A/N: Steph Meyer, as you know, owns all the Twilight stuff. I own a mug that says Surrender the Booty.

Thank you to Lambie for handholding this week. I promise I'll make a decision. Soon. Ish.

Much love to Snshyne for her pre-reading skills, and all around amazing way of reassuring insecure me.

Music:
What I've Done: Linkin Park
The Story: 30 Seconds to Mars
Desperado: The Eagles
Cut: Plumb
Colorblind: The Dresden Dolls

'Ed il mio bacio scioglierà il silenzio che ti fa mia.'
From the aria, Nessun Dorma, in the final act of the opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini

BPOV

Edward and I stepped out of the car, but not before he had warned me, his eyes trying to communicate more than his words:

"Inside there are two vampires. One considers himself my father. I have not spoken to the other in some time. They mean you no harm."

I shuddered and opened my door. He was already on the other side, helping me out. I smoothed my hair down, and pulled a small mirror out of my purse to make sure my make up didn't have that freshly fucked look to it.

We walked into the house, and Edward pulled me into his side, his arm protective around me.

I balked at the sight awaiting us in the living room. The lights were on, the fire lit, and two people stood, their golden eyes watching us.

The first was the icy blond Ken doll from the hospital. He looked like a J Crew model right out of the catalogue; his pale, perfectly handsome face didn't seem real. Standing next to him was a petite female with auburn hair, wide eyes, and striking features. She stood next to the Ken doll, her arms crossed around herself.

She gasped as I came into view, and her eyes studied me from the tips of my shoes to the top of my head, as if she could see every pore. Her face was kind, her eyes soft, and she attempted a small smile in my direction.

"Bella, may I introduce you to Carlisle Cullen, and his wife, Esme."

Carlisle inclined his head, "A pleasure, Bella."

This time Esme smiled fuller, and I couldn't help but return the genuine kindness in it.

"It's nice to meet you," I said, wondering if I should step closer. I tried, but Edward only tightened his arm around me.

He addressed Carlisle again, his voice cold, "Say whatever it is you've come to say, and get out."

Esme flinched, and I felt sorry for her, but I knew better than to get involved in whatever this is.

"Edward, there have been whispers that the Volturi are going to be visiting Seattle. Soon. And I think we both know why." His golden eyes traveled from Edward to me.

"I am aware of this, as Alice paid Bella a visit," he answered.

I shifted on my feet, my legs starting to ache from standing in one position pressed into Edward's side.

Esme noticed my discomfort cleared her throat, "Perhaps we should sit down, Edward."

Edward glanced at me, but his eyes were still angry. I reminded myself it wasn't me, it was Carlisle, he was angry with.

"Very well," he conceded, and led us towards the couch. I sat down first, and he followed me, putting his arm around the back of the couch, his fingers not far from the side of my head.

Esme and Carlisle sat on the couch opposite, where Edward and I had sat a few nights before. Esme crossed her perfect pale legs, and for some reason, I couldn't look away from her tiny ankles.

"Well?" Edward asked, his tone aggressive.

Carlisle placed a hand on Esme's knee, "Edward, I understand you're angry with me, but remember that Esme loves you, and it upsets her to see you so upset."

"Do not use your mate as a shield. You have come here to offer aid that I do not necessarily want."

Carlisle pursed his lips, "Perhaps we should finally have this out, Edward. In all honesty, my tolerance for your hostility is wearing thin."

Edward sat forward and openly growled, "Wearing thin? Wearing thin? I do apologize if this is causing you some sort of distress. Perhaps you should have thought twice before you sank your teeth into my neck and took away my human choice."

"You were dying anyways, Edward," Carlisle amended.

"You should have let me die," he hissed, "You should have let me go. Now I am this thing," Edward held his pale hands up, "I am cold, and forced to kill to survive. I am frozen this way, you stripped away my humanity without even thinking. I don't know what I hate more, you or what you've made of me."

