A/N: I do not own Twilight!
Chapter 20 - Blissful
"Edward, where are we going?" I asked my stubborn husband who just smiled at me angelicly with sparkling eyes.
"It's a surprise, love." he said and turned down onto a narrow dirt road. "Close your eyes. And don't peek. We're almost there."
I did as he asked and waited impatiently. Soon I felt the car slowing then we stopped. In a second I was in Edward's arms. He held me close and pressed his lips to mine for a moment then put me down gently onto the ground and wrapped his arms around me from behind. I pressed my back tightly to his chest enjoying his closeness. I couldn't get enough of this man.
"Now, open your pretty eyes, Bella." He leaned down and whispered into my ear. I opened my eyes slowly and gasped. It could not be true.
It was still dark but I could see it in the moonlight quite well. There, nestled into a small clearing in the forest, was a tiny stone cottage. It was in perfect harmony with its surroundings, as if it had grown from the rock, a natural formation. Honeysuckle climbed up one wall like a lattice. Late summer roses bloomed in a handkerchief-sized garden under the dark, deep-set windows. There was a little path of flat stones, amethyst in the night, that led up to the quaint arched wooden door. Edward took my hand gently, dropped a small key in it then curled my fingers around it.
"Welcome home, my love." he whispered. His voice was thick with emotions. I turned my head, resting on his shoulder, toward him and stared into his liquid topaz eyes.
"Home?" I asked confused and he smiled at me.
"Esme thought we might like a place of our own for a while, but she didn't want us too far away," Edward murmured. "And she loves any excuse to renovate. This little place has been crumbling away out here for at least a hundred years." he caressed my face gently giving me a soft kiss. I stood there in complete and utter shock. I was speechless, my mind was totally blank.
"Love?" he asked anxiously. "Don't you like it?" he pulled me closer to him. "I'm sure they could fix it up differently, if you want. But Esme thought you would like it best the
way it was meant to look. If she was wrong, they can get back to work. It won't take long to..."
"Shh!" I finally managed to say. "They're giving us a house as a wedding present?" I whispered in disbelief.
"Yes, love." Edward nodded as a breathtaking smile lit up his face again.
"Oh, Edward... I love it." I turned around in his arms and wrapped my arms around his neck tightly pulling his face down to mine then kissed him passionately. "I love it. I love you." I murmured against his lips and felt him smiling.
"I love you too." he pulled away and whispered. "Let me show you what they've done." He took my hand and began to pull me toward the front door. As our skin touched I felt a sudden electric current ran through my body. My heartbeat and breathing became erratic, my blood started to boil. He stopped at the doorway and held his hand out toward the doorknob, waiting for me to do the honors. I stuck the key in the lock and turned it with trembling hand. Then, so fast I could barely see him moving, he ducked down and with a quick movement picked me up in bridal style. He stared into my eyes for a long moment grinning widely before he opened the door and crossed the threshold.
"Hey!" I giggled.
"Thresholds are part of my job description." he reminded me kissing my nose.
The little stone living room was something from a fairy tale. The floor was a crazy quilt of smooth, flat stones. The low ceiling had long exposed beams. The walls were warm wood in some
places, stone mosaics in others. The beehive fireplace in the corner held the remains of a slow flickering fire. It was driftwood burning there, the low flames were blue and green from the salt.
It was furnished in eclectic pieces, not one of them matching another, but harmonious just the same. There were a few paintings on the walls that I recognized some of my very favorites from the big house. They seemed to belong here, too, like all the rest.
This place was simply magical. And it was ours. Edward set me back on my feet slowly then reached up to my hair and pulled out the pins gently from it and let it fall loose down my back, wavy from the braid. His eyes bored into mine. It was liquid onyx now.
"So beautiful." he murmured quietly. I blushed.
"Maybe the rest of the house can wait until morning." I whispered completly dazzled by him.
"Maybe." he purred into my ear then with a quick movement he stepped behind me, pulled my hair out of the way gently and began to unfasten the long line of pearl buttons on my dress. He made his way down my back agonizingly slowly. I felt his cold breath on my exposed neck. It was quick and shallow. When he finished with the buttons, he leaned down to press a chaste kiss on my bare shoulder. I shivered lightly.
"Do you want a human moment, love?" he asked. His voice was hoarse and barely louder than a whisper. I nodded slowly, unable to speak or think straight. I felt him smiling against my skin as he pressed another kiss on my neck then released me. He took my hand and led me to the bathroom. "I'll be waiting for you in the livingroom. Hurry back to me, beautiful." he kissed the back of my hand gently then left me alone.
I closed the door behind me softly then leaned back against it pressing my back to the dark wood. I took a deep breath trying to even my own very quick and shallow breathing. Somehow it didn't work. I didn't know why I was so nervous now. This wasn't our first night together. We'd made love plenty of times before. I was pregnant with his baby, for crying out loud. However this night was special. It was our first night as husband and wife.
