I don't own anything Twilight. The idea of Bella being a mind reader is mine and a few events. Everything else belongs to Stephenie Meyers. No copyright infringement intended.

Sorry this chapter took so long, I got stuck on my Perfect World game, still am really. But I'm multi-tasking, I'm writing and playing.

Chapter 14: Torture

I quickly changed my shirt to the blue blouse that Alice suggested and pulled on my socks and shoes. I looked myself over in the mirror and fought with my hair to make it presentable. I failed miserably, so I decided to pull it back into a pony tail. I then opened the door to head out and Edward was there to greet me. He held a large woven picnic basket in his left hand; a dumbfounded smile creased his lips.

He was dressed in a dark blue/purple button down shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his elbow; it was untucked over a pair of blue jeans. He looked me over; I followed his gaze, wondering if I had done something inappropriate for what he had planned. Instantly he grabbed the back of my neck with his free hand and pulled me close to him. I could feel his breath on my face and I tried to remain calm so I wouldn't faint.

"Bella Swan, you'll be the death of me. Wearing that blouse with your hair pulled back…" he growled hungrily then devoured my lips. The kiss was deep and heated and over way too soon.

He leaned away from me faintly with a sheepish grin. I reached up to pull my hair tie out but Edward stopped me with daring glance.

"Don't you dare! I like your hair like that. It's more innocent and down to earth. I find it very attractive." He wiggled his eyebrows at me.

"You're weird, you know that?"

"More than you know actually. Are you ready to go?" I nodded with a smile and he took my left hand and pulled me down the stairs.

"You two behave!"

"Yes mom, we will."

I giggled at the normal family chatter.

"I may be older that her in vampire years but I look at her as a mother. And Carlisle is my father in ever sense of the word except in blood."

We walked through the entryway doors and headed in the direction of the garage. We walked right past it and he led me toward the forest.

"Where are we going?" I asked as I watched as the trees surrounded me.

"You'll see." He grinned at me.

"Edward I don't like surprises." I tightened my hold on his hand as we walked deeper and deeper into the woods.

"You'll like this I'm positive." He lifted our joined hands and kissed the back of mine and I stumbled on nothing.

I scowled at him. "I had better or you're never going to hear the end of it." He just laughed.

We walked for about an hour. Even though I was nervous about where Edward was taking me, I was enjoying the quiet walk with my boyfriend. The forest looked completely different with the suns rays peeking through the canopy. The woods looked enchanted with the beams of light shining through the branches in random spots. I had my white knight in hand, all I needed was a frilly dress and a pointed hat and I'd feel like a princess lost in the woods.

"We're almost there."

"Good, I was starting to worry that we were spending all day walking."

Edward laughed out loudly. "No we're not, but we are walking at a human pace. It would take only five minutes for me to run."

"Remind me of that on the way back."

"Will do," he chuckled quietly.

After about another ten minutes of walking I heard a rumbling sound. I looked around the trees for a hint to the noise.

"What is that, a waterfall?"

Edward didn't say a word; he just smiled at me and continued to direct me through the forest. The trees then thickened to make an almost impenetrable wall.

If I was alone there was no way for me to get through the leafy, mossy mess. Edward on the other hand, quickly made a path and pulled me through. Stupid vampire strength. Once I broke through the foliage barrier I instantaneously shielded my eyes.

The sun was so intense and so sudden that it took a good minute before my eyes adjusted.

The first thing my eyes were able to distinguish was my boyfriend. Standing in front of me just off to the side, smiling in all his sparking, handsome glory.

I smiled back at him then noticed the medium sized waterfall about thirty feet behind him. It wasn't large enough to draw attention from the public. It was like those small falls you see in romance movies. The falls rested on the far side of a small meadow. The area was about thirty feet wide in diameter, just the right size for a private rendezvous. The grasses were ankle high and little purple and white flowers were mixed in everywhere. Everything was beautiful. I reached my hands up and pulled Edward's head down. I locked my lips onto his.

This place is absolutely amazing, just like my boyfriend.

'Thank you, I knew you'd like it here.' He leaned into me to deepen the kiss.

Did I create a monster last night?