Esme was visibly upset now, her lower lip disappearing as she watched the volley of words between them.

Carlisle's voice was still calm, "Son, you chose to live your immortality the way you do. I taught you another way, but you chose something else. You made the decision to kill that girl."

Kill?

He continued, "You made the decision to leave the family. You made the decision to choose Caius' way of survival. I have never condemned you for the choices you made."

I was lost now, there was obviously more going on than I knew of.

"Caius' way makes more sense. It goes more with our nature than your way of life."

Carlisle sat back, silently, and regarded me. Edward hissed beside me.

"You cannot choose her path as well as yours, Edward. How will you survive? Will Bella be able to feed the way you do? It is different when you have a mate. You cannot expect Bella to stand by while you go back to that lifestyle."

Maybe it wasn't my place to get involved, but my name was being mentioned, and I wasn't going to sit by idly while I was discussed like I wasn't sitting in the room.

"Pardon me for interrupting," Carlisle's eyes lighted on me with surprise, "What lifestyle? What do you mean survive?"

Carlisle's eyes slid back to Edward, and a moment of silence passed between them. I watched Edward's face, and I saw him slightly shake his head, as if answering an unspoken question.

"I'm gonna need some answers," I said, and Edward turned his gaze on me, his eyes almost wild, "Please?" I added.

Edward threw Carlisle a withering look before he turned back to me, "When I was made, every instinct inside me screamed for blood. I fought against it, tried to live Carlisle's way of abstinence from human blood by feeding on animals. This is why their eyes are golden, and mine are not. I could not…abstain. I gave into temptation one night, and accidentally killed a young woman."

He watched as the shock registered on my face, but continued, "Caius found me. He is a member of the governing clan of Vampires. They rule our world. Caius has a very…different way of looking at things."

Edward paused, but I couldn't look away from him. He had never given me this much information before without me asking the questions. I felt like there was some vital piece I was missing, something that Edward didn't want me to know.

He shifted, his body turning towards mine, and his face seemed almost imploring. "Caius…can drink from his victims without turning them, without killing them. He prefers…intercourse with his victims when he feeds."

I blinked, "You mean like…sex? He has sex with his victims so he can drink their…"

My mind whirled, and I flipped back through my memories, to that night. The night when I had woken up after some of the best sex of my life to Edward, with a knife in his hand, licking blood from my leg.

My throat closed over, my body went cold, and I felt sick to my stomach.

I shoved away from him, and fought to the end of the couch, "You-you. And I-."

I stood up, intent on running away from him. The dinner in my stomach soured, and I felt like I was going to vomit.

"Bella, wait." He was in front of me, moving at a speed almost too fast for me to see. He stood in front of the door barring my entrance. He shook his head at me, "It's not safe."

I fucking lost it, "It's not SAFE? Are you fucking kidding me? I'm safer out there, than in here with you. I'm a piece of goddamn fucking meat that you put your fucking cock in? And not only that, but everybody that I've met through YOU knows this? Do you know how that makes me FEEL? Like I'm some pet you keep around, to..to…SERVICE YOU?" I realized I was screeching, I could feel my throat going fucking raw, but I didn't give a shit at this point. His red eyes watched me in shock, but there was something cold behind them, and I wondered if it had always been there, and I was too stupid to see it.

I poked him in the chest, "Fuck you, Edward Cullen. I told you I refused to be flavor of the month. I fucking told you! Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and the divorce settlement to prove it."

I tried to move past him to the door but he blocked me, "Get out of my fucking way."

"I don't think so, Bella." His voice held no inflection.

"Fucking move, Edward!" I felt my eyes water, which only pissed me off even more. I don't want to fucking cry, and there is no way I'm doing it in front of him.

I put my hands on his chest, intent on shoving him out of the way, in the hope I would somehow be successful. It didn't work, he didn't even budge so much as a fucking millimeter.

I tried to punch him, and he caught my wrist before it could connect with anything more than air.