I stepped out my beautiful wedding dress carefully, not wanting to hurt myself or my baby, then kicked the death trap high heels off of my feet, sighing in relief. I looked around in the room and noticed our stuffs were there, like we'd lived here for years. My bag of toiletries was on the counter with a white, silk robe beside it. I saw an elegant 'B' and 'C' embroidered in the delicate silk. Bella Cullen. My heart skipped a beat at the tought of my new name and I smiled widely. I pulled the robe on, enjoying the caressing of the soft material on my skin, then washed my face and brushed my hair and teeth quickly not wanting to be away for too long from Edward. After I finished refeshening myself, I took one last deep breath, opened the door and stepped out of the bathroom.
I walked slowly back to our small livingroom and gasped. There were tiny candles everywhere. The light of the playful flames danced around on the stone walls and soft music played in the background. Edward sat in front the fireplace on a big plush rug, in nothing but a silk, black boxer and stared at the fire. His skin was glowing in the soft light. He was so beautiful and he was mine.
As soon as I stepped into the room, he turned his head towards me and smiled, flashing his perfect, white teeth to me. I couldn't help but smile back at him. I walked slowly toward him while he opened his arms and pulled me down next to him. I snuggled close to his body craving for his closeness and the feeling of his bare skin on mine and he wrapped his arms around me tightly. I sighed happily. This was definitely my own personal heaven on Earth.
"It's so unbelievable." I buried my face in the crook of his neck and murmured against his cool skin.
"I love you so much, my beautiful wife." he said and kissed my forehead gently. We sat there for a few minutes just holding each other, inhaling each other's scent.
"Thank you." Edward whispered finally. I lifted up my head and looked into his eyes.
"For what?" I asked a little bit confused.
"For choosing me, for loving me, all of me, even my dark side, for saying yes and marrying me. This mean so much to me. You are my life, beautiful girl." he caressed my face gently. I leaned toward him and pressed my lips to his. I tried to pour everything I felt for this amazing creature - my protector, my lover, the father of my child, my husband - before me into that one kiss.
"Breath, my Bella." he pulled away and chuckled. I took a deep breath and blushed tomato red. "I love when you blush. It's so fascinating, seeing as your blood is rushing under your delicate skin." he brushed his fingers tenderly against my flaming cheeks. I tried to remember how to breath. "Before we start enjoying our wedding night, I'd like to give you something. Please be good and don't freak out, I spent no money on it. I promise." he took a small package from behind his back and placed it gently into my hand.
"Edward..." I said but he put his finger on my mouth gently, silencing me.
"Please, just open it." I sighed defeated and started to unwrap my present carefully. Under the paper was a notebook. On the soft leather cover there was written his name, Edward Anthony Masen Cullen. I caressed every word softly with my fingertips then looked up at him questioningly. My favourite crooked smile played on his perfect lips and I blushed again, although I didn't know why.
"What's this? Edward?" I asked confused, suddenly feeling a little dizzy from his intense gaze, while his smile widened.
"Take a look at it." he urged me and I looked down at the notebook again. I opened it slowly and recognized his beautiful handwriting immediately. I started to read the first page and gasped.
"Edward? Is this..." I looked up at him with awe. Suddenly I felt a thousand emotions. Love, adoration, gratitude and so much happiness, I thought I'd surely explode from it.
"Yes. My diary." he cradled my face in his marble hands and caressed my cheeks with his thumbs lovingly, wipping my flawing tears away. When had I started crying? "It starts with the day I first saw your beautiful face in the school, and ran away to Alaska from you, and ends with today, our wedding day. I thought, maybe now that I can hear your thoughts and see everything through your mind, you'd be glad to get to know my thoughts, feelings and fears, I've had from the day we first met as well. But if you don't like it, you don't have to read it. It's all up to you, love." He stared at me nervously.
"Oh, Edward." I whispered and tangled my fingers in his hair. "I don't like it, I love it. It's the most wonderful gift I've ever got. Thank you so much." I put the diary next to me and wrapped my arms around him tightly.
"I love you, Isabella." Edward mumbled into my neck, pulling my body as close to his as possible.
"I love you too, Edward." I smiled and he chuckled lightly. "I have something for you as well."
I looked around the room and found Edward's gift, as I'd been sure I would, trusting in my pixie sister-in-law. I stood up and walked for it carefully, not wanting to trip over anything. I felt Edward's intense gaze boring into my back as I lifted it up then went and sat down beside him again. I handed his wedding gift to him, trying not thinking what was it. I wanted to surprise him. I waited for him to open it, but he just sat there silently and stared at me. His eyes shone with all the love he felt for me. They were so inhumanly beautiful that I lost in them for a long moment.
"Don't you open it?" I asked finally shaking my head, trying to clear it from the dizziness.
"Yeah. I just... I love you so much. I can't even find the right words to tell you how much." I blushed and dropped my gaze to the floor embarrassed. He kissed my burning cheeks before torn the paper quickly from his gift. I heard him gasping and I looked up at him immediately. I stared at his angelic face and saw that if he could cry he surely would in this moment.
"Bella." he said. His voice was trembling and was barely louder than a whisper.
"Well, I thought you would like it. I've worked on it ever since the day we found the pictures of you and your old family in Chicago. I put all of them in this album with lots of pictures of my childhood and my family as well and then there's a few of us together and our vampire family too. And I left room for our wedding pictures and pictures of our little baby..." he sat there silently, staring at the photoalbum I'd made for him with wide eyes.
