All songs can be found on my blog: drotuno. blogspot. com (without spaces) and as always...SM owns everything.

CHAPTER 25

BELLA

"Love, how'd you get the truck here?" Edward asked, his eyebrow raising.

I looked over at it, snickering. We were at the Volvo, getting ready to leave. It was still morning, misty, and a little chilly.

A sadness filled me, but I said, "Emmett towed it." I sighed. "They're coming to pick it up today."

Instantly, he was in front of me, between me and the truck. "Who is, love?" he asked, seeing my sadness.

"I'm selling it as...scrap metal." My breath hitched on the last two words. "It's time to let it go. So, we told them where it would be. Rose set it up."

He turned to look at it, and I could see the same memories flitting through his mind that I had. Everything had happened in that truck. That truck had been in almost every moment of our beginning. It was there when he saved me from Tyler's van, I was leaning against it when we had our first kiss; he even drove it the day he came back to me.

"Bella," he said, turning back to me. "You don't have to."

I smiled up at him, knowing everything about Edward was about making me happy.

"It's okay," I said, cupping his face. "I have everything I want right here." I leaned in to kiss him and then pulled back, looking at my truck again. "It is the end of an era, though, isn't it?" I snickered.

"Yeah," he said, smiling my favorite smile. He looked at me, back at my truck, and then to me again. "You want to send it off in style?"

I laughed as he picked me up and set me into the cab, tumbling into me.

~oOo~

Time seemed to stumble forward as the wedding loomed closer. We tested my shield in public more times than I could count, but Carlisle begged me to start school after the summer at Dartmouth. He said we were already accepted and that he would write off my missed classes as an illness. Since I'd missed the weeks before finals, I relented, thinking I wouldn't have passed anyway.

Carlisle was still working with me. One morning, I was absolutely beside myself, trying to stop Jasper. Edward tried more than once to get me to stop, but I kept going.

Jasper, true to his word, never hit me with fear again, but he relished it when I couldn't stop laughing or flew into an angry frenzy when I couldn't block him. The last time, I was so angry that I mentally yanked down my shield, physically shaking and trying to hold it closed.

It held tight, too. I saw Jasper's face change when I didn't react the way he thought I should. When he raised an eyebrow at me, I matched it, smirking. I folded my arms across my chest, and Alice burst into giggles, clapping. Finally, I thought to Edward, and he shot me a wink.

Once I'd mastered blocking Jasper, Carlisle wanted to see if I could shield more than one person. I managed it only for seconds at first, falling into giggling heaps on the floor with Alice. It took ten minutes for Edward and Jasper to get us to calm down enough to even think about trying it again because every time we looked at each other, the laughter would start all over. They finally gave up and let us laugh until it wore off, just shaking their heads at us.

Seeing Charlie was great. I was able to go home for visits, though never unsupervised. Alice or Edward would always go with me. Charlie was right, though; he was never home. He'd taken to staying with Sue, and I urged him more and more to talk to her.

Some major baseball game was coming up, and Alice thought it would be fun to have a party. Emmett and Edward set up the large plasma outside on the deck, and Alice and I invited everyone.

"This'll be like a pre-going away thing," she said, making a list of everyone that was coming. "But not pre-wedding...not a chance!" She giggled, and I knew that she was up to something major with that.

We'd invited a ton of people, and most were human, so my shield was up. All of the pack was coming, including Jake and Anna. I wanted Angela and Ben there and relented to inviting Jessica, Mike and Lauren, being told that they would most likely behave themselves. I didn't care, really. I just didn't want trouble.

Alice and Rose decided to make the inside of the house a dance floor, leaving the outside for the sports fans.

"This way, everyone is happy," Alice said cheerily.

I laughed, watching all the guys roll their eyes. They knew that there was no stopping her. They never would've tried, either.

Jake and Anna showed early. Jake wanted to help, so Esme put him work at the grill, cooking burgers and hotdogs. At first, he was at a loss, but Anna and Emmett coached him, and he took to it quickly.

Carlisle, Jasper, and Edward were tossing a football around, waiting for more people to show up, and I walked over to watch them.