"That would be a mistake," he said quietly, "for you."

The sound a softly falling footstep touched the wooden floor behind me, and I jumped as Esme laid her hand on my shoulder.

"Edward. Let her go. You cannot force her to stay. Just as we could never force you. You have to give her a choice."

Edward's eyes stared into mine, and I watched his jaw tick, as he struggled to let me go.

"If you leave, even the slightest hesitation between your heartbeats could be your death. If I'm not fast enough-"

This time the tears were unavoidable, "Consider me already dead, then."

I pushed past him, and this time, he let me go.

I took off my shoes, and burst outside, into the front yard. The night air was quiet, a hint of spring in the air. The moonlight shone, the night sky clear, and stars sparkled silently.

I ran across the street, not even looking for traffic, daring fate.

It wasn't much of a dare, the street was usually pretty quiet.

I fumbled in my purse for house keys, and made it through the front door. I couldn't get upstairs fast enough, falling several times, burning my knees on the carpet, tangling in my petticoat. I got up to the top step, and ran for the bathroom. I pulled at the back of my dress, got the zipper halfway down, and the front of my dress over my arms and down my chest.

My stomach heaved, and I ran for the toilet. Lifting the lid, I emptied the contents of my stomach, and nearly choked on the sobs trying to close my throat.

I fell to my knees as I flushed the bowl down, and cried against the porcelain. I felt fucking terrible, I felt used, raw, and disgusting. I had an urge to tear my dress off, to pull it from my body and be naked under a scalding hot spray.

I tore at the fabric, and was able to get it off my body, kicking it into a heap at my feet as it slid down my body.

Opening the shower, I turned the water on full blast, and all the way into the red, the hot water burning my skin. I hissed as it hit me, and I realized I was freezing cold. But it didn't matter, I wanted to feel it scald me, wanted to feel the pain.

My chest heaved, and the loud sounds echoed off the tiled walls as thick steam filled the room. I could no longer feel the water, and wished there was a way to make it hotter. My skin was red, as if I had been in the sun too long. As if I'd been burned.

+IA+

EPOV

I raged back into the living room, flying with inhuman speed for Carlisle.

"Do you see what you have done?"

My hands closed around his throat, ready to choke him, before ripping his head off. But he did not take my assault lying down. He fought back, and we moved across the room in motions almost too quick for our own eyes.

My fist aimed for his face, but he blocked me. I bared my teeth to him, and he tensed, ready for my next attack.

At one point, Esme tried to intervene, but Carlisle warned her back, "No. This has to happen before we can move forward, love."

I was in his face now, I grabbed hold of the lapels of his jacket, and slammed him against the wall. A dent appeared in the drywall in the silhouette shape of his body.

"You've taken everything from me, and you continue to take. I hate everything about me, about you, about this…this life. What have I become? What have you made of me?"

Carlisle's face was calm as he answered me, "Son, when you lay dying from the epidemic, your mother was in the women's ward. I tended to her in the evenings. You had her eyes."

My eyes narrowed as I listened to him, this information new. Almost a century he had known of my mother, and never shared this information.

He continued, "She begged me. 'Save him. Save my son. Don't let him die.' She made me swear I would do everything within my power to help you."

I could see the memories crystal clear, and for a moment I was looking into the vivid green eyes of my mother, through Carlisle's vampire eyes. There were laugh lines around the soft skin of her mouth, and freckles sprinkled over her nose. Her hair the same color as mine, her skin pale, except the fevered red glow of her cheeks.

Her voice. Her voice was something my fuzzy human memories had never been able to recall.

Save him, please. Save him, doctor. For me?

I closed my eyes as Carlisle's memories became my own, my mother's face pleading as a mother can only beg for the life of her son.

Did these words haunt Carlisle? Had the imploring last look cut into him as deeply as it was now slicing into me?