Edward pulled back slightly and rested his forehead against mine. "Bella…I've always been a monster, you just woke another one up is all."

I stood on my tiptoes to get a better look into Edward's eyes. "But you're my monsters, I'll just have to think of a way to tame you." I pressed a quick kiss to his lips then turned around to look over the meadow.

"I think you've already tamed one…" he whispered against my neck and pressed his lips just below my ear.

"So, what did you have planned for us out here?" I whimpered when he released me and walked away toward the waterfall.

I followed and watched as he found a spot, pulled a blanket from the basket and laid it out. He then put the basket down at a corner and sat down. He looked at me curiously.

"Did you want an invitation?"

I stuck my tongue out then joined him on the blanket.

Edward chuckled quietly. "I think Alice is rubbing off on you. The minute you want to go clothes shopping is the minute I get a Restraining Order against her for you."

"Please do!" I scooted over closer to him and reached for his hand.

Before I could obtain what I was in search of, Edward grabbed me by the hips and lifted me effortlessly into his lap. He moved his legs out so I was sitting on the blanket in front of him. He then wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer to his chest.

I felt my body start to overheat, and quickly. I felt like a cartoon who was about to blow her top.

"Is this better? Are you comfortable?" he asked and I heard him inhale deeply. I guessed he had smelled my hair.

"Much…" I almost squeaked my reply. That one word could answer both questions well.

"Hey Edward?" I said innocently as I ran my fingers over his sparkling arm. "What did you mean when you said you think I've already tamed one?"

"I'm referring to the side of me that craves your blood. I'm sorry, but I've been using you to test myself. I've been kissing your neck and forehead to desensitize myself. I realized that the more and more I fell in love with you the less I wanted your blood. But with each kiss I was developing an addiction. I absolutely love your floral scent." He placed several little kisses on my neck. "You smell like lavender and freesia and it's very you."

I tilted my head to look at him. "So what you're saying is love soothes the savage beast."

He looked surprised by my words. He then smiled at me, his eyes showing a golden hunger. "Most definitely… After last night you've succeeded in caging that savage beast. But subsequently, you've unleashed a hundred and four year old beast in its place."

Edward leaned over and claimed my lips ferociously. He was kissing me so deeply that from a distance it would have been difficult to tell where we each ended and began.

I brought my hand up and started to caress his neck, urging him on. I heard him half moan half growl as I started to run my fingers through his bronze tresses. Hearing his animalistic groan sent my instinct into overdrive, and I moaned in return.

I instantly found myself laid down on the blanket; Edward was resting on top of me. The contact and kiss was never broke and for that I was grateful. I am so deeply in love with this perfect being I never wanted to let him go.

'I feel the same way, but we really should stop for a bit.'

So stop then. I dared him; I was learning quickly that once we started, that it would take a distraction to stop us. He continued to kiss me like he was starving and I was a porterhouse steak, ok bad analogy.

'You're much tastier than a steak. Your naturally sweet, warm, gentle, loving and totally addictive. I love how you kiss me.'

Better than Tanya?

Edward pulled his head back instantaneously and glared at me. "You really know how to kill the mood."

I shrugged nonchalantly. "Well you did say we should stop. What's a better distraction than to bring up another woman?" I smiled innocently.

He leaned back and sat down on the blanket. He crossed his arms over his chest. "That wasn't funny." He continued to glare at me.

I sat up and crawled over to him. Edward's eyes widened as he watched me approach him on my hands and knees. I then placed my hands on his legs and leaned in closer.

"Yes it was and you know it." I whispered and gave his lips a quick peck then sat down on the blank. I crossed my arms in front of me and scowled at Edward. "Now, tell me about this, Tanya."

He let out a large sigh then relaxed. "Better you hear it from me now then from someone else later. Tanya, her two sisters and their two friends are our cousins in Alaska, they're also vegetarians. Tanya has shown an interest in me for awhile."

I continued to scowl at him, now annoyed. "Define interest and awhile. And how did she manage to kiss a person who can read minds?"