"Edward?" I started to panic, thinking maybe he didn't like my gift. Then there was a sudden blur of movement and his hands cradled my face again, his eyes bored into mine, his lips were inches away from mine. I felt his cool breath on my skin. He dazzled me completly. I tried to remember how to breath.
"Bella. My beautiful Bella. I love your gift so much. It means a lot to me. It's just perfect. Just like you, my love. Thank you." he gave me a soft kiss but I pulled away before he could deepened it. He looked at me confused then pouted. I giggled at his expression and pressed my lips to his cheek.
"Are you ready to unwrap your next present, my husband?" I whispered into his ear taking the album away from him and put it down beside me. He shivered then pulled away a little bit so he could look into my eyes.
"Another present?" he asked. I nodded never taking my eyes off of his beautiful face.
"Just one more." I said then put one of his hands on my waist delicately and lifted the other to my lips. I kissed his fingers softly one by one. He inhaled sharply.
"So where is it?" he asked pulling me closer to him.
"In front of you." I kissed his cheek and trailed my fingers down his side. "In your arms." I caressed his back gently running my fingers up and down on his spine. His whole body started to shaking lightly. His breathing quickened. I felt so powerful in that moment. It was so incredible to know that although I was just human, with human weaknesses, I had this effect on him, an indestructible, immortal and inhumanly strong vampire. I stared into his eyes and saw them slowly darkening, from light topaz to sparkling onyx. It was breathtaking. He smiled crookedly and leaned closer to me trying to kiss me. I pulled away and he growled quietly.
"But you have to be very careful and gentle with it," I kissed his cheek again "because it's quite petit" I kissed his eyelids "and soft" I kissed his nose "and fragile" I kissed his other cheek "and unique." I touched my lips to his cold, hard ones and heard him moan softly.
"Best gift ever." he murmured against my lips then pushed me away gently. He stared at me hungrily, his eyes were full of lust and love and adoration. "Hmmm. Very unique, indeed." he licked his lips and I shivered. "So let's see what's under this." he trailed his long, pale fingers down the front of my silk robe and rested them on the tie for a moment before untied the knot quickly. His eyes never left mine. He pushed the soft fabric open slowly, his hands grazed my shoulders tenderly as he pushed it over them and down my arms. The soft silk fell to the floor with a quiet woosh. He gulped as his eyes traveled down my body, taking in the pearly white corset and matching lace panties, Alice forced me to wear. They were very beautiful. I felt beautiful and even sexy in them, although my small baby bump was clearly visible in them. I held my breath waiting for Edward's reaction. He was silent for a very long moment, just staring at me intently. His eyes darkened even more. They were coal black now. A soft moan escaped from my mouth and he raised his head immediately and bored his piercing eyes into mine again.
"You are so breathtakingly beautiful, my lovely wife."
He leaned closer to me and caressed my cheeks lovingly before snaked his hands around my waist and lifted me up carefully then placed me onto his lap. I straddled on him, my legs were either side of his. I wrapped my arms around his neck tightly, pulling myself even closer to him. As close as physically possible. My fingers tangled in his silky, bronze curls automatically. I loved the soft texture of his hair, it was one of my favorite part of him. Our chests pressed together tightly, our faces were just a few inch from each other. I felt his cool breath on my lips, I could almost taste him on my tongue.
"I love you, Edward." I whispered.
"I love you too, sweetheart. You have no idea just how much." he said and leaned to kiss me. It was a slow and tender kiss, but soon it became more urgent and passionate. I felt his hands on my back untying my corset impatiently. I felt his effort trying not to rip it into pieces. His hands shook badly. I pressed my body thightly to his and grounded my already wet core to his very noticable erection. He moaned into my mouth. It was so erotic and only fueled my desire for him. Finally he managed to pull off my corset and threw it away somewhere in the room before his hands returned to my body. He turned me around slowly and laid me down ever so gently on the soft, plush rug. My head hit a big, comfortable pillow. I looked up at him as he stared down at my bare body. Suddenly so many emotions overwhelmed me as I laid in the light of the dancing flames in the livingroom of my own house with my husband staring down at me like I was the most precious thing in the world and with our baby, the physical representation of our undying love growing inside me. His gaze, his every touch worshiped my body and my soul and I felt so safe, beloved and so unbelievably happy at that moment. And the thought that this happiness would last forever brought tears of joy into my eyes.
"You're so incredibly beautiful. It's still hard to understand to me how could such an angel like you choose me. But I'm extremely happy with your choice and swear to you that I'll always love you and try to make you happy as hard as I can." he whispered and I blushed. His voice was full of love, adoration, but also lust and desire. He caressed my arms gently then took my hands and lifted them to his mouth. He kissed my every knuckle then pressed a final kiss to my rings before lowered himself on top of me carefully. He rested his weight on his elbows not wanting to crush me, but pressed his body tightly to mine. The feeling of his bare, cold skin on my own hot one was indescribable. I felt like I finally was home.
"I'm so happy that I can hear your thoughts in this moment." he murmured against my skin as he kissed my tears away lovingly. I chuckled at him and although I'd always been greatful in the past that I was the only exception from Edward's gift, right now I felt happy too that he could hear me. It made everything even more special to both of us.
