Chapter 12
A strong hand was resting on my shoulder, shaking me slightly. I opened my eyes a crack, peeking out of the corner. It was Emmett. I turned my head slightly and opened my eyes wider.
"He's starting to wake up, Bella."
I whispered a "Thank you" and sat up. I was hoping if I was at Edward's side when he woke, he would remain calm. I walked into the room just as Jasper was binding my angel's head tightly to the gurney. Edward's eyes snapped open and a vicious snarl vibrated past his lips. Immediately, he began to struggle. I ran to his side and placed my hand on him. His gaze met mine and instantly his eyes focused on me.
"Bella…what's going on?"
I ran my thumb along the creases in his brow while I answered quietly.
"Your body is working hard to replace the venom that it lost. Everything is okay, now. Your family is here with us. You're safe."
Even though he appeared to have understood my words, his entire body continued to pull tight against the restraints holding him in place. I remembered how hard it was for him to be strapped down. I was afraid he was going to over-exert his muscles and cause permanent damage. I nodded to Jasper, who was standing by. He quickly passed me a syringe and then grabbed both of Edward's shoulders, forcing him to lie still on the bed. I began to speak softly to try and calm him.
"Please, relax. Your body needs to rest while it regenerates."
Edward saw the syringe and immediately started panicking.
"No…Bella, don't do this…please…"
His arms began pulling against the wrist cuffs, as I pushed the contents of the syringe into his feeding tube. His anguished cry filled the small cabin.
"It's okay, Edward. Carlisle filled it with a lower dose. It won't make you lose consciousness like before. You just need a little help quieting the anxiety, so you can relax."
"Bella…"
His voice sounded so broken as he called out my name. Desperately, I mouthed to Jasper a silent request to help him. I watched, as Jasper's face tightened with concentration. He remained in place, until Edward's breathing began to slow. I whispered my thanks, as he started to head towards the doorway.
As my gaze returned to Edward, I noticed that my angel's fists had relaxed and were slightly opened. I reached down and took his right hand into mine. He squeezed it gently, attempting to hold on without hurting me. I was sad that he still felt so anxious. I tried to think of what I could do to assure him that he was safe.
I thought back to the van, and what had made the biggest difference then. I remembered how relaxed he became, once the majority of the restraints were removed. I unfastened all of the straps binding him to the gurney, except for the cuffs around his wrists. He didn't utter a sound while I worked, but I could feel his eyes watching my every move.
I reached behind me and picked up the bottle from the small table. I slowly climbed up next to him. He had started to sit up, so I lightly pulled his upper body back into my arms. His breathing rate increased, but he allowed me to move him. I knew I was asking a lot by having him lay in such a vulnerable position. My eyes caught sight of his arms bound at his sides, fists clenched tight.
"Shh…just breathe. It's time for you to feed."
I moved slowly, cautiously pressing the opening of the bottle against Edward's bottom lip. His mouth remained closed, his eyes staring up into mine. I knew what he needed me to say in order for him to willingly drink.
"It's okay, sweetheart. It's pure."
I squirted a small amount into his mouth and let him taste it. His nostrils flared, as the drops hit his tongue. A small growl vibrated from his chest. I smiled, as his lips closed around the bottle. I massaged his scalp while he drank. He closed his eyes. A shudder coursed through his body. I smiled. At that moment, Edward was mine to watch over and protect.
I bent closer to his forehead, allowing my lips to graze his skin. I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with his delectable scent. Suddenly, I couldn't control the passion that was building inside of me. Edward's eyes opened and bore into mine. He could hear my heart rate increasing, as my emotional state heightened. A low growl rumbled deep inside his chest.
When the bottle was empty, I gradually pulled it away. I watched as he licked his lips, desiring every drop. I set the bottle down and placed my hand on the side of his head. I let my fingers caress his face. His breathing hitched, but he didn't pull away. I watched his face carefully to gauge his reaction, as I slid my hand lower, bit by bit. He closed his eyes, and his body began to tremble. When my fingertips grazed his neck, I took a deep breath and fanned his face with it. A deep moan echoed inside his throat.
Slowly, I adjusted our bodies so that his was resting back on the mattress and mine was lying next to him. I snuggled my body closer to his side, burying my head into his neck.
"No, Bella…I'm not sure if I can control…dangerous…"
I ignored his protests, desiring the connection that only he could provide. I whispered softly.
"I trust you, Edward. Please, I need to be close to you."
I moved my hand to lay flat on his chest. I noticed right away, that he had ceased breathing. He was worried that he wouldn't be able to hold back his strong inner desires. I wasn't. Before long, the curtain of drowsiness draped over me, and I could feel myself losing consciousness.
The next thing I remember hearing was a low growl rumbling deep inside my angel's chest. My eyes were too tired to open, so I tried to just listen for the sounds that would tell me what was upsetting him. As soon as I heard my best friend's voice, I understood.
"Relax, Edward. I am not going to take her. I just want to place this blanket on her for warmth."
The weight of the material surrounded me with a feeling of security. I pulled my body even closer to Edward's, not wanting any space between us. It wasn't long, before I fell into a deep sleep.