He looked nervous now. "She'd wait until she knew my mind was preoccupied then she would strike and I would immediately shove her away. She's wanted to make me her husband and mate for about eighty years now. It's incredibly difficult to find a mate with our life style or one willing to change. She thinks I'm her last hope for her happily ever after." He then got very defensive. "But I never had the smallest iota of desire for her, its all one sided on her part. Please don't worry about Tanya ok?!"

I shook my head and started giggling. "I'm not worried. I actually feel sorry for her." Edward arched an eyebrow and looked confused. "I mean it's kind of sad if you think about it. She's spent eighty years trying to capture you and I've accomplished it in only three months."

"Bella…" Edward leaned forward and grabbed my hands. He pulled me against his chest and wrapped my arms around his waist, locking all four hands behind his back. "You have completely and thoroughly captured every part of my being." He placed a quick kiss on my nosed then smiled down at me.

"You said Tanya wanted to make you her husband. Is that in human terms or vampire?" I tightened my arms around him.

"Both. A vampire mates for life, which is more than I can say about some humans. When a vampire says I do it's for all eternity. We were human at one point so it's only natural that we marry in the human tradition. Using the terms husband and wife and getting married reminds us of our humanity. There are less civilized vampires, nomads, that don't care about any of that and just refer to themselves as a 'mated pair'."

I was hanging on his every word, thinking about what they meant and what they could mean in the future.

"So what would we be considered right now to a vampire?"

"Well taking into account our make out sessions and we've already talked about forever together but haven't…made love. We'd be engaged." He winked at me.

I felt my cheeks heat up at the words made love, the thought of Edward and I being that close. One day we would be that close and it would be like heaven. I just wonder how long I could last without attacking Edward, again. I suddenly felt a chilly pressure on my lips and leaned away.

"Oh, no you don't, that thought is private." I looked up at Edward and his face showed a little worry.

"Your face went through so many different emotions it was driving me crazy not knowing." He looked deep into my eyes like he was trying to find and answer in them.

"I'm glad you can't read me all the time or you would realize what a pervert I am."

"I don't need to read you to know what some of your thoughts are."

What was he talking about? I knew I was like an open book but did I come with a 'how to' guide also.

"You talk in your sleep." He smiled crookedly.

Five words were all it took to terrify me. What had I said? Did I say something bad? Was there something erotic? If my words were anything like my dreams I could die of embarrassment.

"Bella, it's alright. You didn't say anything too profane. At first it was about missing your mom. Over time my name was said more and more." He pulled me into a tight and comforting embrace.

"Over time?" I whispered as I thought. "What do you mean over time?" The look on Edward's face was priceless. He looked like he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"I love watching you sleep…"

"Edward…" I said his name sternly.

"You look so peaceful and happy…"

"EDWARD!" frustrated, I stood up and started to look for the path out of the meadow.

"What are you doing?" his voice sounded panicked and worried.

"I'm going to ask Alice, I'm sure she knows what you're not telling me." Edward grabbed my hand, stopping my search.

"I'll tell you…just, please don't go." He looked at me with pleading eyes and led me back to the blanket. He sat me down then took a seat in front of me. He then looked at me very seriously. "Promise me you won't get freaked out."

His words surprised me. "Let's see…I have a boyfriend that's a vampire and he sparkles in the sun. What could possibly freak me out?" Edward's eyes narrowed at me as he waited. "Okay, I promise."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath then opened his eyes and fixed them on me. "I've been sneaking into your room almost ever night to watch you sleep."

He's been in my room; he's seen what a slob I am. I have clothes and books scattered everywhere. Guess I know what I'm doing when I get home. What about the night after Port Angeles when I went into shock? Oh god, was he there when I had my wet dream, was it a dream at all?

"Bella, say something please." Edward cupped my face with his chilly hands which snapped me out of my reverie.

"Were you there that night after Port Angeles?" I looked deeply into his liquid gold eyes. I wanted to hear his answer but I was scared of what it might be.

"I was," he said remorsefully then pulled me into his arms. "When I saw you start to shake in your sleep, I wanted to hold you so badly. To offer some form of comfort but I settled for holding your hand all night, and just that seemed to end the shivers." He then pushed me back and held me at arms length.

