Thanks to Stephenie Meyer for Twilight. No copyright infringement intended.
Thanks to all my wonderful readers and reviewers for their encouragement and support and for staying with me throughout this tumultuous journey.
Once Bitten has been nominated for a Shimmer Award, (Snowflake Quarter), in the Tale Award category for Best AU. Voting opens January 21st if you feel like showing my little vamp story some love.
Thanks to my wonderful betas and prereaders, Chloe Cougar, Squeaky Zorro and Content1 for all their amazing support.
Updated: Friday, January 13th 2012
Words: 3850
Chapter 36
Lucky
BPOV
My…oh…my…oh…my…
The words repeated in my head, a litany of surprised delight at the sheer ecstasy I'd experienced at Edward's intimate touch. Of course, I knew that people did the things we'd just done, but I'd never really understood the appeal. Now I did, having discovered a world of bliss so intense I couldn't quite believe I'd survived it. To my joy, giving pleasure to Edward was every bit as good as receiving the pleasure he gave me.
And the taste!
There were certainly some things about being a vampire that were very, very nice. For starters, Edward tasted like honey, with maybe a hint of cinnamon, and my own taste wasn't bad either, which had been a huge relief.
And then there was the look on his face when he came and the way he shuddered as the pleasure rippled through him. The feel of him literally pumping inside me as he released his venom was as wonderful as the incredible noises he made, everything from the sound of a lion roaring to a very satisfied cat purring as he lay collapsed against me.
The noises I made seemed a little more embarrassing in comparison, but I knew that Edward enjoyed hearing how he affected me…and I don't think I could have held back if I'd tried.
Making love with Edward had been a series of revelations, not least of which was the experience of coming apart in his arms. I'd had no idea that an orgasm could feel like that…in fact, I didn't think they usually did. From the magazines Renee had left lying around on purpose for me to read, I knew that what I'd experienced wasn't exactly normal…the intensity…the incredible duration…the utter, overwhelming, mind boggling "wowness."
Distracted by the glint of diamonds, I gazed in wonder at the stunning ring that now graced my left hand and considered the other revelation I was still coming to terms with. I was a married woman now, which was a little challenging when, in reality, I was just a teenage girl…or would have been, had I still been human.
Breathing deep, the love of my…existence stretched in my arms like the big jungle cat I'd been comparing him to.
"Hey, beautiful," he breathed, reaching up to cup my cheek with his hand.
"Hey, yourself." I smiled in return, continuing to hold him close.
"Time we got up off this floor, I think," he murmured, looking around as if in a daze.
I wasn't sure I'd ever seen Edward looking so relaxed. His erection—I'd have to ask him if he had a particular name for it, as I had no idea what to call it—was finally not quite so…erect. Or, at least, it hadn't been when he was resting in my arms. Just the action of my eyes moving over him had been enough to bring it springing back to life.
"Seriously? You want more?" I teased, secretly wondering how we were ever going to stop…when it would ever be enough.
"Always!" Edward growled, standing and scooping me up in his arms. "But first I think we need to debrief, if that's okay with you?"
Chuckling at the fact that neither of us had worn briefs for some time now, I nodded in agreement.
"A little bit of talking would be nice," I admitted, as he carried me out of the shower and then proceeded to place me on my feet and clothe me in an enormous, fluffy, white robe. Grabbing an equally fluffy towel, he then began to dry my hair before wrapping it around my head.
"Oh…and what would Mrs. Edward Anthony Masen Cullen have in mind for after she's indulged her new husband with a little bit of conversation?" he teased, releasing me long enough to pull on a matching robe. Gathering me back into his arms, he kissed my nose…and then my cheek…and then nuzzled below my ear.
Enjoying his lovely caresses and my new-found boldness—he was my husband after all, so why not?—I slipped my hand between the folds of his robe and captured his very impressive and still very erect, er…member with my hand.