"Hey, Bells, catch!" I heard Jasper yell.

I'd never caught a football in my life, much less one thrown with the strength he had put behind it. I flinched, narrowing my eyes and bracing for impact, but it never came. I watched as it ricocheted in mid-air, veering off wildly.

"What..." Jasper said.

"...the hell..." Emmett said from behind me.

"...was that?" Edward ended.

Carlisle laughed. "Well done, little one!"

"Was that me?" I asked, my mouth falling open.

Carlisle chuckled, nodding and walking toward me. He stopped a few feet from me, and Jasper and Edward joined him.

"Love, put your shield down. We can't get to you," he said, smiling.

"Oh, sorry," I mumbled, biting my bottom lip. I dropped the shield, and they all walked up to me.

Carlisle wrapped an arm around my shoulders, still chuckling.

"Impressive," Edward said, kissing my forehead.

"That was some seriously cool shit," Emmett announced, beaming.

I just shook my head and said, "Great. Let me guess... Tomorrow's practice is 'what weird shit can we throw at Bella' day," I said as they burst into laughter. I looked up at them, smirking, and shook my head again.

As game time got closer, people started trickling in. The boys from La Push all came, bringing girlfriends if they had them. They drove Jake crazy, eating like pigs, going back for fourths and fifths. Eventually, they settled down in the chairs and chaises in front of the plasma.

I noticed that all the boys had imprinted except for Seth and Quil, but it looked like Quil was having a harder time with it. Occasionally, I would see him glance at all the couples around him, jealousy plain on his face.

Jake caught me staring at Quil at one point and said, "Don't feel sorry for him. He's being a pain in the ass about being one of the few that hasn't imprinted. He's driving us crazy." He folded his arms across his chest and snickered.

I glared at him for a moment, watching Anna and Edward approach. "How quickly you forget, Jacob," I snapped. "Do you not remember feeling that same damn way once? Or has happiness erased your memory completely?" I growled.

"Jacob," Anna said, frowning. "Don't act pompous. It's unattractive...and rude."

"Oh, shit," Jake said, rolling his eyes. "Here we go... I knew it would happen eventually."

Edward chuckled, shaking his head and putting his hands on my shoulders.

I ignored him, continuing to look at Jacob. "You were just as big a pain in the ass, I can assure you of that," I sniped.

"Just because you have something he doesn't," Anna started, pointing at him, "doesn't make you better. He's suffering, just like you did."

"Holy shit!" Jake yelled. "I got it! My bad...I'm sorry..." He put his hands up in surrender.

"Jackass," we both said, stopping and looking at each other. We burst into laughter, falling into chairs and holding our sides.

"Wow," Edward, still chuckling, said to Jacob. "That was just a little scary."

Jake looked at him and nodded, his eyes wide.

The boys left us to our snickers, and we broke into conversation about our men. Anna wanted to know more about how Edward and I met, so I gave her a little of the history. She was a romantic at heart, I could tell. She gasped and laughed at all the right places. She asked about our time apart, tears falling when I explained the way we'd parted and why. Then, I told her how he came back, watching as tears fell again.

I looked up once, seeing Edward looking at me, nothing but pure love radiating from him. I dropped my shield and asked, Are you eavesdropping?

He nodded, smiling.

It's not like you don't know the story, love, I said.

He laughed, his head falling back.

I love you, did you know?

He nodded again, smiling, and mouthed, "I love you, too."

She asked about my time with Jacob. I was shocked to know that he had been completely honest with her about his temper and abusive actions.

"He's so sorry, Bells," she said, shaking her head. "He didn't have control, but it's no excuse. It keeps him up at night, did you know that?"

"No," I said, sighing. "I still have angry moments about him, so I guess it's even."

"I don't blame you. He was supposed to be your friend," she said. "He was wrong, and I told him so."

"Hello, girls," I heard from behind me. I looked up to see my Dad and Sue standing there.

"Hey, Dad...Sue," I said, smiling.

They were so cute together, smiling and happy. He waited until she sat and then took his own seat to watch the game. Dad settled into the game, leaving the girls to conversation as the wedding talk began.

