Love at First Sight
Disclaimer- I do not own Twilight. All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement intended.
Chapter 21
BPOV
After prom, we stopped at Edward's house to tell Carlisle and Esme the good news. They were happy for us. We got more hugs and kisses.
Carlisle hugged me saying, "Bella, I already think of you as a daughter, I'm glad Edward found you. I've never seen him so happy." Then he and Edward walked off in the direction off his office.
If vampires could cry, Esme would have been crying tears of joy. She kissed me on both cheeks, enveloping me in a bear hug. We walked to the living room so we could talk in comfort while I waited for Edward to take me home.
"This is happening so fast, I feel like it's all a dream." I said
"Take a deep breath, and enjoy every moment. As long as you're happy, then you're doing the right thing. You love each other, nothing else matters."
"You sound like my mom. She's always telling me to relax and have more fun. She thinks I'm too serious for a teenager." I laughed.
She laughed, too. "Well, I think of them as my children in most ways. I never could get over my mothering instincts — did Edward tell you I had lost a child?"
"No," I murmured, stunned, scrambling to understand what lifetime she was remembering.
"Yes, my first and only baby. He died just a few days after he was born, the poor tiny thing," she sighed. "It broke my heart — that's why I jumped off the cliff, you know," she added matter-of-factly.
"Edward just said you f-fell," I stammered.
"Always the gentleman." She smiled. "Edward was the first of my new sons. I've always thought of him that way, even though he's older than I, in one way at least." She smiled at me warmly.
"That's why I'm so happy that he's found you, dear." The endearment sounded very natural on her lips. "He's been the odd man out for far too long; it's hurt me to see him alone."
"You don't mind, then?" I asked, hesitant again.
"No." She smiled, reaching for my hand. "You're what he wants. You're his mate."
Alice and Rosalie joined us still discussing wedding plans. You would think the wedding was next month, instead of next year.
Edward and Carlisle joined us, "I should probably take you home," he said, "in case Charlie wakes up early."
Charlie was still asleep when we got home. He lifted me and carried me bridal style to my bedroom.
"Shouldn't you be saving this for the honeymoon?" I joked.
"If I had my way, your feet will never touch the ground again." He whispered before kissing me —melting my heart.
We were debating about when to tell my parents. I know Charlie is just getting used to the idea of me having a boyfriend now he has to think of me getting married. I was hoping Charlie wouldn't pull a stint with his guns like the first time Edward met him.
"Edward, as much as I hate facing Charlie with this, I think I should just be honest with him. I love being engaged to you and I don't want to hide it. Plus, my parents love me; they would want me to be happy. You make me happy. They have a year to see how much we love each other before the wedding." Maybe he'll ease up if he knew Edward was serious about me — that this is not a teenage crush for either of us. With than in mind, we decided to tell Charlie first thing in the morning, then we'll call my mom and visit her for a weekend, after I got my cast off.
"Bella, are you sure." He looked worried. "I love you and knowing you want to marry me is enough."
I could tell that he was being sincere and as much as I would like to get out of having another awkward conversation with Charlie, I knew I had to do the right thing. "Yes, I'm sure." His face lit up like the night sky during Fourth of July fireworks, he pulled me to his chest and gave me a bone crushing hug. I got ready for bed. It was such an exhausting day; I was fast asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
Edward left through the window and rang the doorbell while Charlie and I were having breakfast. I went to let him in.
"Hey, Charlie," Edward called, entirely relaxed.
"Hey, Edward. What's up?"
"We'd like to talk to you," Edward said, so serene. "We have some good news."
Charlie's expression went from friendliness to black suspicion in a second. He got up and walked to the living room, Edward and I followed and sat together on the couch.
"Good news?" Charlie growled, looking straight at me.
"Charlie, I realize that I've gone about this out of order. Traditionally, I should have asked you first. I mean no disrespect, but since Bella has already said yes and I don't want to diminish her choice in the matter, instead of asking you for her hand, I'm asking you for your blessing. I love her and by some miracle, she feels the same way about me. We're getting married, Charlie. Will you give us your blessing?"
And then I caught sight of the expression on Charlie's face, his eyes now locked on the ring.
