Love at First Sight

Disclaimer- I do not own Twilight. All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter 37 Wedding Night

A/N - Happy Birthday RJ77 - welcome back

BPOV

"Why didn't they come?"

"Alone time is their other gift. It is our wedding night."

"Oh."

That was all it took to make the house disappear. We could have been anywhere. I didn't see the trees or the stones or moon or the stars. It was just Edward.

My heart was thundering like a steam engine about to hit us. Deafening. My lungs felt like they would burst from lack of oxygen. I had to stop the kiss to breathe or risk passing out. Every cell in my body was awake. I felt revitalized. Rejuvenated. I know I should be exhausted – this had been a long emotional day but I was anticipating a few hours alone in bed with my husband before I go to sleep. My insides quivered at the thought of being in bed for hours with my husband. I'm sure my face was beet red.

He held his hand out towards the doorknob, waiting for me to do the honors. I stuck the key in the lock and turned it. He ducked down and yanked me up into his arms so fast that I didn't see it coming.

"Hey!"

"Thresholds are part of my job description," he reminded me. "I'm curious. Tell me what you're thinking about right now."

The violent pulse beating behind my ears made everything a little blurry. I shook my head to clear it.

"I was thinking about being in bed with my husband for hours before I go to sleep." I said blushing again.

"Your wish is my command." He whispered; his lips almost brushing my ears. His breath sent a shudder right through me. My body yearning to feel those lips all over.

I decided to take advantage of the fact that he hadn't gotten around to setting me back on my feet and that his wits-scramblingly beautiful face was only inches away. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. A hard hungry kiss. I've been waiting for this day for three weeks.

He hugged me tighter. My hands tangled in his hair, pulling his face closer. He was walking but neither of us paid any attention to our surroundings. We were both devouring each other – pouring out all the pent up desires from the past few weeks. When he finally broke the kiss and I slid down his body; my knees were weak and once again, I needed air. I clung to him – using him for support while I tried to catch my breath. I realized we were in a bedroom - the bed was huge and white, with clouds of gossamer floating down from the canopy to the floor. Thinking of what we'd be doing in that bed soon, inflamed my need for him even more.

"Do you want to look around?" I couldn't speak so I shook my head. I know he was not oblivious to the fact that an electric current was pulsing through my body like adrenaline-spiked blood but typical Edward; he was giving me a choice.

"We could do that later, or tomorrow."

"Technically, Mrs. Cullen, it's tomorrow already." he joked as he reached for my zipper and slowly pulled it down. Kissing the tip of my nose, my eyes, behind my ear and along my jaw. I moaned. Apparently a quickie was not in the works or we would have been making out in the living room or against a wall already. Then I thought, this is my wedding night. Don't I get exactly what I want? An evil grin spread across my face. I moved away from him and my dress slipped to the floor.

"Edward, I've waited for this night for weeks. I want you now." I was standing in that white corset from Valentine's Day and the garter belt, tiny white satin panties – which were soaked and the heels I had on earlier. He growled. His nostrils flared. His eyes darkened, a myriad of emotions flashed across his face. I could see the hungry way he looked at me.

Before the words left my mouth, he was stripping his clothes off. Throwing them all over. Some pieces he just ripped off his body like one of those guys in a strip club.

"It's a good thing this cottage is secluded because by the time I'm done with you you'd be hoarse from screaming." Something deep inside me quivered. How does he do this? Using words to make me lose control.

"Mrs. Cullen, since you insist on having pleasure, that's exactly what you'll get." He picked up his pants and ripped off a few strips. Then he advanced on me. I didn't know whether I should be afraid or if I should be glad that he's willing to give in to me.

"I'm going to make love to you nice and slow. Just when you think you've had enough pleasure, I'll fuck you hard, then I'm going to make love to you again until we see the sun rise." I had to sit on the bed because I couldn't hold myself up any longer.