Soon, Alice, Rose, and Esme joined us, and they were describing everything for Sue, getting her caught up. She was shocked to find out that I didn't know anything about the honeymoon, but I assured her that a surprise was fine, telling her about Valentine's Day and New York.

When they started about wedding nights, that's when I was done. Really done. My eyes scoured for Edward, finding him talking to Carlisle and Sam by the barbeque. I dropped my shield and thought, Edward, if you truly love me, you'll save me from this evil group of women!

His head shot up, and he was fighting a smile.

Please, baby? I begged, practically jumping up and down in my chair.

I watched as he folded his arms, torturing me. When Sue started giving me wedding night advice, my mind snapped at him. Edward Cullen!

He jumped, causing a strange look from Sam.

If you expect to even have a wedding night, you'd better save me!

I watched as he excused himself from Sam and Carlisle, heading my way. He caught Sue and Esme discussing lingerie and stopped, doubling over with laughter.

You think it's funny, Edward? I thought to him and glared. I thought of a different tactic. Baby, I will to ANYTHING if you get me away from these women. I sent him mental pictures of just what I was willing to do, and he stopped laughing immediately.

I snickered as he forced a straight face, walking up to the large, cackling group of women. "Excuse me, ladies," he said in his best good-boy manners. "I was just wondering if I could borrow my beautiful fiancée for a moment."

Alice and Rose rolled their eyes, and Esme snickered, looking at me. Sue and Anna...melted.

He held his hand out for me, and I took it, squeezing it too hard. I dropped my shield in mid-sentence. ...can save me from violent vampires and pissed off werewolves, but ask him to take me away from crazy women, and he laughs!

As we walked into the house, he started laughing again but said, "I'm sorry, love."

I looked around the inside of the house, and there were only a few people inside, but they were playing Xbox with Jasper and Emmett in the living room.

I reached out and grabbed the front of his pants, causing him to gasp. "Let's go, love," I said, dragging him behind me up to our room.

I closed the door behind us, leaning against it. "What do you want, Edward?" I asked, a smile playing on my lips.

He looked slightly confused but didn't move, the back of his legs against the side of the bed.

"I owe you; you did come and save me – laughing, but still...you saved me. What do you want?" I asked again, stalking toward him.

A nervous laugh escaped him, but I watched as his eyes darkened. He was gorgeous, standing there in khaki pants and a light blue button-down. He had a white T-shirt underneath, but it was his neck I couldn't take my eyes off. There was a tendon that flexed when he swallowed that my tongue was aching to taste.

"Bella," he said, smiling. "You don't..."

I was standing in front of him, reaching my fingers to lightly trace his neck. "Pick, Edward," I said, still staring at his neck, his skin. "There's a house full of people down there. We'll be missed soon. Pick, or I will." I couldn't resist it. Leaning forward, I traced my tongue from the collar of his T-shirt to his jaw. His taste...there was nothing to compare it to.

"I-I can't," he stuttered. "Oh, Bella..." His voice trailed off as I took his earlobe in my mouth.

"Fine..." I smiled, his earlobe still between my teeth. When I pushed him back, he fell onto the bed. "My choice," I mused, crawling up his body.

I knew we didn't have time for everything, but I had to have a taste of him. Lucky Edward was going to get a freebie. I kissed him, feeling his arms snake around me and pull me close. I broke from his mouth, giving that neck another long, slow kiss, and stepped off the end of the bed to stand between his legs.

I reached down, unbuckling his belt and sliding the zipper down. Once again, I realized I loved the fact that he wore no underwear. I groaned at the sight of him. Kneeling down, I took him into my mouth, relishing the flavor of the liquid that was already there.

My eyes never left his. I watched as he sat up, weaving his hands into my hair and pulling it away from my face. "Do you like that, my love?" he asked, his eyes now coal black.

I moaned but dropped my shield and let my thoughts flow. He growled low, causing a vibration all the way through his arousal and into my mouth. My thoughts hit him harder than I was expecting because he gripped my hair tightly. I showed him that the taste of him was better than anything on earth, that the sounds he made drove me wild, and when he talked, it was more than I could handle.