"Guess I'm not that surprised," Charlie grumbled. "Knew I'd have to deal with something like this soon enough."
I exhaled.
"You sure about this?" Charlie demanded, glaring at me.
"I'm one hundred percent sure about Edward," I told him without missing a beat.
"Knew this was coming," he muttered to himself, frowning. Then, suddenly, his face went perfectly smooth and blank.
"Dad?" I asked anxiously. I glanced at Edward, but I couldn't read his face, either, as he watched Charlie.
"Ha!" Charlie exploded. I jumped in my seat. "Ha, ha, ha!"
I stared incredulously as Charlie doubled over in laughter; his whole body shook with it.
I looked at Edward for a translation, but Edward had his lips pressed tightly together, like he was trying to hold back laughter himself.
"Okay, fine," Charlie choked out. "Get married." Another roll of laughter shook through him. "But . . ."
"But what?" I demanded.
"But you have to tell your mom! I'm not saying one word to Renée! That's all yours!" He busted into loud guffaws.
Edward wanted to stay with me for moral support while I called my mom but I didn't what to subject him to that conversation. Charlie's words had terrified me. The ultimate doom: telling Renée. Early marriage was higher up on her blacklist than boiling live puppies.
"Well, Bella," Renée had said after I'd choked and stuttered out the impossible words: Mom, I'm marrying Edward. "I'm happy for you. While you were in the hospital, I saw how the two of you were. How devoted he was to you and when you woke up, I saw the way you were together. You're not very hard to read, sweetie."
And then she'd said the last thing that I'd ever expected to hear from my mother.
"You're not making my mistakes, Bella. You sound like you're scared silly, and I'm guessing it's because you're afraid of me." She'd giggled. "Of what I'm going to think. And I know I've said a lot of things about marriage and stupidity—and I'm not taking them back—but you need to realize that those things specifically applied to me. You're a completely different person than I am. You make your own kinds of mistakes, and I'm sure you'll have your share of regrets in life. But commitment was never your problem, sweetie. You're exactly like Charlie. Once you make up your mind, there is no reasoning with you. Of course, exactly like Charlie, you stick by your decisions, too. You have a better chance of making this work than most forty-year-olds I know." She laughed again.
"You're not… mad? You don't think I'm making a humongous mistake?"
"This isn't about me. This is about you. Are you happy?"
"I don't know. I'm having an out-of-body experience right now."
Renée had chuckled. "Does he make you happy, Bella?"
"Yes, but—"
"Are you ever going to want anyone else?"
"No, but—"
"But what?"
"But aren't you going to say that I sound exactly like every other infatuated teenager since the dawn of time?"
"You've never been a teenager, sweetie. You know what's best for you. My little middle-aged child. Luckily, you seem to have found another old soul."
We hung up after I promised to visit her soon.
Who could have foreseen her response? Not me. Certainly not Charlie. Maybe Alice, but I hadn't thought to ask her.
The big day was almost here. The day Edward and I were looking forward to. The day I got my cast off. I was planning something big but I wanted to keep it a secret. Since Edward couldn't read my mind, I knew it wouldn't be a problem.
A few weeks before, Edward planned a hunting trip so he would be in good shape for his promised lovemaking session — he wanted to be well fed so my blood wouldn't distract him. Of course he didn't tell the guys the reason he was so eager to go hunting. After the guys left, I told the girls my plan and they agreed to help. They went to tell Esme what was going on. I went to Carlisle and he took the cast off. One day didn't make a difference. Alice, Rosalie and I went to the spa — Alice decided that I needed the pampering for what I had planned. We stopped to pick up another one of that black lingerie Alice had bought me before — I blushed when I remembered what happened the day I wore it. We also picked up everything I needed to make the night a success. I wanted to recreate the bath scene Edward and Alice did the day I lost my Vcard, only this time, we would have the night to ourselves.
Alice called Jasper to beg him to go clubbing, she said she and Rosalie were tired of staying home. They agreed to meet at a club in Port Angeles. The girls would walk with a change of clothes in case they got dirty from the hunt. This way Edward couldn't read Alice's or Rosalie's minds when he got back. Esme knew the plan so she and Carlisle would leave as soon as Edward came home. Everything was set.