"Oh…I'm sure I can come up with something," I whispered huskily, and Edward's chest vibrated with that delicious-sounding purr I could add to the growing list of addictions I'd acquired since becoming a vampire. I loved the sound of it and was determined to hear it often…just as I loved the feel of him lengthening and throbbing in my grasp.
He twitched in my hand, his hips thrusting automatically toward me, and I opened both our robes. Pressing our naked bodies together, we groaned at the truly delightful sensation of silky, smooth skin against skin, his hard, muscular planes pressing against my more feminine curves.
"Maybe the 'something' can come first, and the 'little bit of conversation' can wait," Edward growled, lifting me again and carrying me through to the bedroom.
We hadn't made love in a bed yet, and I was looking forward to the experience. But then the realization of exactly whose bed it was came crashing down on me.
Tensing, I clung to Edward's shoulders when he would have lowered me to the bed.
"Sweetheart?" he queried, his expression concerned.
"This is your parents' bed," I whispered, horrified. "And these are your parents' robes…and that was your parents' shower!"
Edward's frown slowly morphed into a smile—one of his deliberately mesmerizing, totally dazzling smiles—but I refused to be distracted.
"Seriously, Edward, we can't—you know—in your parents' bed!"
"Of course you can," Esme called to us from the floor below, her voice as alarmingly clear as if she were standing right outside the door to the bedroom. "I'm just heading off to the hospital to see how Carlisle is doing and won't be back for at least a couple of hours, so you've got plenty of time. And before you go getting all embarrassed, Bella, Carlisle and I were wondering if we could borrow your basement room some nights to…you know…without anyone being able to hear us?"
I gasped, covering my face with my hands, but then I heard Emmett boom out the same request, only to be followed by Jasper shouting, "Alice and I called dibs on the basement days ago, and the rest of you know it!"
"Not until we've christened it," Edward called back, and I realized I had a decision to make. I could allow my natural shyness and innate modesty to become a problem, or I could embrace certain aspects of my new life and begin as I intended to carry on.
"We're going to need a much bigger, sturdier bed down there," I acknowledged wryly, and Edward's eyes shot to my face. "Considering all the action it's going to be getting."
"Atta girl, Bella," Emmett shouted.
"I don't know why you're acting surprised," Alice piped up. "I told you she was going to make a wonderful member of the family."
Breathing in sharply at a frightening thought that suddenly popped into my head, I spoke without thinking, though, thankfully, only at a very low tone.
"It's only ever one couple at a time, isn't it?" I asked, clutching at the collar of Edward's robe and drawing his head down to me so that I could whisper directly into his ear. "Your family's not into…sharing or…groups or anything like that are they?"
Edward's laughter might have been insulting, but I was so relieved at his response that I chose not to take offense.
Lowering me determinedly to the bed, accompanying me in the process, Edward whispered his reply in this low, vibrating, almost subliminal tone—I'd have to get him to show me how to do that.
"You have absolutely nothing to fear, my love. Vampires—mated vampires—are notoriously territorial and possessive. There is no way on the planet I will be sharing you with anyone else…nor would any of the others share their mates."
Biting on my lower lip, I couldn't resist the mischievous impulse that overcame me.
"Oh, that's a pity," I murmured, though not that quietly. "I was kind of looking forward to a foursome."
Edward's utterly shocked expression was made even more comical by the laughter and catcalls that sounded from various locations throughout the house. All except for Leah, who had clearly had enough of our banter…and listening to Edward and me making love...I imagined.
"That's it…I'm out of here," she muttered, leaping through an upstairs window.
"I'm sorry, Leah!" I yelled. "I was only joking…honestly."
"Yeah, well, just look after Seth for me," she replied. "I need to go check on my dad and clean my brain out with Clorox or something. I'll be back before daylight."
"Okay…we will," I called toward the window, rattling it with the strength of my voice. "Don't worry about Seth…we'll look after him…I promise."