I let go of Carlisle, and he stood of his own accord, still pressed to the wall. I turned away from him, my hand at my forehead, wishing I could put the memories away, but I could still hear her. Begging.

Save him, please. Save him, doctor. For me?

The epiphany washed over me then, like a huge wave crashing over me, dragging me into the undertow.

She had begged for me, pleaded for my life, fearing that I would not continue on.

But surely this is not what she would have wanted? If she had known?

Would I have done the same?

Yes, I'm willing to do the same, for Bella.

Faintly, I could hear her heartbeat across the street. I knew she was upset, and I fought the urge to go to her. She was mine, and I hated any sort of distance between us.

I had to finish this first.

I turned back to Carlisle, who had been joined by Esme.

Their eyes fell upon me, and instead of angry bitterness or defensiveness in their eyes, I saw only understanding.

I wanted to hate them for it, but my mother's voice wrapped around the anger whirling in my mind and snuffed it out like a flame. It left only the ghostly reminder of wispy smoke.

Esme was the first to move, and she took a tentative step towards me, "Edward?"

And her mind told me her motives but I wasn't fast enough to stop her. She was across the room, standing in front of me, and her arms encircled my body, pulling me toward her.

"Oh, Edward. We missed you so."

It was an embrace I returned, as a set of green eyes met mine in my mind, forever pleading with me.

Save him, please. Save him, doctor. For me?

For me?

+IA+

BPOV

I padded out towards the mailbox in my feet which were still taped up from this morning's kickboxing session.

A cigarette hung from my mouth, and I swore as ash fell on my t-shirt. There were crocuses that were blooming indigo purple blossoms around the mailbox. I had planted them one year, and they just kept coming back.

I wondered what would become of them now.

The couple that had viewed the house last week had put an offer in, and I had accepted and signed the paperwork yesterday. The weird thing is, I know I signed the paperwork, I saw my signature on the paper when the estate agent slid it back to her side of the desk.

I didn't remember scratching the expensive looking fountain pen across the little black lines where the sticky post it arrows had been placed.

And I knew why. I knew exactly fucking why.

Because despite how shitty I still felt after four days of separation from Edward, I still wanted him.

I'd had a lot of time to think, now that I wasn't caught up in all the intensity between us. Edward had chosen a specific lifestyle before he'd met me. Apparently, I was next on his list. I still shuddered to think how I would have been used.

However.

His sister had told me she'd never seen him so happy. That he had left the family, perhaps to pursue something else. Was it when he had killed that girl, that the rift had been caused? He had murdered someone, and because he was a vampire, did that make it ok?

Would it make it ok if I was in the same circumstances?

I walked back inside, and shut the door behind me. Placing the paper on the kitchen island, I finished my cigarette and ground it out in the ashtray on the countertop. As I pulled ingredients out of the fridge to shove in the blender for breakfast, I returned to my muddled thoughts.

The whole time we'd been together, even though he had drank my blood, he had never showed the tendencies towards me that Jake had shown.

Jake was intentionally cruel to me during the span of our relationship. He knew exactly where to stick his verbal knives in. He had belittled me, and I had allowed him to strip away every piece of self respect and pride I'd had, believing he had loved me.

Because he had told me so. Jake had said, I love you, all the time. His eyes had seemed so honest, and his voice endearing. I melted every time.

Edward had never told me he loved me. I wasn't even sure if I believed that emotion really existed anymore. If he had said it to me, I wouldn't have believed him.

I love you meant something else to other people.

To me, it meant enslavement. It meant shackles. It meant that I wasn't allowed to be my own fucking person. I had to follow specific rules, and look a certain way, act a certain way, speak a certain way just to make the other person happy.

Edward had never asked more of me than I could give. He allowed me to say no, even though he was a hundred times stronger than me.

He could have restrained me the other evening, he could have tied me down physically, and kept me from leaving.

But just like Edward had never said I love you to me, he didn't force me to remain with him.

And just like that, I was able to finally close the door on the ghosts in my past.