I heard Edward coming up the stairs and my heart started pounding. I don't know which one of us were more eager for this day.
EPOV
Esme and Carlisle rushed out the door as soon as I came, mumbling something about hunting. I heard music in my room so I ran upstairs to be with Bella. It's not often we get the house to ourselves so I was happy for the alone time. I could smell roses and jasmine and smiled at the thought of her curled up on the couch reading while she burned her candles to relax. I opened the door and froze. There were pillar candles lighting ever corner of the bedroom. Rose petals were scattered all over. She was wearing sexy black lingerie, lying in the middle of the bed. She took my breath away. She raised her leg to show me the cast was off. Looking more provocative. I slowly closed the door behind me and made my way to the bed, shedding my clothes along the way. I climbed unto the bed and took her in my arms.
"Do you know how much I love you?"
Before she could answer, I was tasting those sweet lips. I felt like this was the first time all over again. More than anything, I wanted to take her hard and fast. I promised to fuck her relentlessly when she got her cast off but this was not the time for that. Maybe later. I wanted to make love to her slowly and gently so I started off with kisses; sucking on her lips and her tongue, kissing her forehead, the tip of her nose, grazing my nose along her jaw and stopping to kiss the pulse in her throat; always going back to those sweet pouty lips. I could hear her heart rate picking up and smell her arousal but I was determined to go slow. I ignored my aching cock and concentrated on her. I kissed my way down to her breast. I wanted to enjoy seeing her in black lace a little longer this time, so I pulled the material away. This was easy because there really wasn't much of it to begin with. I'm sure she realized by now that I love her breasts. I could spend hours licking, sucking and massaging them. I knew this drove her crazy so I proceeded to do just that. I took my time, giving each one the same loving attention. I licked and sucked and nibbled and massaged and twisted her breasts and nipples. I was in heaven. She was writhing below me, arching her back, pushing them out even more and making those erotic sounds that just make my cock harder.
I moved down her body to her pussy. She was soaked. The sight and the smell of her juices inflamed my lust. I pushed the thin strip of material to the side, took a calming breath before I drove in. I pretended to be a cat and her pussy was a bowl of cream. I licked her with long strokes. Lapping at her, over and over before I gently parted her lips to reveal her swollen bud. I licked and sucked on that too. Pushing the tip of my tongue into it. Juices were coming out of her pussy faster than I could lick it up. I stuck my tongue inside her tight hole and fucked her with it. Sticking it in and out of her pussy. When she started begging for release, I used my fingers. I know exactly what she liked so my fingers went to work. I found the spongy spot inside that made her moan louder and started rubbing it while I sucked her clit. I felt the first spasm and couldn't hold out any longer. I got on my knees between her legs and slowly entered her. I leaned back on my heels; I held her hips, thrusting into her with long slow strokes as I slid her up and down my cock. I wasn't ready for either of us to cum. Slow and steady. In and out of that hot haven. Grinding my hips into her clit — I know it increases her pleasure. I kept up that slow steady pace for a while. Watching her emotions flashing across her face. I saw her hand reach out to grab the sheet so I increased the speed of my thrust. Going a little faster. Giving her just enough to push her over the edge. I stayed in her through each spasm but I didn't cum. This first round was all for her. I leaned over her and kissed her.
"Round one" I whispered. "How many do you think you could take?"
I gently removed her "outfit" as she called it the last time to continue my relentless pursuit of making her go mindless with pleasure.
"Wait, let's go to the bath. I have another surprise for you."
I picked her up and took her to the bathroom. I almost felt like this was déjà vu. She had recreated the bathroom perfectly. I walked into the tub with her and proceeded to wash every inch of her body. Paying particular attention to her pussy and breasts. She turned around and did the same for me. When her hands touched my cock, I almost lost it. She rose up and slowly lowered herself on my cock. We both sighed. She rode my cock hard. Her breasts were right in my face and I need no other invitation. I sucked and massaged them to my heart's content. She held onto my shoulders, moving up and down, increasing the pace the closer she came to her orgasm. Going faster and faster until we were both screaming with our release.