"Do you think she heard me?" I turned to Edward, worried.
"Drop your shield, and I'll let you know," he answered me, and I did as he asked, secretly amazed that I'd kept it working all this time despite…everything.
He winced when it came down, and I snuggled against him on the big, soft bed offering comfort. I couldn't begin to imagine what it must be like having everybody else's thoughts cluttering my head.
Edward's smile reassured me. "She's fine," he murmured, pulling me tighter against him. "And not as upset as she made out to be. More jealous, and a little sad, I think. There's some story between her and Sam, but I only got glimpses of it."
"Oh, good." I nodded, relieved and a little curious. Last I recalled, Sam and Emily had been engaged, but I'd definitely picked up on some tension between them when we were up on the mountain.
"So…where were we?" Edward murmured, opening the sides of the robe that I'd snatched together when I'd stopped to consider our location. "Hmmm…that's right," he hummed against my neck as one hand reached to cup the breast he'd bared and the other circled my waist to draw me close. "A little 'something' before we talk."
"Actually," I interrupted, gently pushing him away. "There's another, er…something I need to deal with before we do anything else."
Blinking, Edward looked at me in surprise, not expecting my rejection.
"I think I need a newborn moment," I admitted apologetically, my hand going to my throat. It hadn't been twenty-four hours since we'd hunted, but with all the stress and…activity, my thirst had decided to make its presence known in no uncertain terms.
With a glance toward the door, Edward quickly tugged my robe closed and helped me up from the bed.
"Come in," he called, and Jasper and Alice entered the room wearing matching grins and carrying a couple of bundles of clothing and a backpack.
Despite my earlier decision not to let my natural shyness bother me, I couldn't help tucking against Edward's side when Jasper slapped him good-naturedly on the back. The wink he gave me went a long way toward easing my embarrassment…or maybe it was the waves of contentment he caused to wash over us as he and Alice once again congratulated us on our marriage.
"All right, you two…enough already," Edward groused, and I could only imagine that more was being thought than said.
"There's just enough time for the two of you to hunt and be back before daybreak," Alice explained, handing us a pile of clothing each and placing the backpack on the bed. "Here are your hunting clothes…little more than rags really, or that's all they will be by the time you're finished. And the bag contains some clothes to get changed into for the return journey."
Irritated by her smirk, I couldn't help but arc up a little.
"I'm not a complete baby anymore, Alice," I grumbled. "I can feed without getting blood all over me, you know."
With a tinkling laugh, Alice drew me into a hug.
"Oh sweetie…it's not the blood I'm planning for. The change of clothes is because of what's going to happen after you hunt."
Frowning, I stared at her, puzzled.
"I'm not coming with you this time, Bella." Jasper offered. "I need to stay and keep an eye on the boy. And besides, you guys don't need me anymore, being fully mated and all."
It took a second for me to catch his meaning, and when I did, I spun and hid my face against Edward's shoulder. We were going to need extra clothes because I was going to rip ours from our bodies when the lust hit.
"Sweetheart, it's okay," Edward murmured, lifting my chin so he could look me in the eye. "You won't be the only one feeling it. I need to feed again to complete the healing, and I won't be running away this time," he whispered huskily, and I whimpered at the flames that ignited at his words…in my throat…and low in my belly.
"Is it safe enough for us to venture out a little way?" Edward asked, and Alice nodded.
"Now that Seth's the only one here, and with him basically unconscious, I can see reasonably well. There are no black spots, though I don't imagine the wolves will bother either of you while we're taking care of Seth, and they won't want to mess with Bella's astonishing talent again in a hurry." She directed her last comment my way, grinning and bouncing up and down a little.
I wasn't quite ready to share her enthusiasm considering how close to catastrophe we'd come, though the more I thought about it, the more relieved I was that everything had turned out the way it had. Well, except for Seth and Harry, not that either of them had been harmed by my shield. Edward was alive because of my talent, and for that I was truly grateful.