"Edward." I sighed happily as he peppered my forehead, nose, cheeks, neck, collarbone and chest with small kisses. His fingers caressed me gently. My whole body was on fire. My heart was beating so fast and loudly, I'm sure the whole Cullen family could hear it from the main house. Edward chuckled quietly. He lingered for a while above my stomach, kissing and caressing it more lovingly. I put my hands in his hair and ran my fingers through it sighing deeply. He lifted his head and looked up at me with happy, sparkling eyes grinning like a small child in Christmas morning. I laughed at him and stroked his icy cheeks.
"I love you, silly." I smiled back at him and whispered. He rose up on his knees and took one of my legs in his hand and lifted it up to his mouth. He kissed my toes playfully and I couldn't stifle my giggle, it just tickled too much. But it died soon in my throat when he trailed his lips up on my ankle and calf, through my knee, toward the inside of my thigh. I moaned loudly when he kissed my entrance through my already soaked panties. Then he repeated his actions with my other leg. I just laid there limply, staring up at him with lust clouded eyes, watching him worshiping every inch of my body. It was a sight I wanted to burn into my mind for eternity. A human memory that I didn't want to lose after I joined him in immortality.
He hooked his fingers under the waistband of my lacy panties and pulled them down on my legs agonizingly slowly. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. A low growl ripped through his perfect lips and I couldn't hold back my moan.
"Bella." he moaned my name and his eyes popped open. He stared at me. I'd never seen his gaze as intense before as it was right now. His coal black eyes were shining with love and lust. They were so hungry. Hungry for my body, hungry for my soul. I reached out my hands toward him and he grabbed them gently with his own, intertwining our fingers. I pulled him down to me and he lifted my arms above my head. His body pressed to my own tightly. The feeling of his cold, marble skin on my hot, soft one was incredible, as always.
"My beautiful wife." he whispered then kissed me tenderly, slowly. We laid there like this for a long time. His lips caressed and adored mine, his cool tongue danced with my own carefully, not wanting to hurt me accidentally with his razor sharp teeth. He tasted so wonderful. So sweet and delicious. So Edward. I felt so safe and beloved in that moment in the strong and loving arms of my husband, the only man I would ever love.
"Edward. Please." I whimpered when he pulled away from me to let me breath. I tried to pull down his silky boxer, the last thing which separated me from him, with my feet clumsily. He released my hand and reached down to help me. He ripped it off of him with one quick movement then threw it across the room before put his hand back into my own. I felt his erection touching my wet folds, driving me crazy. Edward bored his black eyes into mine again and just stared at me for a moment.
"I love you." we said in unison and smiled at each other. He entered me gently, slowly in the exact moment I lifted my legs and wrapped them around his waist.
"Oh God." I moaned and he growled into my ear. We hadn't made love since we'd returned from Chicago. A lot of things had happened and to tell the truth, I'd just not felt comfortable making love with Edward in a house full of vampires who could hear and smell everything. So now feeling his bare skin pressing against my own and as his body surrounded mine and as his arms cradled me and feeling him inside me again were the most wonderful things in the world. I'd missed this feeling so much. And now I felt whole again.
He began to move, thrusting in and out inside me in a slow pace. I squeezed his hands and tightened my legs around him trying to pull him closer to me. I felt like we were not close enaugh, I wanted more and more. Always more.
"Edward... I missed... you. Never, ever... let me go... Please?" I panted. I felt tears running down my cheeks but Edward kissed them all away.
"Never... I promise... My sweet angel." he murmured and kissed every inch of my face, neck and anywhere else he could reach me. His lips left a hot trail of fire on my skin wherever they touched it. In that moment nothing else mattered just him and me. Only us and as our body moved together in a perfect synch like we were one.
I pulled my hands out of his and trailed them down on his arms to his back. I hugged him to me, my fingers caressed every inch of his strong, muscular back. I felt his muscles stretching under my fingertips as he moved. I felt all the strength of them, just how strong and powerful he was, and still I felt completely safe in his arms, more than anywhere else.
"Ohh, Bella." he sighed deeply burying his head in the crook of neck and wrapped his arms around me as tightly as he could without hurting me. His hair tickled my skin and I lifted my hand and tangled my fingers in it pulling his head closer to me. The other was still caressing his back.
"Edward..." I said pressing my lips against his ear. "I love you, Edward Cullen... I love you." I heard him moaning. His breathing quickened even more, he panted very hard against my neck. His cool breath brushed against my skin, making me shiver.
"Oh, Bella." He said my name like a prayer and picked up his pace. I lifted my hips again and again, meeting his every thrust. "How could you... love me... so much?... My sweet wife..."
"Yes... Edward... yes... oh God... Say it again... please... I... Edward... love the sound... oh Edward... of it." I panted. I felt that I wasn't far from my release. Edward's every gentle stroke, every loving movement, every single breath drove me crazy.
"My wife... My beautiful,... sweet wife... oh God, you're so soft... Bella, I can't... I just can't... oh God... live without you..." he lifted his head and kissed me passionately. And then the world exploded around me, I saw stars dancing around me and feel nothing but him. Only him. My muscles clenched around his cock so hard and it sent him over the edge too. I felt his cold release in me. I'd missed this feeling so much. Our lips silenced each other's screams.
