# 14

Edward paced around Bella's bed, waiting for her to wake up. He'd bitten her numerous times seven days ago. Normally after three days the person was waking up, but Bella continued to sleep. He would have thought with all the venom he'd pumped into her that her change would have happened quicker, not slower.

In all honesty, Edward had been impatiently waiting for Bella to wake so he could see her eyes again. It had been nearly five and half years since the battle with James. There'd been no reason for her to fall unconscious, let alone stay that way for so long. Edward had desperately been hoping that by changing her to a vampire she'd wake again and he'd get to see her eyes once more.

Not that he'd left her side much in the past several years, but he'd been glued to her bedside for the past week, refusing to leave the room. He would be here when she woke up.

"It's almost time," Alice trilled, dancing into the room, Bella's parents following her and the rest of the family behind them.

"You're sure, Alice?" Edward pleaded, moving to stand next to her bed, near her head and across from the family.

"Yes."

A few moments later, Bella's eyes shot open, looking at the ceiling above her as she took a deep, unneeded breath. She felt overwhelmed, seeing the dust in air and the bright colors that her memory told had never been so. Her hearing seemed to have improved as well, as she could hear the sounds of animals in the forest. But what had her attention the most was the sweet smell coming from two aged and weathered people standing nearby that caused a steady burn to take residence in her throat.

They smelled heavenly! Bella shifted into a crouch, ready to lunge at them and take whatever it was that smelt so good in hopes it would ease the pain. It didn't register in her mind that the people she was about to attack were her parents. All she could focus on was how much she wanted that smell. She was about to jump at them when a movement to her left distracted her and she turned to face it, intent on protecting what she viewed as hers.

Her mind finally settled some and she realized that a couple things. The first that someone was holding her hand and the second that the person holding her had was a man, who had his forehead creased in deep concentration. All thoughts about attacking the elderly couple fled her head, replaced by another desire.

As she looked at him the world around her slowed down. Her mind and heart, which she realized wasn't beating, caught up to the burn in her throat. She stared at Edward. How long had she wanted him? How many years had she spent dreaming of him? Unwilling to wait any longer, she attacked him.

Edward had been so focused on trying to read Bella's mind, finding it still closed to him, that he'd missed her almost attacking her parents. He couldn't, however, miss her attack of him and barely had a chance to catch her before they feel to the floor. Bella blocked out everything from her mind besides the need to be with Edward. She kissed any place she could find open skin and ran her hands over him.

Neither noticed the rest of the family leave the room, Bella too intent on being with Edward and Edward focused on getting to an upright position again with Bella. Once he accomplished that, he backed them to the open window and jumped out, still holding Bella. He dashed into the forest going out far enough where they would get some privacy.

"Bella," he breathed in relief as he attempted to set her on her feet. "Look at me."

Bella stopped her kissing and looked up at Edward with her now bright red eyes. "Edward."

He'd fully meant to express to her how much he loved her when she finally woke up. How he regretted not saying anything sooner. That if he had maybe then the whole incident with James could have been avoided and they wouldn't have lost the last five and half years. They could have been together. What came out instead was, "I love you."

If Bella had still been able to cry, she would have at his simple declaration. "Oh, Edward! I love you, too!"

"Bella, I've been an idiot and I'm begging you to forgive me."

"What did you do?"

"Ever since you came to us, I've felt… Protective over you. I thought it was some paternal instinct. As you got older, I was more drawn to you. I didn't understand why. I ignored the feeling, thinking it just had to do with feeling paternal. Then everything went down with James. As you lay unconsciousness, none of us knowing when you'd wake or if you'd wake. I knew then that I'd been an idiot that I had loved you and you were mine. I swear I will never let you go again!"

"Edward…" Bella breathed before she kissed him again. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to hear you say that. I love you too."

Edward took Bella's face in his hands and kissed her. He pushed her onto her back in the snow, taking care not to break their kiss. For the first time Edward was thankful for all the times Jasper and Emmett had annoyed him by thinking about their sex exploits. It gave him plenty of ideas of things to do to Bella. Some he would wait for a long while before he tried, but others he could do.

He felt Bella run her hands over his chest for a couple moments before she tore his shirt off, eager to feel his skin. Edward had always felt cold and hard to Bella, but now he didn't. His skin felt as soft as hers and the same temperature. A small part of her mind wondered why that was, but it was quickly overshadowed by the feeling of Edward's hands on her chest. She hadn't even realized he'd removed her shirt.