"Just be back by daybreak, which is a little over two hours away," Alice continued, refocusing my attention. "There's a group of boy scouts heading out for a camping trip that I imagine you'll want to avoid."
"You think?" I retorted, though my grin took the sting out of my words.
Edward and I were going hunting together and we didn't have to hold back afterwards!
Alice and Jasper left us to get ready, and we were dressed, with the backpack over Edward's shoulder, down the stairs, and running across the backyard in less than three seconds.
"Take care of Seth," I called over my shoulder, and four laughing voices assured me that they would.
"Have fun," Emmett called as Edward and I leapt over the river, hand in hand. "And try not to take out half the forest."
"As if you and Rose aren't responsible for bringing down enough hardwoods to build a city," Edward retorted, and I laughed at the exhilaration in his expression. I'd never seen him looking quite so relaxed and carefree, not even the day before on our first outing into the forest.
"Marriage suits you, Mr. Cullen." I grinned as we raced through the trees, ducking, weaving and leaping in unison as we ate up the miles.
"You suit me, Mrs. Cullen," he replied, and pulled me to an abrupt halt with my back pressed up against a huge spruce, his mouth meeting mine in a passionate kiss.
Moaning as his tongue invaded my mouth, I tried to decide which need was more pressing; my thirst for blood or hunger for Edward. But then the telltale drumming noises of a nearby herd of deer and their delicious scent caught my attention.
"Wow…great place to stop," I murmured, impressed by Edward's tracking skills.
"I know all the best places to dine," he murmured against my lips, and I giggled, grabbing his hand and racing toward the irresistible sounds and smells.
Hunting with Edward was so much better than hunting alone while he watched, though we chose separate prey, running them down with ease. The blood tasted incredible, even better than I remembered, and I wondered if it was the anticipation curling in my belly at knowing that we didn't have to hold back afterwards that added to my enjoyment.
Humming with pleasure, I finished draining the deer I'd killed, savoring every last drop.
"Do you need more?" Edward called from where he was crouched beside the body of a larger buck.
My eyes followed the movement of his hand as he wiped the back of it across his mouth, removing the blood from his lips. Whimpering—I'd wanted to do that—I stood and inhaled deeply, drawing his incredible scent into my lungs.
"I just need you," I whispered, and he closed the distance between us in a flash.
"I'm all yours," he growled, and without a moment's hesitation tore the clothes from our bodies.
Laughing delightedly—it hadn't been me to lose control first for a change—I let him spin me around in his arms, his face level with my breasts which was actually…perfect. When I felt my back come up against the trunk of another huge tree, I thought Edward was going to take me the same way he had in the shower, with my legs wrapped around his waist. But he let my body slide down until my feet reached the ground—my vampire skin not the least bit bothered by the rough bark—and then he ground against me with his hips. His straining erection pressed urgently against my belly, while his mouth found mine, kissing me over and over…stroking…tasting…devouring. I wasn't sure how much longer I could wait to have him inside me.
"Edward," I whimpered in protest. "I need you."
Growling deep in his chest, he lifted me in his arms and carried me to where a group of huge boulders had fallen down the mountain, landing in haphazard fashion and burying themselves deep into the ground. Surprising me, he put me down facing away from him and toward a waist-high rock, his hands positioned on my hips with his chest pressed against my back.
"Bend over," he ordered hoarsely, and I glanced over my shoulder. Gasping, I saw a look in his eyes that I'd never seen before, one that spoke of possession…and need. Obeying, I leant forward on the boulder, resting on my elbows. The position should have made me feel vulnerable, but I couldn't feel anything but safe with Edward…and desperate.
"Please?" I heard myself whimper, and then I shivered at the feral growl that erupted from his throat.
Pulling me back toward him with his hands at my hips, he used his knee to spread my legs wider. And then he was there…at my entrance…with his fingers, stroking and opening me to receive the blunt head of his erection.
