CHAPTER 36 - Pellicere

The sun was setting by the time Edward and Carlisle returned. Emmett came from the house to meet them, grinning broadly. "Edward, Carlisle…good hunt?"

Edward narrowed his eyes at his brother. "What's going on?"

Emmett shook his head. "Nope. You'll have more fun finding out for yourself." He turned to Carlisle. "Come on, old man. You and I have been given orders to make ourselves scarce. Again." He snickered. "Alice and Jasper are already out at the new site. Let's grab some tools and go build a house." Edward watched them go, then took the path that led to the far side of the house.

Esme's garden was peaceful in the gathering darkness. In the pasture nearby horses nickered softly to one another, and the sleepy calls of songbirds echoed from the forest. Edward moved among the flower beds, selecting the freshest and most beautiful blossoms for Bella's bouquet. Last, he plucked a deep pink rose and slid the stem through his fingers to remove the thorns.

He turned toward the house and saw a dim glow in Bella's window. Edward swallowed the nervous lump in his throat and headed inside, stopping in the kitchen to wash his hands and face at the sink. He filled a vase with water for the flowers and climbed the stairs to his bedroom. It was empty, but he heard Bella's steady heartbeat in her room next door. He stripped off his soiled clothes and selected fresh ones from the wardrobe. Standing before the mirror, he brushed his hair into order.

The man who stared back at him was hardly recognizable as the same person he had been a year before. The features were the same, but, whereas then they had been serene, almost lifeless, now they were animated with expression. He looked nervous, true, but his eyes held another, more powerful emotion: hope.

Crossing to the bureau, Edward took Esme's ring out of his wallet and unwrapped it. The gold and sapphire gleamed with a soft luster in the light of the setting sun. He folded the ring back into the silk and slipped it in his pocket.

Edward took the vase of flowers and entered the hallway, quietly closing the door behind him. He stood at Bella's door for a long moment, took a deep breath, and lightly knocked. From inside came the rustle of silk, and Bella's soft voice inviting him in. He entered and closed the door behind him, then turned.

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Bella reclined on the fainting couch with a book in her hands, her bare feet tucked beneath her. A deep blue silk dressing gown lovingly molded itself to her body, its neckline plunging in a deep vee, revealing smooth, pale skin and making it clear that she wore absolutely nothing underneath. Her hair was loosely pulled back from her face, leaving the rest to fall down her back in shining waves. Her lips had been stained a deeper shade, and the beauty of her eyes enhanced by a sultry hint of shadow. Bella smiled and set her book aside, then rose gracefully to her feet and came to him.

In a daze, Edward watched her approach, until she stood on her toes and took his face between gentle hands to kiss him, slowly, and he forgot everything but the sensation of her soft, warm lips caressing his. "I've missed you," she breathed against his mouth, and with a last lingering kiss, pulled back to gaze up at him, stroking her fingers across his brow. "Your eyes are light now," she murmured. "They're beautiful."

Before he could muster a response, she stepped back and took the bouquet from his hand. "Thank you for the flowers," she said with a smile. "They're lovely." She walked away from him, the silk robe clinging to her provocatively swaying hips, and Edward's hands clenched at his sides, aching to sample her lush curves.

Bella placed the vase on the table and lifted the rose, humming in pleasure at the sweet fragrance. She half turned and gave him a coy look over her shoulder. "Aren't you going to come in the rest of the way?"

"Bella…," He cleared his throat with difficulty. "Bella…what are you doing?"

She turned to face him and leaned against the table, her eyes twinkling with humor. "I'm seducing you."

Edward thought of Esme and Rosalie and couldn't decide whether he wanted to kiss them or kill them.

Bella's smile was alluring, full of promise as she sashayed toward him again and stood close enough that her breasts lightly brushed against his chest. He felt as if the world had tilted on its axis and he had no control, no safety net. "Bella," he protested softy, gazing down at her upturned face, "you seduce me just by breathing…you don't need to…"

"Hush," she whispered, and placed a finger over his lips. "I know I don't need to." She smoothed her hands down his chest and over the hard ridges of his stomach.

"I want to."

Somehow, Bella knew it the moment he surrendered. Her eyes dilated and Edward could smell—could taste—her intoxicating scent in the air, desire, tinged with the barest hint of fear.

Irresistible.

With a low growl, he slid his fingers into her hair, holding the back of her head as he leaned in and and kissed her hungrily, tasting, plundering her willing mouth. He slid an arm behind her back and pulled her close against him.

Gods, her breasts…

He tore himself away to kiss her neck, licking and sucking at her pulse, while his hand impatiently pushed the robe aside to expose a pale, round breast. With a groan he cupped the succulent flesh to his mouth and teased it with his tongue, sucking and tugging at her nipple while soft whimpers came from the back of her throat.

Edward swept Bella into his arms and carried her to the bed, laying her gently on her back. Her eyes were soft, luminous with love and trust as she stared up at him and stretched an arm languidly above her head. He made quick work of removing his shirt and Bella hummed in pleasure at the sight of his naked torso, but when he worked the fastenings at his waist and his pants fell from his hips, her eyes grew wide, and her face paled.