I took him all the way in, and he said, "God, your lips are beautiful around my cock," he moaned, softly enough only I could hear. "Do you like it when I fuck your mouth, Bella?" he asked, his mouth hanging open slightly.

There it is, I thought to him. There's my dirty boy.

I watched as a slight smile twitched on his face, knowing that I loved it. It was a side of Edward that no one knew about but me, and I adored it, cherished it. I couldn't say what about it turned me on more...but I thought it was that velvet voice that I felt everywhere combined with words that made what we did that much more intimate. It was all mine.

I swirled my tongue around his tip, only to take him all in, placing my hand on his balls.

He growled again, his cock twitching in my mouth. "I'm so fucking close. Faster, love," he whispered so softly, pushing on the back of my head.

When I gripped his balls and grazed my teeth along his length, he growled, coming hard in my mouth. I cleaned him up, living on the flavor of him. After zipping him back up, I buckled his belt. I looked at him, and he was still breathing heavy.

"Dangerous creature," was all he mumbled, pulling me to him and kissing me.

He started to drag me back on the bed, but I said, "Stop, baby," pulling back and looking at him. An adorable pout was on his face, and I kissed him quickly. "As much as I would really like to lose ourselves up here, there are a ton of people outside," I said, smiling.

"Okay, love," he said, setting me on my feet, "but tonight...you're mine." He smiled my favorite cocky smile and tucked his shirts back in.

"Right, like I would argue," I said, giggling. "Oh, no...I don't want it, no..." I said sarcastically.

He was on me instantly, tickling me. I squealed and squirmed in his arms as he picked me up. He was grinning as I kicked my legs.

"We are so going to get busted, Edward," I said, snickering.

"Okay, okay," he said, laughing and setting me down.

As we got back downstairs, I could see Emmett messing with the stereo, starting music. Angela, Ben, Jessica, Lauren, and Mike were all hanging out in the living room.

"Hey, guys," Angela piped up, smiling and walking to us.

"Hey, Ang," I said. "Hey, guys." I waved to the others. Might as well be the better person with Lauren.

"Geez, Bella," Ang said. "Did you get a makeover or something?" she asked, looking me over. I'd forgotten I hadn't seen her since my change.

I just laughed, feeling Edward squeeze my hand. "Something like that," I said, shaking my head. "You can't live with Alice without some of it rubbing off, I guess."

"I can imagine," Angela said, snickering.

Emmett started the music, playing Tone Loc's "Funky Cole Medina." He said, "Come on, little sis. Dance with me."

He snatched me up and forced me to dance.

"Em, we really have to move you out of the eighties. Seriously," I told him, laughing.

For as big as he was, Emmett could move. He was graceful and lithe. His happy nature gave what the room needed in every situation. Soon, others started to dance. Even Alice came in, happy to dance by herself. When the music switched to "Turn To You" by Christina Aguilara, Edward told Emmett he was taking me from him.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he rested his on my waist. He didn't say anything, just buried his nose in my hair, swaying us back and forth. I looked around and saw that Ben was dancing with Angela, and Mike was with Lauren. Her face was pensive. But what made me pull back and almost stop was Quil.

He was looking at Jessica as if she were the last person on Earth. I didn't even know he'd come in. But there they were, swaying, never taking their eyes off each other.

"He imprinted," I whispered.

"Yes," Edward said, looking down at me and smiling. "He's quite relieved. He thought there was something wrong with him," he murmured, kissing my hair.

"You know what this means, right?" I asked, snickering. "Jessica Stanley will know all about us within twenty-four hours."

He laughed, pulling me close. "Yes," he agreed, "but at least her crush on me is over. Look." He motioned with a tilt of his head, watching them.

I looked over, and they were still dancing, but their foreheads were pressed together. They were in their own world. Lauren was glaring at them, fire in her eyes.

"Sweet," I said, smiling.

"No, you're the sweet one," Edward said, leaning down and kissing me softly.

We kissed lightly for the remainder of the song. I didn't care who saw. We were in our own house, we were getting married in a month, and I couldn't resist him when he held me this close.