He advanced; I was mesmerized by his perfect naked body. My eyes couldn't decide where to look – his beautiful face or his hard cock that was bouncing with each step. He kneeled on the bed and positioned me in the middle.

"Do you remember that night when you told me I had permission to hold you hostage?" I nodded, I knew if I tried to speak it would come out as a squeak.

"I'm taking you up on that tonight. You're my prisoner and I'm going to ravish you." He licked from the top of my breast to my neck. I moaned and rubbed my legs together trying to get some relief.

He reached up and in the blink of an eye my hands were secured to the bedframe. My heart was pounding so loud, it was embarrassing.

"Are you afraid?"

"No," I managed to croak. I knew he wouldn't hurt me and if this was anything like my pretend spanking then I'm in for a thrill of a lifetime.

"Do you want me to stop?" What? Is he crazy? This is shaping up to be one of the most erotic experience of my life and he thinks I want him to stop.

I swallowed, trying to moisten my throat. "No." I whispered.

That's all he needed to hear. He moved to the foot of the bed and secured my feet. I was spread out like a Thanksgiving feast – well maybe more like a wedding banquet. He stood at the foot of the bed and feasted on the sight of me in my underwear, stockings and heels. All my dark secret places were throbbing.

He took my shoes off, flinging them over his shoulders. I looked at his every move, he looked so tempting. I wanted to reach out and pull him to me but I didn't have the use of my hands. He trailed his fingers up my right leg, stopping to tease behind my knee, moving all the way to the top of my stockings. He reached up to kiss me. Tasting and teasing my mouth with his lips and tongue.

He unsnapped my stockings from the gather belt, caressing my inner thighs - brushing his fingers along the edges on my panties but never slipping under. With each brush of his hands, I'd hold my breath, thinking this time he'll slip a finger under and touch my wet lips but nothing. The anticipation was making me more and more aroused. He lifted my right leg and rolled the silk down. He moved tantalizingly slow. Caressing and kissing his way down my leg. My body was on high alert. I was tingling all over. This was sweet agony. I was writhing, moaning and begging. I wanted to flip him over and have my way with him but I couldn't.

Then I realized why he tied me to the bed. The last time we were in the meadow I had my way with him because I was too impatient to wait – like he always says, "You are so human, Bella. Ruled by your hormones." Eventually he took control and slowed things down giving me a mind blowing orgasm but tonight, my only job will be to lay back and enjoy his ministrations. He wanted me to enjoy this, to savor each moment, to build to that crescendo. I took a deep breath, trying to prepare myself but knowing there was nothing I could do. This is going to be a night of sensual torture – exquisite, beautiful torture and I was going to enjoy every second of it.

When he got to my ankle, he left the fabric bunched up and moved to my left leg, repeating the process of trailing up my leg, teasing, kissing and slowly rolling down the silk, moving back to my ankle. I was drenched. He slithered back up my legs to my crotch. He inhaled, kissed me through my panties then used the tip of his tongue to push the silk between my lips. I was making undistinguishable sounds. When he pulled the material across and licked my lips, my body bowed. The pleasure of his tongue finally where I wanted it was extreme. He held me still with his hand on my hips while he continued licking and sucking. My groans were getting louder and louder. Can someone die from too much pleasure?

His name became a mantra on my lips, "Edward, Edward, Edward." I uttered this over and over in between moans and begging him. "please, please." I didn't know if it was please stop, or don't stop or more please.

When he was satisfied with the amount of pleasure he lavished on my lips, he moved up to unsnap my corset. To my surprise, he only did the top – just enough to expose my breasts. He licked and sucked my nipples; massaging my breasts, blowing his cold breath on my already sensitive nipples. He knew just what to do to keep me writhing and moaning.

The slightest touch of his fingers, the slightest wisp of his breath was enough to add to this sweet agony. My blood was heated from the electric pulse we generated; it was pushing indescribably sensual feelings to every cell in my body. He ignored all my attempts to get him back to the wet, aching, throbbing center of my desire. It didn't help that I could feel his erection brushing my leg as he tormented me with his skilled mouth and fingers.