Setting the blender to liquidize, I watched the tiny fruit pulverize and mix with the yogurt and ice. I picked up my cell phone, and sent Edward a text.

Will u meet me tonight after the show? X

I didn't have to wait long for a response.

Yes. What time does the show start?

9PM. Ur ticket will be at the box office. You'll be next to Jess. Is that ok? X

Yes. We have much to discuss, Bella.

The last text sent a shiver of anticipation up my spine.

+IA+

BPOV

I sat backstage, nervously tuning my guitar, and finally satisfied, took a deep breath, and waited for my name to be called.

God, I want a cigarette.

I stood up, and smoothed my top. It was a small black t-shirt that said in white distressed letters, It's Only Rock n Roll. I had pulled on a pair of blue skinny jeans and a black leather belt. Knowing I would be incredibly nervous, I had chosen my Chucks over heels, as falling flat on my face was not an option.

I had curled my bangs, and Jess had helped with the rest, making it softly wave down my back. Then she nearly killed me with hair spray. My make up was simple, dark eyeliner on top, red lipstick and a hint of powder and blush, so the stage lights wouldn't wash my skin out.

Fiddling with the guitar pick, I reached up and flicked it off of my teeth until Mike turned around and gave me a look for making too much noise. I was nervous as hell, but I knew Jess was out there, Tyler too.

And Edward.

I could feel him out there, even from here, from the dark. The connection seemed to pulse until it was almost painful. I wanted to go out to him, to wrap my body around him, and never let go.

I was nervous about performing in front of him most of all.

I didn't have too much time to think about it anymore, as I heard my name called while I was introduced, and Mike, who sat on my usual perch with his headset on, gave me a pat on the back.

I carried my guitar out with me, and nervously slid the strap over my shoulder. Trying to remind myself that the adrenaline rush was a good thing, like it had been before, I smiled at the audience that I knew was there, but couldn't see because the lights were right in my eyes.

A stool was sat in front of the mic, and I hoisted myself up without falling over, which had to be a good sign.

Breathe, Bella.

Fuck me, why did I agree to do this again?

My fingers found their places, and I strummed the intro that I knew so well, the song somehow taking hold of me. A lump in the back of my throat formed, and my chest ached as my voice bled the first line into the mic:

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?

The audience was silent, and as I made my way through the song, I could feel them there, beating, pulsing, and quietly rapt with attention.

Finally, I strummed towards the last line, and finished a capella

You better let somebody love you, before it's too late.

The audience clapped their approval, and I heard a whistle that could only be Tyler. I smiled, and spoke to the audience.

"Hi. It's been a while since I did this. Thanks."

I had a couple more songs ready, and the rest of the performance was a blur. Those fifteen minutes came and went, and I felt an odd numbness as I bowed and walked off stage.

Mike hugged me, and so did Angela as I came off stage.

"I didn't know you could do that, you were amazing, honey!" Angela squeezed my shoulders.

Mike nodded in agreement, and I spied Marcus standing in the shadows, his eyes meeting mine in the blacklight.

He nodded, and I knew that was all I would get out of him. I felt the corners of my mouth lift up, it was enough.

I looked around me, and watched my crew get the stage ready for the next act while Yorkie had the lights down. That lump formed at the back of my throat again, and I realized for the last few years, that these people had become my family. I had grown up here, starting as a lowly intern, and moved through the ranks. They had quietly tolerated my sharp silences during the divorce, they had taken me out and gotten me drunk afterward.

I would miss all of this, these people. The smell of sawdust, of paint, and the way the stage lights smell when they are just up. The sound of the curtain sliding back and forth, the robotic whir somehow soothing. The routine, and making it run like clockwork, the soft symphony of shoes on a dark stage, moving lighter than ballet dancers under the darkness of black light. Letting the crew go at night, and being the last one out, doing the final sweep of the stage.