We sat down outside for the rest of the game, giving Quil and Jessica the space they needed. Lauren and Mike sat with Angela and Ben.

We were in the back, snuggled together in a chaise, a blanket wrapped around us like a shield. I had every intention of watching the game, but Edward monopolized my attention.

We spoke quietly to each other, kissing softly. He was tracing light circles under my shirt across the skin of my stomach. When his tongue lightly traced across my bottom lip and I opened my mouth to him, his hand went higher, cupping my breast. I sighed into his mouth.

I was done with guests, family...people in general. I was ready to steal him away. Knowing we couldn't go any further, I broke away from him, hating that we had to separate. He looked at my face, and I couldn't resist touching him. I caressed his cheek, rubbing my thumb along his bottom lip.

He kissed it, letting his tongue touch it briefly, and said, "I know, baby. Me, too."

Just as I was about to give in and kiss him again, we were interrupted by, "Um, Bells?" I looked up to see Quil and Jessica standing there. He looked radiant; she looked happy, but confused. "We're sorry to bug you, but I was wondering if Jess could ask you a few questions. See, I...we, um...I finally..."

"I know, Quil," I said, putting the poor thing at ease. I turned to look at Edward.

He smiled and said, "Sure, love. She could use your help to clarify some things, I'm sure." He kissed my head and bent to my ear to whisper, "You're mine tonight, though."

I giggled and playfully shoved him away. He chuckled and went to stand by Carlisle.

I looked back at Quil and Jessica. Standing, I said, "Let's go, Jess. I think I'll need some help on this."

With Jessica trailing behind me, I walked by Anna and tapped her on the shoulder. "I'm going to need your help with something."

She looked up at me and then to Jessica and said, "Okay." She kissed Jake, and then we all walked into the house.

Once in the living room, the three of us sat down on the couch. "Anna, this is Jessica," I introduced. "Apparently, Quil just imprinted," I said, snickering.

"No!" Anna smiled brightly. "Welcome to the family, Jessica!"

Jess turned red and said, "Thanks, um...Bella, I think I owe you a big apology." She looked up at me, nervous.

"No, it's fine," I said, letting it all go. "But you need to understand something, Jess. You can't tell anyone that which we are about to discuss. No one." I looked at Anna, and she was nodding, a serious look on her face.

"I know. That's what Quil said," she said, blushing at the mention of his name.

"That means Lauren and Mike, you know," I clarified. "They won't understand...and they'll get upset that you're being secretive. But Quil's life, your life...our lives," I said, pointing to myself and Anna, "depend on that secret."

"Okay," she said, nodding.

"Now, what questions did you have?" I asked.

"Um...Quil said that you were with the Cullens now," she said tactfully. "He said that you should be enemies, but you're not. Why?"

Anna piped up, smiling. "I can answer that, Bells," she said, and I nodded. "Jess, there are the vampires that you've heard about...they kill humans, drinking their blood...and they exist. The Quileute tribe...the wolf pack...they're sworn to protect humans from those. But the Cullens, they choose to drink from animals," she said, putting her hand on my leg, "and we're able to coexist."

"Oh," Jess said. "Animals?" she asked, looking at me. "Why?"

"Hmm," I mused, trying to sift through hazy human memories. "Edward probably put this better than I'm about to..." I said, snickering, and Anna giggled, "but we choose to restrain what we really are. We don't want to hurt humans; we want to be able to live among them. It's a life, that way...not just an existence."

"Is it hard?" she asked, looking at me nervously.

"For some more than others," I admitted, thinking about Jasper. "I'm really lucky. I have a huge support system," I said, smiling.

"Okay, and I don't really understand the whole imprinting thing..." Her voice trailed off.

I looked at Anna, who looked like she was trying to think of the best way to answer her.

"It's like love at first sight, but stronger," she said, smiling. "He's connected to you forever now. There's nothing he won't do for you...nothing can take him away from you."

"Did Edward imprint on you?" she asked me in awe.

"No," I said, smiling. "When a vampire chooses...um, someone" I was going to say mate, but I didn't think she could handle it—"it's almost instant, and it's for eternity. But it wasn't imprinting...that was love at first sight."