Finally, he moved back to my panty, ripping it off. His tongue found my lips again; this time parting them to get inside. After using his tongue and fingers to drive me to the brink of madness, he sucked my clit into his mouth. That's all I needed. I exploded. Screaming at the intensity of the pleasure. He kept flicking his tongue as wave after wave of pleasure flooded my entire being. I slumped into the mattress, taking deep breaths. I don't know if I could survive until sunrise.

He got up and released me. He kissed and rubbed my wrists and ankles; finally removing my stockings completely.

"My sweet wife, is that what you were begging for?" He leaned down to kiss me, positioning himself between my legs and spreading them as far as they could go.

He entered me slowly, kissing me all the while. Another searing kiss. He picked up the pace and started a hard punishing rhythm, then he slowed down only to pick up the pace again. Holding my hips and lifting me off the bed to get a better position. I was matching him move for move. Pushing up as he pushed down – our bodies slapping into each other; adding its own erotic sound to the moans and groans emanating from us. We were gazing at each other, communicating all the love we felt. The air was crackling around us. Hard and deep. Nice and slow. He kept up this rhythm. The alternating strokes and angles of penetration had me on edge for a long time. He moved my legs to another position without missing a beat. Playing my body like a maestro. Hard and deep. In and out. Nice and slow.

I felt another orgasm start, working its way slowly up from my toes to meet the coil that was unraveling in my stomach. His hands left my hips for my breasts. Gently rubbing and twisting my nipples before sucking them again. Then he started grinding into me. Rubbing against my clit with each circle of his hips. His mouth went from light sucking to deep pulls, suckling me. The sensations from his mouth made a direct connection to the quivering in my stomach. Unleashing another round of wetness. Lubricating me even more.

I held out as long as I could but my movements started getting erratic. He gradually increased his pace. Until true to his word, he really started going deeper, harder and faster. My second orgasm swept over me. My muscles were squeezing and holding him tighter, pulling him deeper inside me but he didn't let himself cum.

"Are you okay?" He asked

"Yes," He was staring at me to see if I was telling the truth.

"Are you tired, do you want me to stop and sing you to sleep?" I blushed and shook my head. I was too excited to think about sleeping. And I was aware that even with my multiple orgasms; he has yet to have one. He was concentrating on giving me pleasure to the point of holding back his. I know he would say he was getting as much pleasure out of this as I was but it didn't seem fair. I was determined to make him cum the next time I did.

He smiled and pulled me into his arms. He brushed the hair off my feverish brow and gently kissed my forehead.

"I love you so much. The emotions I'm feeling now are almost overwhelming. It's like the first time all over again. Your heat, your smell, your taste. I missed being one with you." He murmured before showering my face with kisses.

"I know what you mean; this is the happiest day of my life. I thought I was happy before but something happened during the ceremony. I know we've talked about being together forever but today was like taking the first step in that direction. Forever seemed more real somehow. I probably would have felt the same after my transformation but the ceremony really did it for me. I never expected all the emotions I felt while saying our vows or hearing Mr. Weber reading those words that would bind us together forever."

He hugged me tight, almost squashing the breath out of me. Then he kissed me, one of those demanding, toe curling, possessive kisses. My body responded immediately.

He worked his way down my body, kissing and caressing. He finally removed my corset and gather belt. Caressing and kissing every inch of my body. I was a spineless quivering insatiable mass. The more he touched me. The more I wanted to feel his touch. He rolled me on my stomach. Up and down my back he went; running his finger tips and his tongue up and down my spine – sending shivers of pleasure through me. Passing his hands along the sides of my breasts, over my ribs, moving down to my ass, my thighs, my wet lips all the way down to my toes before flipping me over on my back and making the circuit back up – not missing an inch of flesh – from the soles of my feet to the top of my head.

