Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 11: Bella

I love you...

He never broke our kiss; those words made him kiss me harder.

Bella, my angel, my beautiful angel. I love you.

Edward ran his hands up and down my body. I slipped my hands inside his shirt, wanting to feel his smooth skin against my fingers. I could feel the muscles in his back tense, his breathing shallow. I moved my hands down, unbuttoning his shirt, which ended up ripped down the middle in my rush to see him. His shirt hung open and I tore my lips away from his, so that I could look at him. I pushed his shoulders up and brought my arms to his waist.

Your body... It's perfect. You are perfect.

I must have looked silly, staring at his body, but I just couldn't pull my eyes away. The sun was starting to come out, and I could feel it starting to warm my face. Edward reached his arm down and ran his hands from the base of my throat, slowly down my chest and stomach over my blouse, his finger dipping beneath the fabric to circle my belly button. He moved his body down and kissed my lower stomach. My fingers were tangled in his hair.

I love you, everything about you, your skin, your smell, I love you, Bella

I love you, Edward, I want you...

Edward's hands moved all over me; ridding me of clothes and caressing every inch of bare skin he could touch.

I want to touch every part of your body. I groaned at his admission.

His movements became slow; his gentle fingers palming my breasts and toying with my nipples, making me arch my back, and making me want more.

I want to taste you... His arms slid around my thighs and he looked up into my eyes. May I?

His thoughts alone were making me shiver.

Please, yes. Taste me... Take me. I want you to have my body and my mind. I'm yours...

Shuddering, he moved with an intense slowness, exploring and teasing me with his lips and tongue. His mouth was heaven, and I couldn't help but give him soft guidance with my thoughts, telling him exactly what to do until I came hard moaning his name. His thoughts were so focused on pleasing me, my thoughts were bursts of color every time he applied suction. I writhed, his hands grasping my hips, pushing me down into his mouth.

Feels so good, Edward. So good...

I pulled him up, kissing him, tasting myself on him, staring up into his eyes as he ran his fingers down my jaw.

I love you

We thought in unison, and both let out a small laugh.

Make love to me, Edward.

We leaned into each other, kissing and touching slowly, reverently, taking our time and relishing the anticipation before our bodies became intertwined. We were moving together in an unequalled act of love. The intensity of our thoughts was making me feel high; our minds dancing with each other, we acted as one. Edward and I making love in this fairy tale meadow while the sun shined down on us, was the single most intense and glorious thing I had ever experienced. It was truly dizzying.

When our bodies parted, my shield snapped back. There was a slight buzz in my head. Edward lay by my side with his arm and leg around me.

"I almost feel like I could sleep," I whispered.

He laughed. "Almost..."

The smile on his face refused to break.

"Can we keep asking questions?"

"Of course," he answered.

"Why did Esme fear that you had been alone too long?"

"Because of the rest of my family... They've all found someone that they want to share their lives with and I've always been alone. I never found anyone I wanted to be with, not until I met you," he answered before kissing me.

"Never? Surely you have had a relationship before..." I trailed off. There had to be someone, he was so attractive and funny. How could there not be?

He shook his head. "No…" He hesitated. "When I meet people, I have learned not to be fooled by the words they speak. I can hear in their thoughts who they really are. I've never been attracted to another, and never wanted the act of love without experiencing the emotion first. But you… You extended your shield to make me feel more at ease and I did, but what I saw inside your mind was warmth and selflessness and you- pure, yet flawed, beautiful inside and out. I have never encountered anyone like you, and I have never given myself to anyone, but you."

We laid in the tall grass of the meadow asking and answering each other's questions for hours. Edward was funny and smart, and he had so many stories and an amazing crooked smile that I never wanted to see leave his face.

We eventually headed back to the car.

"I have another question for you," Edward said, smirking. "Every so often, I hear something in your thoughts about this fairy tale. What is that about?"

I laughed. "How do I explain? Well… My past as a vampire was so dark, so hard for me. I never thought I could be happy with what I am. Then, you and Alice found me, and I was thrust into a world that I never knew existed. A life filled with happiness. I sometimes look around and think maybe I'm dreaming, maybe I've fallen into a hunger induced hallucination of this fairy tale with loving parents and a prince charming. This all seems surreal to me sometimes."

We laughed, but suddenly the changing wind had my hand clutching at my throat. It was burning; venom was dripping from my mouth. I froze. A human... I could smell it.

"Don't breathe," he warned as his hand tightened around mine.

I nodded, refusing to take in anymore air. The muscles in my legs were shaking as the desire rose in me.