"Well, unless they fight it," Anna said, laughing, and I snickered.

"Um, and Quil mentioned something..." she mumbled, her face turning crimson. "Edward can read minds?" Her voice was barely a whisper.

I stared at her for a moment. "Yes," I answered, watching her cover her face in embarrassment.

"Oh, God," she said, tears coming into her eyes.

"Jessica," I said, smiling, "there's something you should know. He's way too much of a gentleman to ever say anything about thoughts he's heard. He's heard it all, and he's learned to ignore most things. He's happy for you."

"It was a crush, compared to now," she said, smiling. I smiled with her. "Do you hate me?" she asked, looking at me.

"No..." I laughed. "I know what he looks like!"—both girls collapsed into giggles—"and you didn't know," I said.

"And you're really getting married?" she asked, smiling. For the first time, it was a genuine smile.

"God, I hope so," my favorite velvet voice came from the doorway. He was leaning with his arms folded across his chest, smiling my favorite smile. Jessica and Anna turned, giggling at him. "Love, Charlie's leaving, and he wants to see you. Jessica," he continued, turning to look at Jess. "Lauren and Mike asked me to tell you that they're leaving but that Quil is hoping that you will let him take you." He sighed dramatically. "And Anna, Jake is ready to go, as well."

I smiled at him, nodding. "Wow, that's a lot of messages," I said, snickering.

He chuckled and nodded. Walking over to me, he held his hand out, and I took it, standing next to him.

"Bella, one more?" Jess asked, and I nodded, leaning against Edward. "Are you guys really moving away?"

I felt Edward nod, but I answered, "Yeah, Jess, it's time."

Edward squeezed my waist.

"Is it because you don't, um, age?" she asked, her brow wrinkling.

Edward answered for me. "Jessica," he said, and her eyes met his, "do you remember when we first came to Forks High?"

She nodded, reddening.

"Do you see I look exactly the same?"

She nodded again.

"Eventually, people start to get curious when we never get older. It's worse for my father. Our world has to stay quiet...it's a must, do you understand?"

She nodded again, but I could see that she was thinking.

"Once people start thinking we might be a little odd, we have to go. We've been here way too long, especially coming back for a year." He looked down at me, smiling.

"I don't want you to go," she said quietly. I could see that she was worried about being left in a world where she didn't know anyone. I knew that it would be frightening.

"Jess," I said, "the wedding is in a month, and we'll be back after the honeymoon until the end of the summer, but we have to go. I want you to stick with Anna. She won't let anything happen to you. I promise. Plus," I said, snorting, "Jake and Quil are best friends; you may not have a choice."

Anna was nodding and smiling.

We finally said our goodbyes to everyone. I watched as Jake and Quil helped Anna and Jess into Jake's car. They were all going somewhere they could talk. I promised Jessica that she could call me with any questions.

When Lauren and Mike left, they didn't say much. Lauren's face was sad, looking like she knew she'd just lost her best friend to a boy. Knowing that love always came first, I felt sad for her. She was alone in her selfishness and pride.

"That's an interesting emotion, Bells," Jasper said, walking up behind me. "She oozes contempt and hatred, and you feel sorry for her?"

I looked at my family as they all stood around me. "I feel sorry for her because she's alone," I said, looking at Jasper. "And unless she changes, she always will be."

Esme wrapped her arms around me, kissing my cheek. "Maybe she won't, little one."

"No," Alice said, snickering. "Bells is right. Right now, she and Mike are, um...drowning their sorrows in each other, but they'll hate themselves tomorrow."

"Ew!" I gasped, mortified. "Alice, there are times I don't want to know."

They all snickered.

Cleaning up was easy when everyone could move like the wind. Within minutes, the place, inside and out, was back to normal. The fire was still burning when I sat down in one of the lounges, sighing. I watched as everyone but Edward took off to go hunting. Being around that many humans took their toll on Jasper, so everyone decided to go.

Edward crawled up the lounge chair, resting his head on my chest. "I'm glad that's over," he said, snickering.

"Me, too," I agreed, laughing. "I've never answered so many questions," I admitted, kissing the top of his head.