My skin was on fire. My body was screaming for release but he knows how to wring every drop of sensuous pleasure out of me. As if he knew my devious plan to make him cum the next time I did, he brought me to the bring more times than I could remember but always held back. Tantalizing me with another orgasm but never giving me that final push.

True to his word, a faint hint of light was coming through the French doors before he entered my well lubricated pussy again. I sighed. As much as I enjoyed the hours of loving, my body craved that feeling – both of us coming together. I gave myself up to the feeling of being joined. He moved slowly. Long slow strokes. Pulling almost all the way out before pushing back in; Slow, languid strokes; stoking the fire in me building it higher and higher.

We were in our cocoon. The only thing that mattered was giving each other pleasure. He was kissing, touching, stroking and tasting me. Everywhere his hands and mouth could reach without breaking our connection. I was kissing, touching, stroking and tasting him. I couldn't get enough of him. I was hyperaware of him. This was my husband. I get to keep him forever. Mine.

"Yes yours, as you're mine." He whispered.

I didn't realize that I'd said the word aloud. I wrapped my legs around him, opening myself up to him even more. He thrust deeper, while we shared sweet kisses; teasing each other with our tongues before giving in and kissing passionately. I was in a frenzy. Faster and faster he went. Harder and harder.

I hit a brick wall. At least it felt like it. My back arched, my muscles contracted, I was screaming, I held on to his shoulders trying to ground myself. I wanted him to cum with me and I knew just what I had to do. As I felt the first wave of my orgasm, I buried my face in his neck and bit him hard, squeezing him tighter, whispering "mine", in his ear.

He hissed. My efforts were not in vain. His hold on me tightened as I felt stream after stream of his seed shooting inside me. Prolonging my orgasm, it went on and on. My muscles wouldn't stop contracting. Squeezing him. Never wanting to let him go. He kept twitching inside me, enhancing the euphoric feelings from my orgasm. My body was making up for all the times he brought me to the brink and back. I didn't think the clenching and quivering would end.

My heart was beating so hard, I could hear the whoosh of blood in my ears. My throat was raw. I was breathing like a marathon runner. He held me gently, giving me some of his sweet calming breath, caressing and kissing me – feather like kisses all over my face, head and neck. Holding me tightly to his chest, rocking me and whispering words of love. I was finally exhausted. Totally drained from the hours of lovemaking and the emotional day we had. I was going under fast.

I mumbled what I thought was, "I love you."

I closed my eyes and let the exhaustion drag me to oblivion. Knowing that I was safe in his arms. Right where I belong.

EPOV

While Bella sleeps, I slip out of bed and decide to work on our thank you cards. Soon after we come back from our honeymoon, we have school so this is the only time we have to do them. I spread out the guest list and our wedding program. It was such a perfect day – the most wonderful day of my existence. I finally got my heart's desire. Bella and I are married. She's not just Charlie and Renee's daughter or my mate. She is my wife. Mrs. Isabella Cullen. I feel so happy, so proud, to call her my wife.

Of course she missed everything before Alice skipped down the aisle but I'm sure she heard the beautiful music from inside. The choir started singing while people were taking their seats, keeping them entertained until the beginning of the ceremony. I picked up the program, looking at each page and picturing everything as clearly as if it just happened – with my photographic memory, it will be this clear for eternity. I smile as I picture it all again.