Edward chastised himself for rushing her. Despite her devastatingly effective debut as seductress, Bella was still innocent. He climbed into bed and lay facing her, tenderly tracing his fingers along her cheek, his eyes filled with misgiving. "Sweetheart, please…don't be afraid." Slowly, he leaned in to kiss her, his mouth soft and searching. Their legs tangled gently together as they kissed, and Bella buried her fingers in his hair with a sigh.

He slipped the robe from her shoulders and she pulled her arms free, allowing it to slide from her body to pool behind her on the bed. Edward smoothed his palm slowly down to the small of her back, gently pulling her closer. His palm rubbed a slow circle over her lower back and then slid around to her soft stomach, then higher, gently cupping her breasts, moving up to smooth his fingers across her chest and shoulders. Bella's legs stirred against his, her toes curling with pleasure as his hands roamed her body.

"I'm sorry I was frightened," she whispered breathlessly between his kisses, "I just didn't expect it to be so…" she moaned as Edward's fingers returned to her breast and teased her nipple. "…I've seen horses, of course, but…" She lost her train of thought again and drew a shuddering breath, abandoning any attempt at speech, arching her breast into his hand and wrapping her legs more urgently against his.

Bella's hands felt heavenly in his hair, tangling and tugging—but Edward ached for her touch on his skin. Yet he knew that he'd rebuffed her advances too many times, and she would need encouragement. His face was tight as he rested his forehead against hers, his voice heavy with longing. "Bella, please…touch me."

She murmured his name and kissed him, brushing her fingertips over his brows, his cheekbones, his neck, and then slowly, she began to explore the beautiful contours of his body. Edward's eyes fell shut, and he lost himself in the bliss of her touch. She pressed kisses against his face as her soft hands caressed him, and Edward didn't move, hardly dared even to breathe, lest he break the spell she wove. Then her hand stilled on his hip, and her pulse quickened.

"Bella?" His thumb gently brushed her cheek as he asked, "Has something upset you?"

Bella's cheeks flushed. "I'm not upset…It's just that Esme and Rosalie said you would be more comfortable if…if I were to help you…"

His eyes searched hers in confusion. "Help me…?"

She took a deep breath and said, "If I were to h-help you take the edge off, first."

Take the…

Gods, she wants to…

The violent instinct to claim her flared to life, barely restrained, and Edward closed his eyes, but not before Bella saw the change in him. Her heart sped and her scent betrayed not fear, but excitement, and he growled in satisfaction at her response.

"Bella, I want to…believe me…but you don't have to—"

She silenced him with a kiss, then rested her forehead against his. "Edward...I want to." Her fingers slid lower, and Edward's mouth fell open on a gasp.

"Bella…" His eyes squeezed tightly shut and his breath came in jagged bursts as her hand explored, learning his size and girth, the texture of his skin. With a growl, he rolled to his back and gripped the headboard, the muscles of his arms bulging with the effort to keep from touching her.

Then she wrapped her fingers around him and squeezed, and his hips came off the bed. "Fuck!"

"Bella," he choked, "I can't…" She knelt beside him and took him in her hand again, tentatively beginning to stroke. Edward shuddered as her thumb slowly swept over the tip. Biting her lip, she spread the slick drop of fluid there over the head of his cock, and Edward's head fell back with a strangled groan.

She looked up uncertainly. "Is this okay? I don't really…"

Edward barked a laugh. "Bella…you're…" Another groan tore form his throat as she slicked her thumb across the head again and his hips jerked. "Fuck!"

Bella blushed and looked adorably pleased with herself, and Edward felt a rush of love so strong it was painful. "You're perfect," he panted hoarsely.

Bella's brows furrowed with concentration, her silky hair brushing across his thighs and stomach as she began to stroke with a steadier rhythm, and Edward's breath grew labored, his chest heaving. "You can grip harder," he rasped. She squeezed tightly and Edward thrust into her hand with a growl.

Bella stroked faster, bracing a hand against his taut stomach. She twisted her hand over the slick head of his cock on each stroke until suddenly Edward's entire body tensed. With a crack, the maple headboard splintered in his hands and he curled inward on a ragged groan as his cock pulsed, spilling his seed onto his stomach.

.

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Edward lay on his back, with Bella snuggled against his side, an arm draped across his chest. He stroked her hair and stared up at the ceiling, blissfully sated. When her heartbeat and his breathing had returned to normal, he cleaned himself with a handkerchief from the bedside table, then pulled a blanket over them and lay on his side to face her.

"I love you," he whispered, and rested his forehead against hers. Bella sighed and scooted closer, her legs coming up to tangle with his. "I love you, Edward."

'Eduardus, facere non sollicitus. Nocere non poteris = 'Edward, don't worry. You cannot hurt your mate.'

Pellicere = to seduce, entice, captivate

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