He looked up at me and said, "You really like Anna," he said, searching my eyes. "You picked her for help instead of Emily or Jake, I noticed."

"Yeah, she reminds me of me – she accepted everything instantly without question," I said, running my hand through his unruly hair. "She treats everyone with respect and likes them for who they are, not judging them by what they are. She likes to take care of people," I said, smiling. "Jessica's in good hands."

"You're right, sweet girl," he said, smirking. "She has no fear. She's like you that way, but you are a thousand times more beautiful," he said, settling himself between my legs. His lips were really close; I could taste his breath mixed with mine.

"Biased," I whispered, smiling.

His lips were on mine then, his tongue begging for entrance. Moaning at the contact, I fisted my hands in his hair, locking his face to mine. I wrapped a leg around his hip, and he bucked into me. He growled, breaking from my mouth and nipping down my neck. I whimpered at the feel of him.

"You're all mine now," he said against my skin, pulling back to look at me. I could see that his eyes were black already. There was an intensity I wasn't prepared for, but my body reacted to him instantly, growling low in my chest. I pushed him back and ripped his shirts completely off him.

The atmosphere between us changed. The electricity was hot like the fire next to us. I watched as a smile crept across his face, and the rumble in his chest vibrated the chair we were on. His hand shot to my hair, fisting it and pulling my mouth to his. The kiss was all grunts, lips, tongues, teeth. He nipped at my bottom lip, and I dug my fingers into his back, raking up into his hair.

He pulled away from me, ripping my own shirt, and said, "I've watched you all night. That little tease earlier wasn't enough for me, my love."

I was nodding with him in agreement, a smile curling up on my own face.

He picked me up, slamming me onto his lap, causing an insane collision between us.

"Edward," I growled, grinding into him again, "that little tease means you owe me one." I dove for his neck, tasting the skin that I'd just had to kiss earlier that day.

"Oh, I know," he said, running his hands roughly all over the skin of my upper body, palming my breasts and squeezing, "and I intend to make us quite even." His voice was velvet, smooth, but full of menace. A wave of arousal hit me hard, and I shivered, pulling his earlobe into my mouth.

"Then stop talking," I said, snickering without humor, "and put that mouth of yours to better use."

I gasped at the growl that ripped through him. Looking at his eyes, he was radiating lust. Gripping my ass, he ground me into him, attacking my mouth with a kiss that, if I were human, would have made me completely stop breathing.

He stood up, holding onto me, without breaking my mouth from his. His tongue was all-consuming, battling mine for dominance, but I was losing, and I didn't care. When he did break from my mouth, my head fell back, and he nipped and laved at my neck. I squeezed my legs, using his stomach for any friction I could.

He got us inside the house, but I found myself pressed up against the wall at the bottom of the stairs. He thrust his arousal into me, still separated by his pants and my jeans. I cried out at it, wanting more. "Before tonight is over, you will scream my name, love," he growled, grinding against me again.

"Anything," I gasped. "More, now!" I gripped at the flesh of his shoulders as we tumbled down onto the stairs. A slight smile played on both of our faces because he had landed between my legs.

I could tell that he was loving that I couldn't be hurt anymore. There were times he still treated me gently, and I loved every second of it, but I loved my new body, and tonight, it wanted to play. I could feel my muscles singing with power.

I backed up a few stairs away from him, but he was crawling up with me. My elbows were planted on one step, and my feet a few down below, with Edward crawling between them. I watched as he smiled, grabbing the front of my jeans like I'd done to him earlier. With one swift yank, they were gone from my body. I moaned at the arousal that increased in my body.

Edward's nostrils flared, his hands gripping my thighs and forcing them apart. "I want it," he growled, looking from my center to my eyes and back again. His fingers ghosted up my thighs.

"Take it, it's yours," I groaned, wanting his mouth on me so badly that I was writhing.

"Mine," he whispered, almost to himself. He dove between my legs, licking and sucking.

When his tongue entered me and twisted, I cried out. "Holy fuck!" My hands gripped the carpet of the stairs. "You feel so good," I moaned.

"Tell me," he said, curling his fingers into me, his thumb circling my clit. "Tell me only I can do this...that this is mine, Bella."