"Round two." I teased, with another kiss on her lips. We both laughed as we got out of the tub. We didn't get out of the bathroom until round five. I took her to bed for round six then I had pity on her and decided to let her sleep.
"Next time, let's try for ten or fifteen, but we have to start early in the morning. One whole day of mind blowing orgasms. Good night my Bella, my love, my life." I kissher again, just a peck on her lips.
"Good night Edward. I love you." She murmured half asleep already. I chuckled and wrapped her in my arms. Content to watch her sleep. wondering again at how perfect she was. She has really grown since I saw her that first day at school. I never thought it was possible, but I love her more and more every day.
BPOV
The day I got my cast off, was another wonderful memory I'll treasure forever. After hours of making love, I finally fell asleep in Edwards arms.
After the proposal, time flew by in a whirl. I had the happiest summer of my life. If I thought my life had changed after the accident, that was nothing compared to what happened once I agreed to marry Edward.
We had a family meeting and it was decided that I should wait until I finish high school before Edward changed me. This way, I could pretend to go away to college, while Edward and I find a secluded place for us to spend the first year. Apparently the first year after the change is crucial because newborn vampires are impulsive and hard to control. Edward wants to keep me away from humans so I don't have to deal with the temptation, or the possibility of slipping up and attacking someone.
The Cullen women could talk of nothing else but invitations, designers and wedding dates. Renée had unexpectedly immersed herself in wedding plans. She'd spent hours on the phone with Esme— no worries about the in-laws getting along. Renée adored Esme, but then, I doubted anyone could help responding that way to my lovable almost-mother-in-law.
Edward insisted on showering me with gifts. Suddenly I had two new cars — a before car to protect me from mishap before the change and an after car that was fast and sleek because I would be indestructible so I wouldn't need the protection anymore. The before car was some special car he had on loan. He had to teach me how to operate it because it was so high tech and worlds apart from my old truck. One day I went to get gas and two men at the gas station were salivating over the car.
"Um, miss?"
I turned, and then wished I hadn't.
"I'm sorry to bother you, but could you tell me what kind of car you're driving?" the tall one asked.
"Um, a Mercedes, right?"
"Yes," the man said politely while his shorter friend rolled his eyes at my answer.
"I know. But I was wondering, is that… are you driving a Mercedes Guardian?" The man said the name with reverence. I had a feeling this guy would get along well with Edward, my fiancé "They aren't supposed to be available in Europe yet," the man went on, "let alone here."
Like always, as soon as I started thinking about Edward I was caught up in a dizzy spin of fantasies.
The stranger had to clear his throat to get my attention; he was still waiting for an answer about the car's make and model.
"I don't know," I told him honestly.
"Do you mind if I take a picture with it?"
It took me a second to process that. "Really? You want to take a picture with the car?"
"Sure—nobody is going to believe me if I don't get proof."
"Can't imagine what you'd need missile-proof glass and four thousand pounds of body armor for around here. Must be headed somewhere more hazardous."
Body armor. Four thousand pounds of body armor. And missile-proof glass? I was so fragilely human, so accident-prone, so much a victim to my own dangerous bad luck, apparently I needed a tank-resistant car to keep me safe.
I remembered the day Edward pulled up in the car. When Charlie commented on how beautiful it was he calmly told him that it was an engagement gift for me. I would never forget the look in his eyes when he explained the need for the new car to me. "Bella, I can't be with you all the time and I can't live with the thought of something happening to you. Please accept the car. You mean the world to me. I can't take chances with your life. It would give me peace of mind knowing that you're safe even when I'm not around." What he failed to mention was just how indestructible the car was. I shook my head and smiled. Overprotective Edward strikes again.
"Hey," the tall man called, cupping his hands to the glass in an effort to peer in.
"We're done now. Thanks a lot!"
"You're welcome," I called back, and eased the pedal—ever so gently—down. Unlike my truck where I had to mash the pedals to the floor, this car was the complete opposite. Just a little touch is all you need.
