The Receiving End

Chapter 14: Tentative Kisses

I got so stuck with this chapter but finally it is here!

Rosalie couldn't say that she wasn't thankful to Esme, even though her pretty little mate was sleeping peacefully she could almost see a little of the burden she carried had been lifted. However, she also couldn't say that she wasn't glad to have this opportunity to spend just watching her mate.

Okay that sounded creepy, but it wasn't meant to be, it was common that if one person woke before their lover that they would watch them in that serene. So, maybe they weren't lovers yet but Rosalie cared ever so deeply for Bella and found her heartbreakingly pretty; that was close enough. Wasn't it?

Carlisle had been quick about treating the pale human; the wounds weren't deep, only the delicate extraction of embedded glass took any real time. He was meticulous in his examination, his hands working with the speed of his species and precision of his vocation. Once small hands were free of the foreign objects that pulled the girls life force to the surface Carlisle took a gauze and bandage and expertly wrapped the hand. It hadn't even took half an hour, the procedure so ingrained into Carlisle that his vampire brain performed it on autopilot. His mind was on a hundred different directions, worry at the emotional pain of his patient, concern for Rosalie and a burning pride for his wife that he knew would morph into desire the moment he was alone with her. Now that, that was definitely distracting.

He was quick to leave when he had finished treating the young girl, he merely advised Rosalie to give Bella the painkillers he left when she awoke. He knew that the blonde female would not leave the girl's side; such was the nature of a mate. And anyway he had his own things to see to. Namely, his own mate. He knew he could be the perfect stress release for the past few hours.

So with the doctor taking his leave that left the big bad wolf to watch over her sleeping beauty. Rosalie was not one for sitting still and doing nothing, she would usually read a book or go find some car to fix, but right here, right now she felt no desire or need to do anything of the sort, she was content to do nothing but watch the steady rise and fall of her brunette's chest.

In the aftermath of the all consuming fear she was content, her mate was here, safe, and hopefully, with time, happy.

Rosalie didn't remember sleeping, it was something so natural, so ingrained into her as a human that she barely thought about it, whereas as a vampire it was insignificant, there was haunting memories and unwavering energy, sleep was not needed nor wanted. That didn't mean that Rosalie did not often crave such oblivion, to just close your eyes and not think for hours on end, to let your demons flow out of you like a natural exorcism, to know there would be a new light of day to shed a different view on a situation.

But that was something she would not be granted, she would never get to let her body relax after being fully, completely sated, she would not be able to fall asleep with her mate in her arms and wake up in a tangle of limbs.

So she would settle for watching, she would watch, protect, hold her mate if she was ever so lucky to get so close to the beautiful, damaged, precious human. She yearned for such simple contact, skin on skin. The warmth from Bella's blood pressed against her always cold body. Balance, that's what it would be, balance.

What Bella was dreaming, Rosalie could not know. But when one word slipped out of the sleeping girl's lips it was nearly her undoing.

"Rosalie." See, just one word. Short and desperate and begging for something. What that something was is stuck up in the dreamers mind. But it didn't sound harsh or angry, it sounded needy. Logically Rosalie assumed it was a positive. But logic had often failed Rosalie; I mean here she was a vampire, a creature many believed to be just myth. Then three more words followed.

"Stay with me." The soft, honest reply was out before Rosalie even knew she was speaking, it was the only reply she could honestly give. She clutched the warm bandaged hand of the sleeping girl, something akin to stuttering heartbeat stirring in her long-dead chest.

"Always, always." The second 'always' there on the end cementing her claim.

And that was how Bella woke up, a little disorientated, her hands and head aching like hell itself had descended upon them, a warm golden eyes staring down at her with wonderment. She went to move her hand to sit up but soon found her right one dragged down by a dead weight. Or, as she found out with a look, someone else's hand.

"Morning, Bella." Still Rosalie's tone was that sweet, soft, affectionate one. Almost without thinking, Rosalie ran a calming hand over her mate's forehead.

"What happened since… you know?" Bella had to know, the cold hands sent heat through her, calming her almost completely, but there was still that underlying heat, still that worry, shame, fear that could not be stopped by a simple touch.

"Esme brought you up here, Carlisle patched up your hands, and I stayed here with you." Bella didn't look at Rosalie as she spoke, instead concentrating on their joined hands; she didn't know what to make of everything. Rosalie had been so nice to her, kind, loving almost; it was such a contrast to the initial meeting.

"Why? I would have been fine." Where Bella's tone was guarded, and her features matching, Rosalie was the opposite, open and honest.

"Because I wanted to, because I couldn't bear to leave." Rosalie did take a moment to wonder if she was moving too fast, if she was scaring her mate who had no conscious knowledge of her own plea, who had her own demons that she was only just getting over, and then only just.

"I…" A false start, "Thank you. Didn't you have anything else to do?" Rosalie shrugged, there were a number of other things she could have done, none of them that important, none as important as her mate. No, nothing could compare to that. It was with that remembrance that she remembered Carlisle's orders to her when Bella finally did wake.

Rosalie picked up the crystal glass on the bedside whilst picking up the paracetamol with the other. She placed the white tablet near her mate's lips before urging her to take the medicine. Bella's lips wrapped around the proffered pill reluctantly before taking a deep relieving swig of the cool water with the aid of Rosalie.

Now that Bella was relaxing happily a borderline awkward silence settled over the two girls.

"Is Esme okay?" It was something that had settled in Bella's conscience since she had had time to think about it. It couldn't have been easy on the woman, carrying someone pouring out her biggest temptation. Rosalie smiled softly at the question, at how caring her mate was despite the house of cards life had handed her.

"Oh I wouldn't worry, she loves helping and I'm sure Carlisle is helping her get over any lingering temptation for the blood with another temptation." Both girl's noses scrunched up at the image that brought up, but the relief that Rosalie saw in Bella's face was well worth it. And when the same brunette started giggling once the slight horror had worn off, Rosalie just couldn't help herself. This was her mate, the one thing she didn't think she'd ever find but had hoped for, for so long. She was right in front of her looking oh so beautiful.

So she leant down, and claimed her first chaste kiss from her mate, Bella freezing in shock before tentatively returning the gentle massaging of her lips.

Even though its been forever pretty please review cos you love me and I love you guys

Song rec this time is Ward Thomas, they're a British country duo

-Juxtaposed Soul