Moaning, I pushed back against him and he thrust forward, entering me in one, hard stroke.
"Aaahhh…." we cried in unison, our bodies shuddering at the shock of his invasion. I could feel him so deep inside me, much deeper than I'd taken him before.
"Don't move," he ordered again, and I reveled in this dominating side to Edward that I'd never seen before. If I hadn't been strong enough to escape him easily, I might have found the experience a little frightening or confusing, but this was Edward in full mated-vampire post-hunt-lust mode, and he was…hot!
Whimpering, I did my best to obey him, trying to keep still when he withdrew almost all the way to the tip and then slammed back inside me with a feral grunt. Over and over again he withdrew and then thrust back inside me…harder…deeper…penetrating me to my core. At times like this I was gald that I was a vampire, as I could take everything Edward had to give…and I wanted to take it…I wanted all of him.
"More," I begged, and he gladly obliged, his groans mingling with my cries until we'd set every bird in the vicinity to flight with the noise of our passion.
Edward rode me hard while I begged him to take me even harder. It was unlike anything we'd done so far or anything I could have imagined wanting. But there was a part of me that exulted in our ferocious mating…the vampire part that I'd been suppressing up until now but no longer had to.
We came together, crying out in ecstasy and satisfaction, our mutual climax quite literally earth shattering. Coming slowly back to reality, it took me a moment to work out what had happened, and then I chuckled hoarsely. With Edward wrapped protectively around me, we lay on the ground, the two halves of the boulder I'd been leaning over to either side of our bodies.
"Well, we didn't take out any trees," I murmured, my body shaking quietly with my laughter. Edward didn't join me, and I looked over my shoulder, not overly surprised to see the look of horror on his face.
"God…Bella…I'm so sorry," he started, and I quickly turned in his arms, bringing a finger to his lips to silence him.
"Don't you dare apologize," I rebuked him gently. "That was incredible and what we both wanted...and needed. We're vampires…mated vampires…and its okay for us to just be what we are sometimes."
By the worry in his eyes, I could tell he wasn't convinced.
"I'm fine, Edward…Look at me," I urged and his eyes traveled over my body before jerking back to my face. "See? No bruises, no marks. I wanted that…I was begging you for more. So please…don't be upset?"
"But I totally lost control, Bella. I was like an animal."
"So was I," I admitted, feeling suddenly wary. "Do you think badly of me for losing control?"
"What?" Edward's eyes widened and he reached to pull me into his embrace. "No! Of course I don't! I think you're wonderful. I could never think badly of you."
Sighing with relief, I snuggled against him.
"Well, you can't think badly of yourself either, or you'll make me think you're ashamed of us…of me," I retorted, though very gently.
"I could never think that," he whispered. "I just love you so much, and I'd hate you to think that I don't…respect you."
"I could never think that," I murmured, echoing his words. "Especially when you show me how much you respect me by taking my wishes into account when we make love in so many wonderful ways."
This time it was Edward's turn to chuckle.
"How'd you get to be so clever?" he asked, gently stroking the side of my face with his fingers.
"Just lucky, I guess." I smiled, mirroring his movements and reaching to cup his cheek.
Content to lay on the ground in the middle of the forest, wrapped in Edward's arms, I couldn't help thinking that I'd come a long way since the day I'd opened my eyes to find myself in a cold, dusty basement, terrified, confused, and feeling anything but lucky.
~OB~
My betas both loved this chapter, especially the humor. I've been so immersed in angst between real life dramas, my AU tale, and the *ahem* angsty OB chapters I'm working on, that I didn't know what they were talking about and had to go back and find the funny bits.
I'd love to hear your thoughts and any ideas on where you'd like to see the story go from here. I've got a rough plan, but am open to suggestions!
xxx TLSue
PS: Thanks for the feedback about whether you'd prefer one longer or two shorter chapters each week. The jury is out...with most of you saying you don't mind as long as I keep updating regularly. :D