Edward took my chin in his hand and pulled my head up. "You can do this. Focus on me. Look at me."

I focused on the color of his eyes; the color I wanted so badly for my own. Edward. I chanted, Edward. Do this for Edward. Do this because it is the right thing to do. I cannot take another life, another soul. I can't. I won't! The sweet aroma from the last time I inhaled still lingered in my nose, teasing and taunting me.

I wanted to speak, but I couldn't stop gritting my teeth, and I didn't want to open my mouth.

"I've got to get out of here. Please, Edward. Let's run to the car. Please!" I spat out the words.

Edward pulled my hand, but when I tried to run, my legs felt shaky, and I fell to my knees. Without breaking stride, Edward scooped me from the ground and carried me. I curled myself up into a ball huddled close to his chest, closing my eyes and refusing to breathe. He ran so fast that our surroundings were flashing by me, and the next time I opened my eyes, I was in the passenger seat of his Volvo. As soon as I turned, he was right by my side. I opened my mouth to breathe. The scent was gone. Thank god! I threw my head down and sighed.

"Are you alright?" he asked, grabbing my hand has kissing my knuckles.

"I'm OK now." I took several deep breaths. "I guess I better start getting used to that."

I shuddered, as a nagging part of my brain screamed at me to run, to follow, to feed.

"They caught us off guard. I don't think it will be so bad once you've had more practice. You should be hunting more often. Don't let yourself get too thirsty," he suggested, rubbing my arm.

He was right, I was thirsty. I couldn't let this happen again. I must be satisfied before going out.

"Take me home," I whispered.

"Don't worry. It will get easier. It takes time to strengthen your control." he said, putting his hand on my face. He leaned in, kissed me, and whispered, "I love you."

Just then his phone buzzed. He reached for his pocket before realizing it was in the console of the car, and picking it up.

"Alice..."

Edward had left his phone in the car while we were gone, and Alice had seen that we might encounter a human and tried to call many, many times to warn us. Edward reassured her that everything was fine, telling her that I had done very well and hadn't tried to pursue them. He flattered me with his comments. The feelings that had coursed through me when I caught that scent were disgraceful; the burning, the venom gushing over my teeth, my urge to drink. I had to admit, the craving was not as strong as before, and I had Edward to focus on. He rescued me from the demon, distracting me in the best way. I closed my eyes as we drove away.

Although we didn't speak for a while during the drive, it was truly a comfortable silence. I occasionally looked over to Edward, he looked so happy, his eyes wide and his smile radiating.

I decided to expand my shield and listen to his thoughts; he was picturing my face when I entered the meadow and my voice.

I want you to have my body and my mind. I'm yours...

His thoughts shifted into a fuzzy recollection. The river... He was looking up at me, marveling at me under the water.

There was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt.

I put my hand on his leg and started thinking about him, and I was sure that he was listening.

I thought about our piano lesson. Edward laughed when I remembered Emmett interrupting us.

"I have one more question for you." I said, pulling my shield back in, hoping to catch him off guard.

"Ask away," he replied with a grin.

"I guess it's not really a question, it's more of an invitation..." I hesitated, but decided to ask anyway, as I really wanted to see his reaction. "If you'd like to watch me dance, please join me in the garage. You don't have to spy through the window."

He immediately looked forward and for a few moments he wouldn't look away from the road. Twice he opened his mouth to speak, but he just didn't. I started laughing.

He smiled shyly. Oh no! I had embarrassed him!

He looked at me with a grimace and said, "I'm sorry. I was curious about you, and then once I saw you dance, I couldn't stop watching. You are amazing. I love the way you move."

He looked back to the road. I took his hand and smiled, grabbing his iPod and looking through the music.

"There should be a pretty good variety. Alice put a bunch of new music on there for you." Edward said.

I started scrolling through the artists. Ahhh... "This is Starter" by The Cardigans.

I played the song and sang along.

This is a start

that I know I'll believe in

so I'm leavin' everything behind

Keeping the parts

that I know I'll be needing

and I breed to be a better kind

And I'm leavin' everyone behind

This is the age

when my past should be gone

but it's just stronger than the aims I have Turning the pages

I used to hang on to

I was young and I have changed my mind

And I'm leaving everything behind

New beginning again

a bit closer

new beginning again

a little bit closer

New beginning again

a bit closer to the end

This is the time

it's a delicate line

to the beginning of what's yet to come

Lifetimes of changes

a strange generation

explanations never come in time

So I'm leavin' everything behind