy note, don't you think?" He added. His heartbeat seemed to calm down again.
I stared blankly at the wall ahead of me and swallowed back another lump that was forming in my throat. I was feeling far too emotional about everything. I was sure that when I got back to Seattle, everything would settle down again.
He tilted my face upwards and kissed my forehead and then my temple. "I can happily say Bella that I have enjoyed every single minute of your company." He freed my hair from it's confines and laid me down on the bed. He hovered over me propping himself up by his arms, placed either side of me.
"Promise me one thing, Bella." I nodded to him.
"Yes, Carlisle. What?" He face was sincere.
"When you go back to Seattle, please make the right choice, Bella." He gently moved a stray strand of hair, from my cheek.
"I'm not sure I know what you're talking about. The right choice about what?" I frowned at him.
"Anything that you have to make an important decision about. Please take your time and make sure it is the right one, that it's what you really want." He explained.
"Of course, Carlisle. If that's one thing I've learnt while I've been here is that I must be a little more selfish from now on. I really don't want to make the same mistakes as I have over the last few years. You made me realise that I'm worth more than a one night stand or a rebound relationship. Trust me I will take my time and make the right decisions about everything." I assured him.
As he leaned down towards me I snaked my arms around his neck and pulled him closer to me. The kiss deepened and our tongues met, tasting and caressing each other. He deftly pulled me upright so that I was sitting with him between my legs. As the kiss continued he slowly undid the buttons of my blouse. I could feel his fingers brushing against my body, working their way down my torso. When he reached the final button, I let go of his neck and he gently slipped the blouse off my shoulders. Every part of me tingled at his touch.
I had experienced him in so many different ways during our time together from the needy and urgent to this the most gentle and reverent.
His mouth left mine and proceeded to lavish attention on my shoulders, placing open mouthed kisses along each one. I wasn't yet naked but my heart rate had increased so much that I was breathing heavily. All the sensations were being forced around my body at a much faster rate then usual.
As he undid my bra and it slipped from my body, our torso's finally touched. Flesh to flesh. I wrapped my arms around his chest and pressed myself into him. I immediately felt safe and secure in his arms, confident and sure of who I was.
At almost the same moment we pulled away from each other and made light work of undoing the buttons and zips of each others pants. We seemed to be doing everything in sync without having to say a word. We repositioned ourselves and knelt still facing each other, our mouths connected once again as we freed each other from the rest of our clothing.
His fingers grazed at my entrance for a moment the then tentatively entered me. I deepened the kiss to give him my approval and moaned into his mouth. He made me feel sensational.
His hardened length grazed my stomach, begging to be touched. I placed my hand around him, stroking him gently at first. I illicited a delicious moan from him that vibrated all the way down, deep into my chest. Never had I connected with a man the way I had with him.
We both lowered ourselves, his legs under me and mine straddling his lap. As he removed his fingers, I shuffled forwards slightly and with my hand still in place, guided him to my entrance and then placed my hand on his back. I could feel the hesitation in him. He was waiting for me to dictate when he would enter me.
I needed him too much to delay our connection. I pushed on his back and moved myself forward to close the gap that was between us.
We both groaned and clung to each other as he entered me. The feel of him filling me brought about my first high. I could feel the flush rise from where we were connected and travel throughout my whole body. There was no better feeling, of that I was sure.
I moved my hands and held onto his shoulders as he wrapped his around my waist. We seemed to be perfectly balanced as I took control and rocked backwards and forwards with just the slightest movement of my hips. I ended the kiss, gasping for air. Not wanting to disconnect from me in any way, he lavished kisses on my chest once again and trailed his kisses down to my breasts, licking and sucking them causing me to increase the pace. He seemed to know each time that another high was going to course through me, by holding me tighter and whispering gentle words of encouragement.
"Oh, Bella. You're so beautiful." He breathed.
"Come again for me, Bella." He begged.
"Can you feel how hard I am? You do that to me, Bella. No other woman but you." He sighed.
I was beginning to lose all sense of reality as I began to slam into him hard. My lungs were fighting to be fully inflated. I could hear my voice calling his name.
"Yes, Carlisle! Yes!" I cried out.
"Don't let me go!" I begged.
As my final orgasm began to build and he filled me completely, hitting that glorious spot that only he could, I held him in a vice like grip around his shoulders. I had never known myself to feel so strong before. He had unleashed something in me that I never knew was there.
"I won't let you go, Bella. I won't." He promised.
I hungrily found his mouth again and plunged my tongue in at the same moment as I felt him spill into me. My walls gripped tightly around him as I thrust myself on him, driving him harder into me until my orgasm finally took over, radiating such a heat that I felt like I was on fire. Exhausted I stilled in his arms. He gently held me to him rocking his hips into me, so that we both rode out our orgasm together.
He held onto me for a while after we were both still. My walls were still pulsing gently around him, reluctant to let him go.
He slowly disconnected from me and I felt the loss almost immediately. I was unable to register very much of what happened next. I was completely spent.
I felt my body being repositioned and finally coming to rest on the bed. The bed shifted for a moment and then finally I felt Carlisle's arms wrap around me making me feel warm and secure once again.
Carlisle POV
After I carefully lay Bella down, I quickly snuffed out all of the candles in the room. I stood for a moment looking at her beautiful form in my bed. Her breathing had finally evened out and yet her body to my amazement, was still flushed.
I lay back down beside her, pulled the comforter slowly over us and gently cradled her in my arms.
My promise to her still stood, even after the heat and height of passion. I would not let go of her easily. As much as it had to appear so, I would not. I would not give her up to Jasper Whitlock without a fight.
And my plans would begin tomorrow. The minute Bella got on that boat to take her home.
Sure that she was sound asleep, I whispered to her gently.
"I love you, Bella. I love you."
End of Chapter
Author's note: So, Bella and Carlisle's story has now come to an end. Or has it? You will have to wait and see what I come up with for the next chapter. Most certainly, Bella returns to Seattle. Of that I am sure. In the meantime you know what to do, to share your thoughts with me. Take care, until next time.