I had a shiny black credit card which Alice and Rosalie were happy to help me use. When I pull out my black card, people stare at me and act like I'm a celebrity — I could picture the wheels turning in their heads while they tried to figure out who I was. Whenever Edward went hunting, we'd pile into Rosalie's car and go to Seattle. We also made a few overnight trips to LA mostly when Alice predicted a heavy smog cover; else they would have to stay indoors until the sun goes down. Sometimes the guys came with us and three cars would be racing down the highway. We travel late at night or at the crack of dawn when the roads are not busy. They hate driving slow so that's the best alternative.
I had more spa treatments this summer than in my entire life, every inch of my body was buffed, shaved, wrapped and massaged; and I had more clothes than I could wear if I live for a hundred years. Surprisingly, I was enjoying myself. What's that saying – 'if you can't lick them join them'. Well that was my new motto. I realized that the Cullens could talk you into doing anything so I stopped saying no and went with the flow — as long as it wasn't against my principles and it wasn't illegal.
As I predicted, Charlie became more lenient about the time I spent with Edward and his family. Secretly, I think he was glad I got along so well with all of them. He used to feel guilty about leaving me alone so much. I still found time for Angela and we went on double dates to the movies and dinner a few times over the summer.
True to their word, the Cullen men took Charlie to a few baseball games. Edward even went fishing with him one day — while I went to the spa with his sisters. They were making plans to go deep sea fishing.
One night when I was sleeping over at the Cullens'— Edward was out hunting — Rosalie came to Edward's room.
"Would you like to hear my story, Bella? It doesn't have a happy ending — but which of ours does?"
I nodded, though I was frightened by the edge in her voice.
"I lived in a different world than you do, Bella. My human world was a much simpler place. It was nineteen thirty-three. I was eighteen, and I was beautiful. My life was perfect."
She stared out the window at the silver clouds, her expression far away. She told me her mother was a homemaker and her father worked in a bank. Her parents wanted to climb the social ladder and saw her beauty as a way to accomplish that. They basically threw her at Royce King; son of the richest family in their town. Royce courted her and she was happy. She barely knew him but she thought she was in love with him.
"I was in love with the idea of love"
She thought they would be married and have babies — that's something she really wanted. One night on her way home after visiting her friend, she was accosted by a drunken Royce and his friends. One thing led to another and she was raped by all of them and left to die in the street.
Rosalie broke off suddenly, clenching her teeth together. It pulled me out of her story, and I realized that the horror was not over. There would be no happy ending, as she'd promised. I wondered if this was why she had so much more bitterness in her than the rest of them - because she'd been within reach of everything she'd wanted when her human life was cut short.
Carlisle was in the area; he smelled the blood so he picked her up and brought her to his house where he changed her.
"I remembered something sharp cutting me, my throat, my wrists, my ankles. I screamed in shock, thinking he'd brought me there to hurt me more. Then fire started burning through me, and I didn't care about anything else. I begged him to kill me. When Esme and Edward returned home, I begged them to kill me, too. Carlisle sat with me. He held my hand and said that he was so sorry, promising that it would end. He told me everything, and sometimes I listened. He told me what he was, what I was becoming. I didn't believe him at first — everybody knows vampires weren't real. He apologized each time I screamed."
This is why Edward wants me to hear their stories. He wants me to be prepared for the pain and he wants me to realize what I would be giving up. Rosalie was resentful because she didn't get to fulfill her dreams. He doesn't want me to feel this way when I look back at my life.
"Edward wasn't happy. I remember hearing them discuss me. I stopped screaming sometimes. It did no good to scream."
"'What were you thinking, Carlisle?' Edward said. 'Rosalie Hale?'" Rosalie imitated Edward's irritated tone to perfection.
"I didn't like the way he said my name, like there was something wrong with me.
"'I couldn't just let her die,' Carlisle said quietly. "It was too much - too horrible, too much waste.'"
"'I know,' Edward said, and I thought he sounded dismissive. It angered me. I didn't know then that he really could see exactly what Carlisle had seen.
"'Don't you think she's just a little recognizable, though? The Kings will have to put up a huge search - not that anyone suspects the fiend,' he growled.
"It pleased me that they seemed to know that Royce was guilty."