We laid there for a long time, him on top of me, wrapped tightly in each other's arms, trying to catch our breaths. He pressed his forehead to mine and just stared into my eyes silently, kissing me every now and then.
"I love you." he said finally smiling down at me. His voice was still hoarse.
"I love you too." I sighed. Then he pulled out of me gently and rolled off of me. I whimpered at the loss of contact. I suddenly felt so empty.
We laid there for long minutes just enjoying each other's closeness. I snuggled close to him, rested my head on his chest and just listened him breathing. It was so calming. He wrapped his arms tightly around me and kissed the top of my head every now and then.
"Are you happy, love?" he asked.
"Yes. I've never been so happy." I answered and kissed his chest. I felt him smiling as he pressed his lips to my forehead.
"I'm glad to hear this, because you made me the happiest man who's ever walked on the face of earth, Mrs. Cullen." I blushed then pressed my flaming cheeks against his chest even more giggling. "I missed you today so much. I never want to be away from you again even for a minute." he squeezed me tighter to him and I lifted my head and looked up at him. His pained expression made my heart ache. I caressed his forehead gently trying to sooth him.
"You'll never have to be alone again. Ever. I'm here. I'll always be by your side. I was born for you, to make you whole, to erase your loneliness, to show you love and happiness. And I'll just do it until the end of time. I love you, Edward. And I'll love you forever." I smiled up at him never stopping stroking his angelic face. I saw as the fear and pain slowly disappeared from his eyes which now were full love and devotion. His features softened and he smiled back at me his beautiful crooked smile. I climbed higher on him so I could reach his lips and kissed him.
"And by the way our little one will be here soon and you won't have a free minute then." I said touching my forefinger to his nose and he kissed my palm.
"I can't wait." he whispered excitedly.
"Me neither." I giggled.
We were quiet again for a long moment, just staring at each other and exchanging some sweet kisses. Edward listened to my happy thoughts and was fascinated by them. He could hear my thoughts for more than a month but he still couldn't get used to it.
"Are you all right?" he asked broking the silence once again running his fingers through my hair. I stared at him confused. "I just think about Esme. I heard what happened just a few minutes before the ceremony. Well, every vampire heard it. And we were all very happy for you and Esme. I wanted to go up to that room and be with you in that moment so much. Jasper and Emmett had to hold me back." I chuckled at that.
"I'm fine. Really." I caressed his face gently. "It was just so unexpected. I mean I knew that she's my great-great grandmother. But I wasn't one hundred percent sure of it. And when she saw and recognized those family jewels there was no doubt anymore that this wasn't just a mistake." he smiled at me sweetly as I continued. "But there was another thing why I was afraid to tell her this whole thing. I was just... so I was just afraid of her reaction. What if she wouldn't be happy about it? What if she wouldn't love me anymore? I was scared." he cupped my face gently in his hand.
"Oh, silly girl. How could you think such a thing?" he asked laughing. His beautiful voice filled the room and my heartbeat quickened. I blushed tomato red and he brushed his thumb against my hot cheek lovingly.
"But now everything is just so perfect. And I was so glad that she saw her precious son to get married to her great-great granddaughter, and she did not find it out subsequently. It made this wonderful event even more special to all of us."
"Yes it did." he whispered and leaned to kiss me. "I love you so much."
"I love you too." I mumbled and tried to supress a yawn. But of course Edward noticed it.
"It's time to sleep." he chuckled and stood up pulling me with him. He picked me up into his arms and carried me to our bedroom. It was perfect too like everything else in our tiny cottage. He put me down on the huge bed and climbed next to me. We snuggled under the cover together and I fell asleep in my husband's arms happily.
We'd been living in our beautiful cottage for a week now. Edward and I spent every moment together and I was so happy like I'd never been before. And this made Edward extremly happy as well. The only thing that overshadowed our perfect life was Jacob. We still had to go to La Push to the Quileute tribal council and made a decision about his actions. I knew it would be painful. And to tell the truth I just wasn't ready for it yet. Everybody understood it completly, even the wolves. Edward had called Sam a few days ago and asked some more time for me. He'd agreed and said I could take as many time as I needed. I'd been extremly greatful for it to him.
But I knew I couldn't put it off for a long time. My baby bump was growing day by day. It seemed that our little miracle was growing in a faster rate that Carlisle'd first thought and although I could hide it for now, it was enough to wear a baggier shirt, I wouldn't be able to do it for long. I also worried about the fact that now that the baby is bigger Edward could hear its heartbeat from distance as well. He tried to convince me that the wolves wouldn't notice it, or if they'd notice, they'd not know what it was. It was too in synch with my own heartbeat, much to Edward pleasure. He loved listening them.
"...and I hope you'll be just as beautiful as your mommy, sweetie." I heard my angel's voice whispering. I felt his cold hands caressing my belly, his hair and cold breath brushed against my soft skin. I opened my eyes and saw him laying next to me, leaning above my stomach and beeing in a deep conversation with my baby bump. I smiled at the sight widely.