I had to get the fuck out of here before I started crying backstage. I packed my guitar into its case, the latches snapping at my fingers. Mike grabbed me before I could escape, and tried to hand me his headset.

"Yorkie wants to talk to you."

I put the headset on, my throat still tight, "Hello?"

"Um, what the fuck, Bella? Could you be any hotter?"

I snorted into the mic, "Whatever Yorkie."

"What are you doing later?"

"Oh my God, do you ever stop?"

"Bella you know by now that I don't give up."

I rolled my eyes, "Bye Yorkie. Try not to jizz on the lighting board."

"Bye, Bella. I'll be thinking of you."

"You better be." I removed the headset and handed it to Mike.

"See you guys later. I'm heading out."

"Bye Bells."

Jess and Tyler were waiting for me, and standing to the side, was Edward. My entire body filled with warmth. It blossomed in my chest and rushed like fire following gasoline down my arms and legs. It took my breath away, seeing his beautiful face.

Before I could go to him, Jess captured me first.

"I am so proud of you, Bella Swan."

I wrapped my arms around her, hugging her close. I was probably squeezing her too hard, but she was squeezing just as hard.

"Jesus, Jess. Let her breathe," I could see Tyler's handsome face in the streetlights, as Jess stepped back. He was wearing a shirt and tie, and Jess wore a cute little black dress.

Tyler put his arm around Jess, "You did good, Bells. You should do that more often. You have a knack for connecting with the audience."

I could feel my cheeks go rosy, "Thanks Tyler."

We stood there for a moment more, and I didn't know what else to say. I was fully aware this was it, I was standing on a precipice, looking over the edge about to jump, and no one knew it but me.

I dropped my case and launched myself at Jess.

"Hey! Who are you and what have you done with Bella?" Jess asked, hugging me back.

I swallowed hard, "I'll um…call you next week. We should go out to lunch or something."

"OK, hun. I'd like that. Give me a ring, OK?"

I nodded and reluctantly stepped back from her, and there was a loud awkward silence. Luckily, Tyler broke it.

He put his arm around Jess and cleared his throat, "OK. Well, Jess and I are gonna go for drinks if you want to come?"

He looked from me to Edward and I shook my head, "No, I think I better head home. But thanks for coming you guys. It meant a lot."

"You never have to ask, Bella. You know that."

I nodded, and Tyler led Jess away down the street, I watched as they melted into the evening fog, before finally disappearing together.

I took a deep breath and turned to face Edward. His eyes were hidden behind a pair of glasses, and he took them off, folding them and putting them inside his jacket.

I licked my lips, and his eyes followed the movement.

I was the first to speak, "Do you want to follow me home?"

He nodded, and I turned towards where my car was parked. We walked side by side without touching, and went our separate ways as we reached the car garage, our cars on different levels.

Edward followed me closely behind, and pulled into his driveway as I pressed the button to my remote garage door opener.

I parked the Mustang and covered it. Walking into the house, most of my things were in boxes, lined up in the living room. There was a brief knock at the door.

I breathed deeply, feeling my heart thudding heavily in my chest. This was it. The plunge. The final moments of my life.

I feel like I should be more dressed up for the occasion.

I opened the door, and he was standing there, much like he'd been several months ago. And I could feel my breath catch, my heart pound faster, as he stepped forward.

I had an urge to feel his skin on mine. I wanted his hands on me. I wanted to feel him moving inside of me.

His eyes met mine, and he grabbed for me, his hands at my hips pulling me against him. He lifted me against him, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. Our mouths collided, his teeth gnashing mine.

I was panting now, as my forehead rested against his. I plunged back in, his mouth just as greedy for my lips. It was a bruising kiss, and I barely registered that he had kicked the door shut, the slam rattling the windows.

We made it into the kitchen before he set me down. We started pulling at each other's clothes. My t-shirt landed somewhere, my shoes kicked off, my jeans shoved down. My hands were busy at his shirt, unbuttoning, spreading, untucking. I pulled at the button of his fly, unzipping, and shoving pants and boxers down his legs. Our mouths meeting, our tongues curling around each other.