"Believe me when I say I've only held your hand that night. I've never touched you other wise."

"I believe you. Were you over Thursday night?" I watched his face intently to see if it betrayed any hidden answers.

"No, I was out hunting. I was preparing myself for this weekend."

So that really was a dream. I sighed in relief then started to giggle, "You were worried that you would attack me. But it was you who was attacked." I burst out laughing, unable to contain myself any longer.

After a good minute of hardy laughing I felt my body being shoved to the ground suddenly. I looked up to see Edward hovering over me.

"Do you still feel like the predator now?" he looked down at me with a sinister glint in his eyes.

I immediately wrapped my arms around his neck and hoisted myself up to meet him. I pulled my face closer to his till I captured his icy lips and kissed him deeply.

Yes, I'm still the predator. We kissed intensely for several more minutes then I lowered myself back down to the blanket.

"Speaking of hunting, did you manage to catch me a deer last weekend?"

Edward rested his head on my shoulder and started laughing. He rolled onto his back on the blanket and continued to laugh.

I was getting frustrated by his lack of answer. Without thinking, I leapt onto him, straddling his hips. He immediately stopped laughing and looked at me with wide frantic eyes.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything if you tell me what I want to know." His eyes were darting all over my body and the position I was in over him. He looked scared and intrigued.

"Bella, are you being possessed?" he groaned loudly when I started laughing at his question. "Bella!" he growled my name and looked at me like he was in pain.

"Oh sorry, it would seem I no longer have any inhibitions. Don't make me laugh and you won't have this problem." Edward glared at me evilly.

"You really are a seductress. If you're like this just from kissing, I'm scared of what you'll be like when we take the next steps."

I stared down at him intently as I thought about what the next steps implied. Second and third base then eventually…home. I blushed fiercely as I thought of us together in any way like that. At the same time, in the back of my mind I was wondering when. God, I'm getting as bad as Emmett, my thoughts keep returning to sex.

"So what are the questions you want answered so desperately that you have to torture me?" Edward chuckled quietly.

"Aww, poor virgin vampire," I patted him on the cheek. "Can't stand to have his girlfriend straddling him." He glared while I smiled.

"Ask what you want to know already."

I giggled softly so my body wouldn't bounce, too much. "Okay, okay, keep your pants on, and I do mean keep your pants on." Edward sneered at my little joke. "So do we get venison for dinner or is it still fish?"

"It's all cut up and in our freezer, just waiting for you to take home."

"What about venom?"

"No venom, we broke its neck…"

"No, what is venom?" Edward looked at me nervously but didn't answer. I started to move my hands slowly over his chest. I heard a quiet moan.

"Okay, when we bite our prey the venom paralyzes them so they can't run away."

"Is the venom always present? Like when we kiss. What would happen if it's ingested?" I started to panic though I didn't know why. Edward began laughing. Did I say something funny? I didn't think I had.

Since Edward was still laughing, I decided to test a few limits. I found the bottom of his shirt and started to trail my hands up between the shirt and his stomach. The second my fingertips touched his cool, hard skin, strong hands latched onto my arms.

"I never said I wasn't going to answer, I just thought how funny your worries sounded considering how passionate we've been today." Edward smirked when he saw my cheeks redden.

"About your questions, since the beast is caged when ever you are around there is no venom. As for it being ingested, I've never heard of it being done so I can't tell you what the side effects would be."

"How does someone become a vampire?" I was afraid he wouldn't answer and he didn't disappoint me.

Edward's eyes widened then he turned his head to the side and frantically scanned the tree line for an explanation to give me.

I leaned forward, resting my body on top of his. I bent forward just enough so I could whisper in his ear.

"I do have other ways of finding out…" I quickly bit his ear and his whole body tensed beneath me. I crossed my arms over his chest and laid my head down, looking directly at him and I waited to see if he would answer me or not. I shifted my legs ever so slightly and Edward's hands shot to my hips and held me stationary.

"You're a tease!" he growled as he looked at me with narrowed eyes. "Have you been taking lessons from Rosalie or something?"