(Cover)

The Marriage Ceremony Uniting

Isabella Marie Swan

and
Edward Anthony Cullen

Saturday, the thirteenth of August
two thousand seven
five o'clock in the evening
at

The Cullen's Home
123 Main Avenue
Forks, Washington

(Left side)

Prelude

Duet - "Someone To Love" & "I Finally Found Someone"

Choir – "My Wish For You"

Lighting of the Ceremonial Candles – by the parents

Seating of the Mothers

Processional

Choir – "Endless Love"

Rosalie Cullen on Piano - "Wagner's Bridal Chorus"

Reading

Sonnet XIV by Elizabeth Barrett Browning- read by Angela Weber

(Right side)

Wedding Message

Rev. Weber

Choir – "God Must Have Spent A little More Time On You"

Exchange of vows

Exchange of rings

Lighting of the Unity Candle

Bride and Groom with blessing by Rev. Weber

Announcement of marriage

Duet - "From This Moment On"

Presentation of the Bride and Groom

Recessional

Solo by Alice Cullen - "Ever Ever After"

(back)

The Wedding Party

Parents
Mr. Charlie Swan & Mrs. Renee Smith

Dr. & Mrs. Carlisle Cullen

Bridesmaids
Rosalie Cullen

Alice Cullen

Groomsmen

Emmett Cullen

Jasper Cullen

Ring Bearers
Mark Weber

Marcus Weber

Officiating Ministers
Rev. Weber

Choir

The Tacoma Choral Group

Guestbook Attendants
Kate Denali
Tanya Denali

Irena Denali

We wish to thank all our family and friends for celebrating this special day with us.

I look and Tanya and her sisters' names and smile. Bella even has the Denali clan wrapped around her little finger. At first I was worried about Tanya, she's been after me for decades but once she saw me with Bella and after talking to us a few times after the trip to Alaska, she was just as happy about the wedding as my immediate family. They came early and helped finish decorating but went to hunt afterwards to prepare for the amount of humans that were going to be present later. Bella and I got to spend time with them at the reception and during the dancing that followed. They plan to come back over Thanksgiving so they could start teaching her how to use her power.

They are the closest thing we have to family, so she wanted them to be a part of the wedding, hence the roles of guestbook attendants. They actually took their roles seriously. Walking around during dessert, stopping at each table to make sure everyone wrote something on the pages for the book and signed the frame because apparently it was not enough to just have a regular guestbook. We had a guestbook that came apart so each guest has a page to write well wishes, or a poem or whatever takes their fancy, then the pages get compiled along with pictures of the guests to make a book. We also had a frame, which the guest signs. In the middle of the frame is the word 'Forever', along the top has a nice line - "Two lives, two hearts joined together in friendship united forever in love." with our first names and our wedding date at the bottom.

For our wedding gift, they paid for the crystals used at the reception. Like everyone else, they've fallen under her spell. She doesn't even know the effect she has on people, that's one of the things that's so special about her. Her innocence and genuine kindness just draws people in. They actually wanted to pay for the china and the silverware also but we thought it was too much. In the end, they paid for the crystals, Esme and Carlisle paid for the china and my siblings paid for the silverware. We're keeping the crystal vases, and 2 dozen place settings, complete with the crystal stemware. Bella will have to order a China cabinet or we could build one for her. These things helped set the stage for this spectacular and most memorable of days. We don't need reminders of our wedding day but these things will always have sentimental value for us. Nothing about this wedding was simple or ordinary.

For example the wedding singers; Bella and I both love music. She wanted to incorporate music into the ceremony. That's why we had a few of the songs from out playlist on the program. At first we talked about having speakers in the ceremony area and having the songs played from a CD but Esme mentioned it would be nicer if we had actual singers. Next thing we knew, we were listening to samples from different singers in the state. We finally decided on the group because they were a family and two of the singers had strong voices for solos if we wanted that. We ended up using those singers for duets and Alice sang the solo.

Alice was so excited when Bella asked her to sing at the wedding. I'm sure Jasper is still trying to calm her down. It was the same with Rosalie. Privately, I'm still amazed at how quickly Rosalie bonded with Bella. Never in all the time I knew her, did this ever happen. Not with Tanya or any of her sisters or any of the hundreds or thousands of people we've met before. There is something magical about my Bella. It makes both humans and vampires want to be near her, want to see her smile, we would do anything to keep her safe and happy. I shake my head and smile at how much power she has over us.

