Rated M for Mature Content. 18 and older only please!

~Watching Emmett break down in her arms was extremely hard for Bella. She hadn't realized how much guilt he harbored for losing her in the forest and subsequently thinking she was dead all these years. As she hugged him to herself, she struggled not to let the emotions consume her.

When Emmett looked into her eyes, she smiled softly at him, she cupped his cheek in her hand and pressed her lips to his. The venom in his eyes dissipated and she kissed his nose.

"Are you alright?" He asked after a while and she smiled sadly with tears in her eyes. He was thinking of her feelings after everything he'd just told her.

"It's you I'm worried about. I'm so touched, Emmett. There's no reason for you to feel guilty. You couldn't have known what happened to me. I'll never be able to make up for hurting you the way I did…" She trailed off as her voice caught on a hiccup. She swallowed hard to dislodge the lump that formed in her throat.

Standing abruptly, he wrapped his burly arms around her neck and hugged her, her nose squashed against his bicep. Emmett placed kisses on the top of her head. "Stop. Let's just stop, please. Come on, let's finish this talk so we can go for that run."

Letting loose a wet laugh, she sat up straight as Emmett released her and wiped her tears on the back of her hand. "What else is there to talk about?" She asked him.

"Everything. We've got 70 years worth of a life to catch up on and we only know the basics still." He commented lightly as he grabbed her hand and pulled her off the counter and headed for the french doors to the backyard.

"Right. Enough with the heavy." She said with a roll of her eyes.

They chatted lightly, throwing anecdotes back and forth of the fun they'd had while they were apart as they laid on the back deck, soaking up the rare sunshine. Well, she soaked it up while Emmett blinded her with his diamond-shining skin. Their fingers were linked together and by the time the sun set, they'd learned so much more about each other. There was no jealousy or animosity and it seemed that even the guilt had been washed away by the cleansing they'd had in the kitchen.

Bella stood as the crickets started their nightly song and the stars shone brightly on this equally rare, clear night. The weather forecast called for clear skies for the foreseeable future; as did Alice's confirmation. She held her hand out for Emmett to take, though he didn't need it. The look in his eyes stopped her short. She was about to challenge him to a run but his black eyes glittered with emotion and a small smile danced on his lips. She was enraptured by the look of pure love on his features and could only stare at him while he lifted his hands to her shoulders.

Her breath caught in her throat as he used a finger of each hand to gently push the thin straps of her dress off of her. The fabric made a soft swooshing sound as it slid down her body to the decking but Emmett kept his eyes on Bella's. She took initiative to extend the same courtesy to him, grasping the hem of his Nike pullover and lifting it over his head. She had to stand on her tiptoes and his hands immediately spanned around her waist, holding her steady. The cool, electric touch of her mate on her naked skin flamed the desire in her belly, making her gasp softly.

She unbuttoned his jeans and pushed them off his hips. He stepped out of them and stripped the tight black tee he was wearing. He was going commando and Bella's eyes drifted to his groin with a lascivious smirk. As she reached out to touch him, he grabbed her fingers, her eyes darting up to find him shaking his head. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed each one of her fingertips, holding her eye contact.

"You are so enchanting." He murmured into her palm before dropping a kiss there.

She felt the heat of her blush rise over her cheeks and she tilted her head down to look at him under her lashes. She was sure there were stars in her eyes as she gazed at him.

"You're the one who enchants me. Without you, I am nothing." She whispered reverently. Her heart was pounding, the bond thrummed with the love that flowed between them and Bella swore she could see it glowing.

He entwined their fingers and started walking down the deck stairs next to her as they stared into each other's eyes, heading slowly toward the treeline under the bright moonlight. Their bodies gravitated toward each other as they stepped into the brush and bushes, barely paying attention to the sticks, leaf litter, and fallen logs in their path. Without any real signal, only the spark in their eyes, they started running. For long minutes, the couple sprinted into the trees laughing, darting around tree trunks and hopping over boulders. She could run very fast in her human form but Emmett had to keep his pace slower so he didn't leave her in the dust. When he smirked at her, she just knew it was time and she seamlessly shifted into her panther just as Emmett sped off into the night with Bella on his heels.

After a long, playful run and a steaming hot shower, Bella ate a quick dinner in the kitchen before they headed upstairs into Emmett's bedroom. He opened the door with a flourish and she sat on the bed with her heart in her throat. This would be their first time as one and she was finding herself unusually nervous. Emmett knelt in front of her and stared into her eyes as his hands stroked her body, calming her down with his addictive touch. She had to remind herself several times that this was her mate, they were in love, there was nothing to be embarrassed about. All she kept thinking was this was Emmett. Her best friend. She'd seen his penis for the first time when his dad had taught him to take a 'wee' on the tree outback his house when they were six years old.

Emmett seemed to understand her apprehension and kissed her softly while his hands continued to calm her nerves. Letting his hands soothe her, she cupped his face and pressed her lips to his. He pushed her back onto the bed and while she scooted up to the overstuffed pillows, he crawled up the mattress toward her. She felt like he was stalking her, the way his eyes sparkled and his lips curled up in a devilish smirk. That seemed to settle her nerves completely as scenes of their previous escapades flashed through her mind. Her body wanted him, it thrummed with anticipation.

Covering her body with his, Emmett nestled between her thighs and wrapped his arms under her shoulders, holding her tightly to him and stared into her soul. Their noses brushed against each other and they shared breaths as the connection between them pulsed. It was such an intimate position -him, hard as a rock; her, slick with need- staring into each other's eyes, pressed together. His heavy thighs pushed her legs apart and his hips connected with hers. She panted as the coil in her lower abdomen tightened.

He hadn't even entered her yet and she felt as if she would explode.

"I love you, Isabella." He murmured huskily against her lips, his nose brushing the side of hers.

Her chest swelled with the feelings he was evoking inside her. "I love you too, Emmett. Forever." She whispered.

"Forever."

He shifted his hips slightly and then without any warning, he snapped them forward, filling her instantly. He still held her tightly in his arms against his chest and she keened loudly, her eyes wide on his. He was fucking huge! Her slick core was more than ready to take him in but he filled her to bursting, brushing against her g-spot and shoving against her cervix with every slow thrust.

The pressure was building and she writhed underneath him, her legs wrapping around his hips, tiny feet resting on the back of his strong thighs and opening her up to accommodate him better. The position tilted her hips just so and she thought she was going to come apart at the seams.

There was a change in his eyes as he pulled his arms from underneath her and his lips peeled back over his teeth and she knew she was about to fuck the animal inside him.

Fire and ice, indeed.