"Did you know that your mommy has the most beautiful smile in the world? And her eyes... I hope you inherited them too. I love you so much baby. Do you hear me? Daddy loves you, angel. I've never thought that someday I would have a baby. But now I can't wait to see you and hold you." I listened to Edward's every word. I didn't want to disturb his special moment with his child. But in that moment I couldn't help but touch him. I run my fingers through his hair and caressed his cheeks softly. He sighed happily then lifted his head and grinned at me. I started to giggle as he climbed up to me.
"Good morning, beautiful." he murmured against my lips between small kisses.
"It is. What were you just doing, daddy?" I asked him.
"Well... I just talked to the baby." he said and grinned back at me. "I do it every night while you're sleeping."
"Really?" I asked surprised and felt tears in my eyes. I was more and more emotional.
"Yeah." he nodded and kissed me once more. "It's a wonderful feeling to talk to my child. Sometimes it's still so hard to believe that I'll really be a father. I just thought for a very long time that this could never happen. Too long. And by the way you always sleep better if you hear my voice. Soo..." I smiled at him and wrapped my arms around him tightly, pulling him close to me.
"I love you, Edward Cullen." I pecked his lips.
"I love you too, Bella Cullen." He smiled down at me brushing my hair out of my face. "But right now, it's time to get up sleepy head. We're going out today." He smacked my butt gently, playfully and I yelped jumping a little. Edward climbed off of the bed with me in his arms laughing. He walked to bathroom where he put me down gently on my feet again. Fortunately my morning sickness didn't bother me anymore and I was happy about it. "I'm making you breakfast while you have your human moment, love. I put some clothes on the counter for you. Hurry." he kissed me then went to the kitchen leaving me alone.
A half an hour later we sat in Edward's shiny silver Volvo and were speeding down the road. On his beautiful face was a familiar exhilarated smile, the one produced by any form of speed. I tried not to look at the speedometer or out of the window. Instead I just stared at Edward's glorious face, his kissable, full lips, the perfect shape of his nose and his sparkling, topaz eyes. I was lost in his beauty.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"It's a surprise, love." he smiled at me innocently, although he knew it very well how much I hated surprises. I pouted and he chuckled beside me reaching for my hand. As soon as his skin touched mine I felt calm and happy. I was whole. It didn't matter where we were going as long as we were together. I pulled his hand to my stomach and pressed it gently to my bump. He sighed happily.
We sat in silence all the way, but it was perfectly comfortable. Edward's fingers stroked my belly lovingly and I just leaned back against my headrest enjoying his touch.
"Love. Open your eyes. We're here." I felt his cold breath on my neck and his sweet voice rang in my ear softly. I shivered. I opened my eyes and he smiled at me. His face was only inches from mine. I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his softly.
"Where are we?" I asked him.
"In Seattle." he said then got out from the car. He was at my side opening the door for me even before I could have turn around. He reached for my hand and helped me out.
"Seattle? Why are we here?" I asked confused. He just grinned at me.
"We're going to shop, love. I think you need some maternity clothes. You're getting bigger and bigger every day." he brushed his cold fingers against my baby bump again and I blushed. "And we can buy some things to our precious little one too." his voice was so excited and his eyes shone so brightly as he stared at me.
"But Edward, isn't it too dangerous? What if..." I asked panicing but he put his finger gently on my mouth silencing me.
"That's why we came to Seattle. It's far enough from Forks and it's quite big too. We won't meet anybody who we know. So we can shop freely and just enjoy being together." He caressed my cheeks soothingly and I felt myself relaxing under his cold touch. I'd never liked shopping, going one shop to another all day, but the thought doing this with Edward and buying some stuffs to our baby was really excited me. My face lit up and suddenly I couldn't wait to start our shopping trip. I took his hand eagerly and pulled him toward the mall. He laughed wholeheartedly as he followed me.
"Wait." Suddenly I stopped. "What about Alice? Won't she be mad at us to do this without her? You know how much she'd have loved to do this."
"Sweetheart." Edward sighed and caressed my cheeks once more. "She won't. She has to understand that this is something that we want to do alone. Just you and me together as a family. I just..." he tried to so hard to explain something to me but could find the right words with difficulty, which was not typical of him. I saw that just how important this to him and so just waited for him patiently.
"Bella, ever since I became a vampire I've thought that I could never have a family of my own. I've learned to accept that for a very long time, but sometimes it still pained me that I could never hold my own child, I could never teach my son or my daughter all the things my own parents thought me once. But now I've found you, and although I don't deserve it, God blessed us with this tiny creation..." I tried to protest that he did deserve it but he put his finger on my lips while his other hand caressed my baby bump ever so softly. "I have the family I've never dared to dream of. And not just a beutiful wife but a child as well, who will be a living representation of our love. And I want to do everything in the right way. I want to teach our baby everything I learned from my parents, both from my real and my adoptive mother and father. I want to give our child everything and I know that the others want to do the same because he or she will be a very special member of our family, more important than any child to any other family. But I don't want our baby to be spoiled because of this. And I hope everybody will understand that we will decide what's right for him or her and sometimes we will do things on our own, like now this shopping or traveling on our, just the three of us or just be alone for a while. I... I know I'm selfish, but I... oh God, it's so hard to find the right words..." I stood there just listening to him, unable to speak, but now it was my turn to silence him.