He ripped at my panties, the fabric tearing, while I struggled with my bra.

"Oh God, I want you," I sobbed against his mouth.

"You are mine, you have been too far away from me."

His voice, his words, tightened a coil that had formed in my stomach, twisting painfully until I ached for him.

He lifted me onto the counter, and I spread my legs, waiting for him. His movements were swift, and I felt his cock nudge my opening before he thrust forward. He filled me so completely, and I cried out at the feelings surging within me.

He pulled out, and his fingers gripped my hips, "Look at me, Bella."

I opened my eyes and tried to shift my hips, needing him inside me, moving.

When my eyes found his crimson red ones, they were angry, but wounded as well, "Never again. Say it."

"Never again."

He pushed forward, filling me again, and I felt his teeth at my neck, his lips moving up to my ear, "Never again will you leave me."

He pulled back so I could see his eyes, and his voice spoke deathly quiet, fiercely, matching the movements of his hips as I felt him plunge in and out of me:

"Never. Again. Never. Again. Say it."

I repeated with him, it was a curse, a vow, and I lost it as I felt my muscles clench, my legs wrapping around him, my heels digging into his backside as I screamed my release. He found his own soon after, clutching my hips to him, burying himself deep inside me. I lay backwards over the counter, my legs limp, my body sweaty. Edward lay over me, his face resting against my breasts.

I closed my eyes, feeling sated, but felt his arms curl under my back and lifted me up. With the strength I had, I wrapped myself around him while he moved towards the stairs. He carried me up, faster than any human could move, and I felt myself deposited, naked, in my bed.

He watched me a moment, his jaw ticking before he joined me. But he did not touch me again, his dark eyes boring holes in me.

"You understand why I left, don't you?"

His eyes stared at me, unblinking, "You did not even give me a chance to speak. You assumed without allowing an explanation, which I admit that I owe you."

There was a pause while I waited for him to continue. Finally, he did, "Bella, you only see things through your human eyes, and how could you not? You will understand better if you are still interested in this life, if that's what it is. Carlisle attempted to enforce his way of life upon me, drinking from animals rather than humans. Every instinct you have will focus on drinking from humans."

His hand reached over, and drew a line down my neck, raising goose bumps over my skin, "I was taught by Caius, my mentor, that humans are cattle, they are there for the taking. We are the predators and you are the delectable prey.

"But you are different. I had to have you. And once I did, I could not have enough, I am addicted to you-"

I tried not to be angry again, "But how does that make me different from anyone else you've previously…had?"

"We have a word for what you are to me. We call it La Tua Cantante. It means that your blood sings for me, it calls to me in ways I have never felt before. Your smell, your taste, is unique to me alone. I am addicted to you, Bella, not just your blood. There are those among us who theorize that the anomaly of your blood to me makes you my mate. Your blood, your scent, slices into me," he closed his eyes, "creating a bottomless well of need so deep, everything screams for me to kill you."

Fear laced through my body at his words, I couldn't help the reaction, and I knew he could sense it.

"But I cannot. I cannot kill you. I spoke the truth when I told you that you owned just as much of me as I need to possess of you. I want you to be mine, forever, Bella."

His dark eyes opened, and stabbed through me, his words implanting themselves underneath my skin.

It was my move, my turn, and it was time to seal the decision out loud.

"I want to be yours forever, Edward. I want you to be mine."

His body slid over mine, dominant and male, but fitted to my softer curves as his mouth settled over mine, murmuring, "Yes, Bella."

I ran my hands up and over his muscle corded arms, his skin cool beneath my touch. I wanted to explore him, to touch every part of him.