"No, why, should I be?" I pressed my palms to his chest and lifted myself up. "Am I not doing it right? Is my flirting inadequate?" I looked down with sad eyes.

"No, your flirting is very adequate and affective in fact." His hands tightened minutely on my hips and I smiled at him.

"Will you please tell me how one becomes immortal, like you?" I smiled sugary sweet and fluttered my eyelashes. Okay, even I knew I looked like an idiot, but it seemed to work. Edward let out a large sigh.

"All it takes is a bite, which is actually more difficult than it sounds. When we taste human blood, a madness takes over and it's nearly impossible to stop until the prey's heart stops. But if a vampire is able to stop then the venom will spread. The pain is excruciating and last for about three days, while it burns through your body, killing, changing it. Then you awaken to a whole new world and life. The first year is always the hardest. All a newborn thinks about is the thirst, nothing else, and can't be around civilization, if one's planning on being a vegetarian that is."

"Wow, that's definitely different than in the movies." I looked at him amazed at the whole process.

"I'm pretty sure that everything depicted in movies about vampire is wrong."

"I'm noticing that. I prefer the genuine article to the media's version anyway. Can I ask you one more question then I'll end your torture session?"

"Sure, but it hasn't all been torture." He shrugged indifferently.

"Oh, I know but your control is probably getting really thin." He looked at me surprised like I had just figured out his secret. "I was wondering, when did you realize you loved me?" I looked down harmlessly. Edward looked at me stunned.

"You didn't need to hold me hostage, I would easily answer that question." he smiled crookedly. "I know I told you that a vampire knows instantly but I've never known love in that aspect so I didn't know what I was feeling. After that first week when I went to Alaska, I finally returned home on Sunday. I saw you in the minds of my siblings. Watching how you talked and laughed and sometimes played with them, it started to open my eyes to the possibility of happiness. But the day of the accident, when that van almost…ended your life, is when I fully became conscious of the fact that I was in love with you. When did you know?"

I knew he was going to ask but knowing didn't make it any easier. I looked toward the waterfall, then in a blink of an eye I was flipped over and Edward was leaning over me.

"So do I get to torture answers out of you now?" he smiled mischievously. He reminded me of a puppy about to get a bone.

"No, I'll answer, it's just a bit embarrassing. Well you already know that I was attracted to you that first day." He nodded even though it wasn't really a question. "When you came back and looked at me with those golden topaz eyes and used that sexy crooked smile I was hooked completely." I started to fidget with the loose button on his collar.

"And what part of that was embarrassing?"

"The fact that it took me only a week and I was head over heals in love. How am I supposed to tell someone it only took me a week to find the love of my life and soulmate, when others spend their entire lives searching?" he leaned down and kissed my neck.

"The same way you tell them that the boyfriend you love is a hundred and four year old vampire." He looked at me.

"Don't!" we said in unison.

"They don't need to know all the details, just the bare facts will do. And if anyone questions it, be honest, tell them it was mutual." He smiled crookedly at his last comment.

"You always know the right things to say." I trailed my hands up around his neck and I felt him shiver.

"A hundred and four years of watching, reading and studying people helps."

"I have a few more questions for you later but first there is something I've wanted for a while now." I pulled his head down and locked my lips onto his.

He had no argument with fulfilling my wants and he willingly contributed. He brushed his tongue over my lips and I eagerly opened for his waiting tongue. We kissed deeply with no real thoughts except I love you.

I plunged my fingers further into his hair, messing it up even further. God, I love his hair, his eyes, his lips, his touch, his body. I love the fact that he loves me.

'I love all of you. But my favorite of all is you warm chocolate brown eyes. They can see through all my pretenses. They see a side of me that I didn't even know existed. I love that about you.'

We remained joined at the lips for a good hour. Enjoying the taste and feel of each other, we were simply wallowing in the other's love.

Just as things were getting good, there was an interruption that neither wanted to acknowledge, that neither wanted to relinquish their hold of the other for, but it was an interruption neither of us could afford to ignore.

Chapter End Notes:

The next chapter might be a while. I'm having difficulty finding the right words to use. I know what I want to happen but words are failing me. Hopefully my brain will start to work soon.