"Edward. Do you want to know what I think? Well, you can hear my thoughts but I tell you anyway." I took a deep breath. "You're not selfish. Not even a little bit. I understand what you're trying to say and agree with you. Because I want these things to our child too. And I'm sure our family will understand it as well. And it doesn't mean they can't be with the baby or swamp her with their love and adoration and of course lots of gifts. They just have to be reasonable and understand if we say no once they'll have to accept that and not going against our word. That's all. It will be hard for them, I'm sure, especially Alice. She's just so hardheaded sometimes and she's used to get her way always and have the last word in everything. Well she'll just have to get used to the new situation." The next moment I was wrapped in my husband's cold embrance. He held me tightly to his body and buried his head into my hair.
"I love you so much. I'm so lucky I have such an amazing wife." he murmured.
"I love you more, Edward." I chuckled at him.
"Impossible." he let me go and kissed me softly.
"Okay, now let's go have fun." I squealed and he laughed wrapping his arm around my waist as we walked toward the mall.
"You're incredible, love." he said still laughing. "So, where first?"
"Hmm, let's find some maternity clothes quickly first and then we'll have all day for the baby stuffs." I said. He smiled at eagerness.
"Just promise me, love, that for once you won't worry about the money. If you see something you like, we'll buy it, okay? It doesn't matter how much it costs." He looked down at me warily. He was clearly afraid of my reaction. I blushed and nodded smiling. He grinned back at me happily and led me into the huge mall.
We walked past a few maternity boutiques, but Edward didn't like either of them. Then he stopped in front of a huge shop and drew me into it eagerly. His topaz eyes were sparkling as we looked through the many clothes. They were all beautiful. I imagined myself in them with big, round belly and as our baby kicking inside me.
"Beautiful." Edward wrapped his arms around me from behind resting his hands on my stomach and whispered into my ear. "I can't wait to see you like this and to feel our baby kicking." I turned around in his arms and kissed him tenderly. I loved to hear him saying 'our baby' and I loved that he was as happy and eager about my pregnancy as me.
"So what are you thinking about these?" I show him the few jeans, tops and sweaters I wanted to try on and smiled at him happily.
"Hmm. Nice. And what about these?" he handed me a few more clothes, skirts and dresses then pushed me gently toward the dressing room not waiting for my answer. I tried them on, they were all very pretty and delicate but comfortable at the same time. I felt myself beautiful and even sexy in them. They all showed my baby bump delicately, although it was small yet. I loved it. Edward watched me smiling as I stepped out from the dressing room in different clothes and pirouetted in front of him.
"You're absolutely stunning, love." he murmured as I walked out in a dark blue knee length dress, his mouth hanged open, his eyes trailed up and down my body staring at me intently. He stepped closer to me and caressed my blushing cheek softly and resting his free hand on my clearly visible bump.
"Thanks." I smiled at him shyly. "This was the last one."
"Well, we're definitely buying it. What about the others? Which one do you like?" he asked smiling. My heart started to race.
"Hmm. I like them all." I mumbled and looked down at my feet.
"Then we buy all of them." He said putting his finger under my chin and lifted my head up. He stared into my eyes for a long moment then kissed my lips softly. I gasped as his tongue traced my bottom lip then he pushed it into my mouth gently deepening our kiss. Our tongues danced together, his sweet taste and smell made me dizzy.
"I love you, my beautiful wife." he pulled away and said. I blinked a few times and shook my head a little trying to clear my foggy mind. Edward just chukled at me.
"It's not fair to dazzle your pregnant wife, mister." I pouted.
"I love when you pout, sweetheart. You're so adorable." He stroked my pouty lips with his thumb then gave me a small kiss. "Would you mind keeping that on?" he asked pointing to the beautiful dress on me but before I could answer an irritated voice interrupted us.
"You'll have to pay for it first." a middle aged woman appeared suddenly behind Edward. According to her nametag her name was Mary. She looked at us almost angrily. I felt Edward stiffening beside me and a low hiss escaped from his lips. I had no doubt what was this woman thinking right now. But I didn't care. I loved my husband and I'd never regretted that we'd have a child soon.
"Of course." I smiled at her and caressed Edward's arm gently willing to calm him. It worked, his eyes softened almost immediately and even a tiny smile appeared on his perfect lips as he looked down at me. I turned and walked back to the dressing room to change back to old my clothes then picked up all the clothes I'd tried on then stepped out of the room. Edward took them from me and we walked to the front of the shop together. He placed them on the counter and pulled out his wallet from his backpocket. The saleswoman put all of the clothes into shopping bags then smirked at us.
"800$" she said clearly thinking that we couldn't pay for them. Edward pulled out his black credit card and handed it to her with an annoyed expression on his face. I wrapped my arm around his waist and stroked his side gently trying to ease his tension. The woman gaped at him for a long moment then took the card.
A few minutes later we walked out from the shop, me in my new dark blue dress. Edward carried all of the bags. His cheerful mood returned immediately as soon as we left the shop.
"So where to go next?" he asked kissing my forehead.
"Well I... so you see..."
"Bella? What are you trying to say, love? And why are you hiding your thoughts?" he narrowed his eyes and put his hands on either side of my face dropping the bags to the floor.
"Can we buy some bras and panties too? My old ones start to become a little uncomfortable." I mumbled blushing tomato red.