I look at this booklet again. This piece of paper holds so much significance for me. I have my beautiful angel to walk through eternity with. Thinking of the ceremony makes me think of the rest of the day. Everyone did a spectacular job to make this day special. When I think of all the hours that went into this, it's truly amazing. Bella gave Alice specific guidelines to follow and Alice is not accustomed to people restricting her actions so I thought it would be like mixing oil and water but surprisingly, Alice went along with Bella's ideas and even consulted her on everything they didn't cover in their wedding sessions.

Bella thought she was keeping this wedding small and 'normal' by insisting we have it at the house. I think in the long run, it worked out better for Alice because instead of having one or two rooms at a hotel, she had acres of space around the house to work with. She created a beautiful scene - even with the restrictions she was under. If it wasn't for Bella's insistence on keeping things simple, Alice would have ordered a movie set for a castle and erected it in the backyard along with a drawbridge and moat. I even saw pictures of white doves being released and men in livery wearing white gloves serving dinner on gold plates.

I chuckle as I think of how the little minx - as Bella calls her - was kept under control by a little human. With anyone else, she would have just bulldozed right over them and do whatever she wanted but she knew how important it was to Bella to make everything appear 'normal and simple' and as I said before, whatever it takes to keep Bella happy, we did. Well except for the night before the wedding and I think after tonight she'll forgive Alice for that, if she's hasn't forgiven her already.

Bella could have taken the easy way out with the wedding planning because with Renee and all the women in my family getting involved from day one, they could have planned the wedding for her but she insisted in taking part in every aspect of the planning. The only thing Alice had sole control over was the wedding dress. Well technically she did have guidelines to follow, but for the most part she got to create that beautiful dress my angel walked down the aisle in.

Speaking of the wedding dress, I had no idea what I was in for when I insisted on taking off her dress after the ceremony, else I would have brought her to the cottage before anyone could have stopped me. The things she wears under her clothes make me feel like an animal. I just want to ravish her. To be honest, every time I'm near her I want to ravish her but those sexy under clothes of hers are enough to drive anyone insane; each piece accentuating her beautiful body.

Now I'm thinking of that corset she wore tonight. Why does she have to torture me like that? She knows what those corsets do to me. Tonight it was the white corset, with the gather belt, sexy little satin panties, thigh highs and the heels she wore with her wedding dress. On any given day, any one of those items could unravel me but on our wedding day, with all the emotions I was feeling that combination really unhinged me - well it was almost lethal - at least for her.

That's one of the reasons I decided to tie her to the bed. I didn't want to scare her but I needed time to get myself under control. If I'd let her touch me in that state, there was no telling what would have happened. The last thing either of us needed was for her to go through the pains of transformation on her wedding night so I made it into a game. Once I had time to control the monster, I was able to free her. By the time we came together the first time, I was calmer but I decided to keep myself from having an orgasm just to be safe. I thought I was back to normal and in control by the time we came together at dawn. Surprise, surprise.

I wish I knew what possessed her to bite me and utter the word mine a second time. We've done little love bites before but there was something so primal this time. There was no holding back the monster. The thought of having sex and drinking her blood at the same time had me in a near frenzy. I couldn't just stop and leave her alone, bewildered, maybe even scared on the most special night of our lives. I'm glad I found a way to channel the excess. Plus the amazing orgasm I had gave me something other than biting to think about. That was off the charts. Just feeling my seed gushing out, over and over, deep inside her while her muscles squeezed me almost painfully, that was enough to distract me. We've made love for hours before but last night was just so much more. It was as if every emotion I've ever felt, came into play in that instant. I almost felt like a new born vampire.