His mouth sucked on my lower lip as I stroked the strong column of his neck. Our legs tangled, and his mouth lowered to kiss my throat. My fingers were in his soft hair, and he lightly nipped the spot over my pulse, sending shivers racing through my body. I arched against him, and the thigh he had between my legs. I rubbed myself on him, and I knew he could feel how wet I was.

His hands slid up my sides, and he sucked my earlobe into his mouth just as his thumbs skimmed over my nipples, already aching. I gasped as his fingers pinched them, just lightly. His kisses melted down my throat, until I felt his teeth at my collarbone.

His hands were cupping my breasts, kneading them as his dark head moved lower, his lips circling one of my nipples. He teased me with soft kisses before growling and capturing the peak in his mouth.

"Edward!"

His tongue swirled, his mouth drew deeply, and my mind whirled as I arched my back. His other hand continued to caress my other breast, and he suddenly lifted his mouth to take the other nipple into his mouth.

He growled again, the deep rumble from his chest, the purely feral sound vibrating against me, and I pressed myself up, needing to be closer to him. My thighs clenched around the leg wedged between mine, and I ground against the powerful muscle of his thigh.

His mouth was on the move again, down my belly, and he shifted on top of me, his legs, moving. I was on my back, and his head was between my spread thighs. He bit the delicate skin on the inside of my thigh lightly, not enough to draw blood, but enough to make me gasp.

His eyes met mine briefly and excitement jolted through me. He turned to the place between my legs, and I felt his tongue run along the seam, before he separated the folds and licked harder with his tongue, the pressure almost too much to the sensitive nerve endings.

My hands made fists in the bed sheet as he settled his mouth over me, sucking, his tongue flicking, moving, over my clit.

I think I may have cried out, it could have been his name, it could have been anything, as his mouth did wonderful things to me. I felt my legs start to shake as his tongue moved faster over me, and moaned as I felt two of his fingers slip inside me.

I road the crest of a wave, and his fingers and mouth brought me ever closer as my stomach clenched, and need spiraled faster and faster from my belly button down lower.

I was close, on the cusp, the sun so bright behind my eyelids, and my fists shaking in the expensive thread count when he stopped, and licked me one last time as his fingers withdrew.

I opened my eyes, and panted, about to ask him what happened when his body covered mine, his mouth closing over my throat, and he filled me, totally. Completely.

His hips moved, and I tried to pull him, push him deeper with my legs. His mouth touched my throat, he was growling again as he moved slowly in and out of me. The sound of our flesh meeting, my moaning, and rustle of sheets filled the air.

He moved faster then, changing the rhythm, but he ground into me, and it was like he flicked the switch on places in my body, making them light and glow, as I was on that cusp again. I could feel myself starting to pulsate, to shake with the vibration of it all. Before my thoughts slipped away from me, I clung to one, and voiced it out loud.

"Change me, Edward. Make me yours."

+IA+

EPOV

"Change me, Edward. Make me yours."

Against her throat I growled, "You have always been mine. You. Will. Always. Be. Mine."

And I bit her, truly sank my teeth into her as I felt her body shudder into orgasm, and allowed her taste into my mouth, and my venom to truly take hold into her bloodstream.

She screamed in release, and I pumped inside of her until I was lost.

I found my way back to her, and licked her wound clean. She was quiet under my ministrations, her legs quivering as I withdrew from her body. I bit her wrists, inserting more venom, and other places, until I was satisfied there was enough in her body to change her.

I stepped back from her, left her in the bed, and went down stairs to get my trousers. I came back upstairs and packed a change of clothes for her, things I found in her closet. Slinging the bag over my shoulder, I picked her up, and held her against my chest.

I did not wish to leave her here, it would be safer across the street, in my own home.

So we left her world behind, and every one of my quick footsteps brought her into mine.

A/N

Two more chapters to go!

Thank you for reading.

Well then! IA is almost over. For those of you who are interested, I will be starting next fic in the coming weeks.

It's called 'All the Wild Horses' and will be angst AH AU. E&B. First three chapters are written and ready to go.