"Of course, love." Edward smiled at me sweetly and caressed my hot cheek. "And Bella, don't be embarrassed about anything before me. I want you to be able to talk to me about anything without feeling uncomfortable. I'm your husband and I love you." he said running his fingers through my hair soothingly. I nodded to him and leaned up to kiss him.
"I love you too."
He picked up the bags and we walked hand in hand toward the Victoria's Secret. Edward smirked at me and I rolled my eyes. He enjoyed this part too much.
"Edward Cullen, you better wipe that smirk off of your face in this very moment." I warned him. He just shook with silent laughter but tried to compose himself. "And don't you think even for a minute I will show you anything I'll try on."
"But why?" he asked. His face fell immediately. "And if I promise I'll behave?" he gave me his best puppy dog eyes.
"Hmm... Nope." I shook my head and smiled at him innocently. He growled and I chuckled. "Okay. I'll think about it."
We walked into the shop, Edward wrapped his free arm around my waist pulling me close to him. I stood up on tiptoes and kissed his cold lips.
"Okay, Mr. Cullen. Would you help me find something nice and simple and comfortable?" I asked.
"Of course, Mrs. Cullen." he lifted my hand up to his mouth and kissed it gently. "You can completly trust me, darling." I laughed, he was just too adorable.
I followed my perfect husband as he looked through all the bras, panties, nightgowns and pyjamas in the boutique and blushed every now and then. Edward enjoyed himself very much, his crooked smile never faded from his beautiful lips, not even the young saleswoman could bother him, although I could imagine her vulgar thoughts about my husband very well, it was all written on her face as she stared at him. Well, mostly at his ass. I wrapped my arm around him and slipped my hand in the backpocket of his jeans. I wanted to show her that he belonged to me, I wanted to mark him as mine. I didn't understand what came over me suddenly. I'd been jealous countless times before. It was natural, after all Edward was the most beautiful man I'd ever met and every girl and woman who laid eyes on him lusted for him. But what I felt at this very moment couldn't be compared to that plain jealousy. I'd never felt like this before. This intense feeling was so new and overwhelming. I felt my chest crushing under its pressure, and the air sticked in my lungs. I wanted nothing more then just to lunge myself at her and rip her blond head off.
"Can I help you?" she purred to Edward in a very seductive voice. It made me sick and fueled my anger even more. How dared she flirt with my husband?
"No, thanks." Edward said politely, but his eyes were locked with mine, his expression was so confused as he stared at me with his liquid topaz orbs. He wrapped his arms around me and held me tightly against him, probably hearing my murderous thoughts. I buried my face into his chest and took a deep breath. His sweet heavenly scent, which was more intense and intoxicating then ever, seemed to calm me down immediately. I felt Edward's lips brushing against my hair, his hand trailed up and down on my back lovingly. I heard the girl huffing and walking away, leaving us alone finally. Her high heels were clapping on the hard floor.
"Are you alright, angel?" Edward murmured into my ear anxiously.
"Yeah." I sighed. As fast as these weird, intense feelings had came, they disappeared just as suddenly.
"Do you want to go home, love?" He asked but I shook my head then lifted it up to kiss him. He hesitated first but eventually kissed me back passionately.
"I'm okay, Edward." I said breathlessly after I pulled away to catch my breath. "I don't want to go home yet. Can we continue our shoping trip? Please?" he stared at me for a moment then smiled at me crookedly.
"Come on, back to our business, Mrs. Cullen." his grin widened and I couldn't help but giggle at his expression.
"You're so irresistable sometimes, Mr. Cullen."
"Always, love. Always." he winked at me and I laughed.
"I love you, Edward."
"I love you too." he caressed my cheek gently then shoved at me all the clothes he'd found earlier. A devilish grin appeared on his angelic face. "Go and try these on." he said and pushed me toward the dressing room.
I tried every single piece one by one, much to Edward's pleasure. He enjoyed himself very much, like a little boy in a candy store. I just laughed at him.
"You're so beautiful, my Bella." he said pulling me close to him as we walked toward the counter together. I blushed of course and he chuckled. His free hand was full of clothes. I'd tried on dozens of lingeries and he said we had to buy all of them because they were all just perfect on me. I sware sometimes he was just as bad as Alice. After all they'd been siblings for decades. We paid for everything then headed out of the shop.
"Wait here, love. I'll be right back in a minute, just drop all the bags at the car." he pressed a soft kiss to my lips and walked toward the parking lot leaving me in the middle of the mall alone. I waited for him to return patiently, looking at the shop-window of a nearby baby shop. It was full of toys and tiny clothes, they were just so adorable. I caressed my baby bump gently, trying to imagine my little baby in them, wondering how she or he would look like. A very clear memory of my nightmare popped into my head. An image about a little girl with chocolate brown eyes, bronze curls and rosy cheeks. I heard her baby voice ringing in my ears as she laughed. It was the most beautiful sound in the world.
"Mommy loves you so much, baby." I whispered to the little creature inside me. I wanted to meet with it so badly.
"Bella?" An unexpected voice cut off the train of my thoughts and I froze.
A/N: Thanks for all your reviews. They mean a lot to me and I try to take your advices as much as I can. Thanks again. And review, please!