I've read from books and peoples' minds about both vampires and some humans having mind blowing orgasms and I know I've given a few to my sweet Bella but I never thought I would be able to experience that with her until she was a vampire. Until I could make love to her without holding back. Without having to worry about hurting her. Aaah – if this was a cartoon, a light bulb would be blinking over my head. Now I know what happened. This is the first time I was so out of control with her. Being closer to the vampire I am than the human male I try to be to protect her. There was another time in the woods when I had to stop and have my wicked way with her to control that same impulse to bite her but it was not half as bad as tonight. If anything like this ever happens again, I'd be prepared. How could such a tiny human girl make me feel such intense emotions?

All of this is just making my desire for her raise its ugly head. I think I'll go hunt a deer or two before she wakes up. Plus I still have to start the thank you cards for her to sign at the airport or on the first plane, so we could mail them before we leave the country. I check on her, she's in a deep coma like sleep. I have a few hours before she gets up. I gently caress her cheek, whisper, "I love you" and kiss her forehead before I leave. The sooner I hunt, the sooner I could do the cards and return to cuddle with my beautiful wife.

BPOV

When I woke up, my head was laying on Edward's chest but I could feel the comforter around me. The sun was bright outside. I blinked a few times trying to adjust my eyes to the light. It took me a while to realize where I was. I stretched. I smiled as the events of last night or rather early this morning came back to mind. I blush as I peeked up at him.

"Good Afternoon Mrs. Cullen. How does it feel to be a married woman?"

"Very satisfied." I said with a chuckle. "I need a human minute." I said and pulled back the comforter. I gasped.

"Are you hurt?"

I couldn't make sense of the fluffy white snow that clung to my skin. I shook my head, and a cascade of white drifted out of my hair.

I pinched one soft white bit between my fingers. It was a piece of down.

"Why am I covered in feathers?" I asked, confused.

He chuckled. "I bit a pillow. Or two."

"You…bit a pillow? Why?"

"I underestimated how emotional I'd be on our wedding night. All that extra emotions from the wedding running rampant through me; the pent up lust from the past few weeks, my desire to make this a memorable night for you, those sinful articles of clothing you were wearing and the fact that now you're truly mine, it was all a bit much. It was sensory overload. Then when you bit me, I lost control. I had this overwhelming urge to do the same. It was either the pillows or you."

"Well then, better the pillows than me." I caressed his face and rushed to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I looked in the mirror and groaned at the sight of my hair.

"Bella?" He was right there behind me as soon as I'd made a sound.

"I'll never get this all out of my hair!" I pointed to my head, where it looked like a chicken was nesting. I started picking at the feathers.

"How did you keep from laughing at this? I look ridiculous."

"No, you look like an angel. Think of the feathers like a halo." He kissed the tip of my nose and started plucking the feathers out of my hair.

"This isn't going to work," I sighed after a minute. "I'm going to have to try to wash it out." I turned around, wrapping my arms around his cool waist. "Do you want to help me?"

"That's an offer I can't refuse. We don't have to leave for a few more hours."

We went into the shower and didn't make our way back to the bedroom until all the hot water was finished. Not only was my hair thoroughly washed, but every part of my body got the same attention, some more that others because in addition to his skilled fingers, he added his lips and tongue to his favorite parts. I was happy. I was a happily married woman. No human woman has ever started a honeymoon like this.

Since I didn't get a chance to look at our house last night, I decided to do that now. The bedroom walls were that almost-white-blue of a brilliant sunny day, and the back wall had big glass doors that opened into a little hidden garden complete with climbing roses and a small round pond, smooth as a mirror and edged with shiny stones.

The living room was something from a fairy tale. The floor was a crazy quilt of smooth, flat stones. The low ceiling had long exposed beams. The walls were warm wood in some places, stone mosaics in others. There was a beehive fireplace in the corner with the makings of a fire just waiting to be lit.

It was furnished in eclectic pieces, not one of them matching another, but harmonious just the same. One chair seemed vaguely medieval, while a low ottoman by the fire was more contemporary and the stocked book shelf against the far window reminded me of movies set in Italy. Somehow each piece fit together with the others like a big three-dimensional puzzle. There were a few paintings on the walls that I recognized — some of my very favorites from the big house. Priceless originals, no doubt, but they seemed to belong here, too, like all the rest.