She went on to tell me that she tracked down Royce's friends and killed them one at a time. Saving Royce for last so he would know what was coming. She put on a wedding dress and went to the place he was hiding in. He had guards so she killed them, broke down the door and killed him slowly. She was proud of the fact that she didn't drink any of their blood. She was thoughtful for a moment, and I wondered if she'd forgotten my presence again. But then she smiled at me, her expression suddenly triumphant.
"You know, my record is almost as clean as Carlisle's," she told me. "Better than Esme. A thousand times better than Edward. I've never tasted human blood," she announced proudly. She didn't think taking a life was the same, whether you drank blood or not.
"I'm surprised Edward didn't tell you more about it."
"He doesn't like to tell other people's stories - he feels like he's betraying confidences, because he hears so much more than just the parts they mean for him to hear."
She smiled and shook her head. "I probably ought to give him more credit. He's really quite decent, isn't he?"
"I think so."
"I can tell." Then she sighed. "I haven't been fair to you, either, Bella. Did he tell you why? Or was that too confidential?"
"He said it was because I was human. He said it was harder for you to have someone on the outside who knew."
Rosalie's musical laughter interrupted me. "Now I really feel guilty. He's been much, much kinder to me than I deserve." She seemed warmer as she laughed.
"What a liar that boy is." She laughed again.
"He was lying?" I asked, suddenly wary.
"Well, that's probably putting it too strongly. He just didn't tell you the whole story. What he told you was true, even truer now than it was before. However, at the time . . ." She broke off, chuckling nervously. "It's embarrassing. You see, at first, I was mostly jealous because he wanted you and not me."
"But you love Emmett . . . ," I mumbled.
She shook her head back and forth, amused. "I don't want Edward that way, Bella. I never did - I love him as a brother, but he's irritated me from the first moment I heard him speak. You have to understand, though . . . I was so used to people wanting me. And Edward wasn't the least bit interested. It frustrated me, even offended me in the beginning. But he never wanted anyone, so it didn't bother me long. Even when we first met Tanya's clan in Denali - all those females! Edward never showed the slightest preference. And then he met you." She looked at me with confused eyes.
I was only half paying attention. I was thinking about Edward and Tanya and all those females, and my lips pressed together in a hard line.
"Not that you aren't pretty, Bella," she said, misreading my expression. "But it just meant that he found you more attractive than me. I'm vain enough that I minded."
"But you said 'at first.' That doesn't still . . . bother you, does it? I mean, we both know you're the most beautiful person on the planet." I laughed at having to say the words - it was so obvious. How odd that Rosalie should need such reassurances.
Rosalie laughed, too. "Thanks, Bella. And no, it doesn't really bother me anymore. Edward has always been a little strange." She laughed again.
"I think I started coming around, really respecting you as a person when I heard that you went willingly to James to keep not only your parents save, but Edward. The thought that you loved him enouth, you loved him the way I love Emmett, was enough to melt the last of my resentment. I know everyone thought you were mated but that really made it clear to me. Plus the fact that James - who is a thousand times stronger than you, would treathen to hurt you, was a reminder of what I went through with Royce and his friends. I wanted to protect you from him. I've never felt that way about anyone except Emmett. Lucky for James, he was already dead and burned before I got to Florida. I never told you how much I appreciated what you did for my brother. I'm not a people person." She stopped again and smiled at me.
"But part of me envies you."
"What?"
"I envy you. Don't you see, Bella?" Her voice was suddenly more passionate than before, even while she'd told her unhappy story. "You already have everything. You have a whole life ahead of you - everything I want. You have a choice. I didn't. None of us did. I'd trade everything I have to be you. I just wish for your sake, that there was another way." Then she turned to leave.
"I hope I didn't freighted you."
"No, I'm fine." I lied. No use in telling her that I'll probably have a nightmare tonight about an avenging angel in a wedding dress.
When Edward comes back, I have to find out more about Tanya and all those females in Alaska. I had to be prepared if I was going to meet them. Charlie had consented to me going. Officially, I was part of the Cullen family now so Charlie didn't think anything of me going with them to visit their family in Alaska. I will meet the infamous Tanya.