She trailed her hands down his arms as he kissed his way down her neck, over her collarbone to her breasts. At the first swipe of his tongue over her nipple, Bella let out a moan and arched her back. She never imagined her body could feel this good. Edward licked and sucked at her nipple as he used his hand to play with her other breasts.

"Edward…" Bella moaned and moved her hands to his head to hold him closer. She could feel a burn start in her lower extremities, but didn't know what to do about it. She only knew that she wanted more. "More… Please!"

Edward shifted to her other nipple, taking it into his mouth to pay the same attention to it that he had paid to the first. Edward pulled back to take the time to look at Bella. She'd arched her back and tilted her head back. Her breasts weren't overly large, but they weren't small either. A perfect handful in Edward's opinion. She had rosy nipples which were currently hard numbs. Her eyes were half open as he reached out and pulled off her pants and underwear, which left her naked to his gaze. He wondered who had been shaving her as she was completely bare of hair which allowed him to see the evidence of her arousal glistening on her lower lips, causing him to take a deep breath to smell her.

"You want me, don't you?" he demanded, reaching out a hand to run his finger through her lips. He gathered some of her moisture and moved to the small bundle of nerves at the top to circle his finger around her. Bella's breath caught as pleasure exploded within her.

"Good… Edward… More…" Bella babbled as she curled her fingers into the snow beneath her, obviously wanting to grab onto something, but unable to find anything.

Edward stopped what he was doing and opened Bella's legs wider so he could lie between them. He had an overwhelming desire to find out if Bella tasted as good as she smelled and he wasn't going to do it by licking his finger.

"Wh- Wha- Edward? What are you doing?" Bella asked when Edward settled himself between her legs. She'd be okay with what he'd been doing before, but this seemed to be… She didn't know what it was.

"I'm going to taste you, Bella," Edward answered before he proceeded to do as he said. He licked her folds from bottom to top, a moan of pleasure leaving him at her taste. She tasted like honey and cream. Extremely sweet. He swirled his tongue around her clit.

"Edward! Oh! Never… Good…"

Bella continued to babble as Edward licked and sucked at her. He knew she was a virgin and this first time would be painful. He slipped two fingers into her warmth in an attempt to stretch her out some. When she started panting and bucking her hips, he slipped in a third finger and laid his arm on top of her hips to keep her still.

"Oh! Ed… Ed… Edward… What? Oh!" Bella chanted as her entire body tightened, but not in a painful way. Before she could get a handle on why or understand what was happening, she exploded. "Edward!"

Every nerve ending seemed alive. Her skin felt ultra-sensitive. All her muscles released at once and she swore she was putty. It had felt fantastic and left her panting for unneeded air.

Edward stood up, licking his lips. Not considering the consequences of later, he ripped his pants off and settled on top of Bella. She felt perfect to him. He wrapped one arm underneath her and used his other hand to align himself with her entrance.

"Are you ready, Bella?"

"Didn't you just make me?" she teased, bucking her hips up at him.

Edward leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss as he sheathed himself in her in one stroke. He felt her stiffen and didn't move, giving her time to adjust to the new sensations that had to be coursing through her. He knew her body would need a few moments to work through the pain as well. "Are you alright?"

Bella nodded, taking deep breaths. "Okay. You can move."

Edward slid out slowly before sliding back in. She felt warm. A few more strokes and he couldn't keep up the slow pace anymore. "Do you think you could cum again?"

"No," Bella answered honestly, the pain still a bit much. Nodding in understanding, Edward moved a bit faster, feeling himself get close. Bella wrapped her arms around his waist, watching him. A few more strokes and he slid into her heat once more, coming with a groan. He collapsed to the side, pulling Bella up against him.

Edward and Bella snuggled together, uncaring of the snow. It wasn't as though they could feel the cold.

"What am I?" Bella blurted out as she watched the sun glisten off the tiny, frozen, water droplets. The entire ground looked like a prism of colors to her.

"A vampire," Edward answered. "The same as I am."

"A vampire," Bella repeated to herself. "Is that why I can see so clearly? Why everything is so bright? And sounds! I can hear everything!"

Edward chuckled as Bella sat up in her excitement. "Yes. You have heightened senses now."

"You help me though?" Bella pleaded, looking down at him as he crossed his arms behind his head.

"Of course," he responded, sitting up to cup her cheek. "I'm not going anywhere."

"My throat burns," Bella admitted as she sniffed the air.

"I think it's time to hunt then," Edward stood up and looked at their clothing. Not a single piece remained wearable. He shrugged his shoulders and took Bella's hand to help her stand.

"Afterwards, I want to get to know my parents," she said as she got to her feet. "I have missed them so much."

"Then that is what we will do."

And that's what they did.