"All yours," I growled, my hips raising off the stairs. "Forever," I moaned.

He dove in again, his mouth attaching to my clit, sucking it in. His tongue flicked over it again and again.

I exploded, seeing stars behind my eyes. "Edward," I screamed, fisting my hands in his hair.

Before I'd even calmed down, Edward ripped his pants off and slammed into me. I growled at the feeling, and then his mouth was on mine. I licked his lips covered in my flavor, and he started pumping into me.

"Harder," I gasped.

He attached his mouth to my neck and thrust into me with more force.

I put my foot on the stair rail, using it for leverage to meet his thrusts.

"That's right, baby, fuck me back," he breathed, fisting my hair again.

I wrapped both legs around him and flipped us over, slamming him into the stairs. I was now on top of him, and we were still connected. He gasped with surprise, biting his bottom lip sexily and gripping my hips. I rode him hard, bracing my hands on his shoulders.

One hand left my hip and palmed my breast, pinching my nipple. The other went between us, his thumb pushing against my sensitive bundle. "I want to feel you come on me, love," he said, pinching my clit.

I clenched down around him, feeling him pump into me at the same time. I fell forward, my forehead against his, breathing heavily.

His arms wound around me, hugging me closer. "Holy..." he breathed.

"Shit," I finished, starting to snicker.

I buried my face in the crook of his neck, feeling him chuckle, too. "That was..." He paused, trying to find the right word. "Amazing," he said, still chuckling.

I nodded into his shoulder, feeling him lift me up. Edward closed the door to our room, laying me on the bed. He lay half on top of me, brushing the hair from my face. We just stared at each other for a long time. I linked my fingers with his, holding his hand over my scar.

"I loved watching you today," Edward said, smiling. He leaned down to kiss my nose. "You're so much more comfortable with what we are than the rest of us were at the beginning."

I tilted my head and said, "I suppose, but it helps that I was prepared for this somewhat." I cupped his face with my other hand.

"Were you?" he asked, a serious expression on his face. "Prepared, I mean. I never want you to regret anything, love."

"I'm not saying that the whole shield thing wasn't a shock and I underestimated the strength thing...but I was with you and your family for almost a year, Edward," I said, smiling, and he chuckled.

I looked at him for a moment, thinking. He didn't say anything – just rubbed light circles with his thumb on the back of my hand.

"Do you know...did I ever tell you what I was thinking about on the trail the day you came back?" I asked.

He shook his head no.

"I was skipping class...avoiding Jake while trying to come up with a way to let him go. I was letting my emotions go. I was praying to God that I could see your face just one more time." I smiled up at him as his brow furrowed. "And then, you were there. So was Victoria," I said, rolling my eyes. "But still, there you were."

He didn't say anything still; he just looked at me with the most love I'd ever felt from him.

I continued, "At the time, I didn't think you would stay...but as soon as I saw you again, driving my truck, I knew I would never—never, Edward—love anyone else." I paused for a moment. "So, I'm comfortable because I have you. I'm okay with anything as long as you're there," I said, rubbing his cheek with my thumb.

I felt the emotions hit me hard, causing my breath to hitch.

"I love you, Bella," he said, releasing my hand after kissing it. He traced my bottom lip with his thumb and asked, "Was that why you were crying that day?"

I nodded, falling deeper in love with him. I opened my shield, letting him see the whole scene play out...my thoughts, my tears, my prayer. My moment was in full swing, staring up at Edward. He smiled softly, bending to kiss me. It started sweet, his tongue tasting my lips, caressing my tongue.

He moved, settling between my legs, and entered me. He pressed his forehead to mine and pumped into me, saying, "I have always loved you. I love the way your face lights up when I walk in the room," he said, kissing down my neck. "I love the way you look when you laugh...how beautiful you are when your angry." He linked our fingers together and held them above my head. "I love the fact that I can't hurt you anymore and that you still want to be my wife," he said, his breath hitching. "And I cannot wrap my head around the fact that I get to keep you, forever."

I pulled his face to mine, kissing him with all that I had. "Forever, Edward."