It was a place where anyone could believe magic existed. A place where you just expected Snow White to walk right in with her apple in hand, or a unicorn to stop and nibble at the rosebushes.

Edward had always thought that he belonged to the world of horror stories. Of course, I'd known he was dead wrong. It was obvious that he belonged here. In a fairy tale. And now I was in the story with him.

"Esme is an artist. It's so perfect!"

"We'll call her on the way out so you could tell her how much you love it. She's going to be thrilled." He took my hand as we walked down a narrow stone hallway with tiny arches in the ceiling, like it was our own miniature castle leading into a kitchenette.

"Let's get you fed, then I'll show you the closet. Since you're still human, Esme decide to use the spare bedroom to make a kitchen. After your transformation, we wouldn't need it anymore so it could be an extra bedroom if we ever need the space." I know what he was implying but since we haven't shared this with anyone else, we couldn't talk about it. The little physic minx will find out and as they say, 'the cat will be out of the bag.'

We prepared bacon, eggs and toast – it was more like lunch time but this was easier. Someone brought over strawberries from the reception, so I put a few of those on the plate too. I wanted to eat in front of the fireplace. I thought it would be romantic – if it got hot, that would be an excuse to take my clothes off and snuggle up to Edward's cold body. Edward lit the kindling and I was amazed at the flames. It was driftwood burning there—the low flames were blue and green from the salt. I remembered this from our trip to Florida last spring break.

He fed me. Making a game of it like he always does. Teasing me with his fingers and his lips. If this is how the rest of our honeymoon was going to be, I can't wait to get off the plane. For that matter, we didn't have to leave this cottage. Eventually, every morsel was consumed and I licked his fingers clean; arousing both of us even more.

We made our way back to the bedroom. Neither one of us could keep our hands to ourselves.

"I'm sure you're dying to see the closet." he teased, "Or, at least I'll tell Alice that you were, to make her feel good."

"Should I be afraid?"

"Terrified."

He smiled a wide, gleaming smile and then laughed. "The closet is through those double doors. I should warn you—it's bigger than this room."

I didn't even glance at the doors. There was nothing else in the world but him again—his arms around me, his sweet breath on my face, his lips just inches from mine—and there was nothing that could distract me. Now was my turn to torture him.

"We're going to tell Alice that I ran right to the clothes," I whispered, twisting my fingers into his hair and pulling my face closer to his. "We're going to tell her I spent hours in there playing dress-up. We're going to lie."

He caught up to my mood in an instant, or maybe he'd already been there and he was just trying to let me recover from the shower. He pulled my face to his with a sudden fierceness, a low moan in his throat. The sound sent the electric current running through my body into a near-frenzy, like I couldn't get close enough to him fast enough.

We were pulling and tugging at clothes. Honestly, I don't know why we bothered to get dressed. It felt almost rude to ignore the pretty white bed, but we just weren't going to make it that far.

The flight to South America was long but comfortable in the wide first-class seat, with Edward's arms cradled around me. I slept myself out and awoke unusually alert as we circled toward the airport with the light of the setting sun slanting through the plane's windows.

We didn't stay in the airport to connect with another flight as I'd expected. We had already changed planes – from Seattle to Houston to Rio. Instead we took a taxi through the dark, teeming, living streets of Rio to the extreme western edge of the city, heading towards the ocean. We stopped at the docks.

Edward led the way down the long line of white yachts moored in the night blackened water. The boat he stopped at was smaller than the others, sleeker, obviously built for speed instead of space. Still luxurious, though, and more graceful than the rest. He leaped in lightly, despite the heavy bags he carried. He dropped those on the deck and turned to help me carefully over the edge.

As we headed due east into the open ocean, I reviewed basic geography in my head. As far as I could remember, there wasn't much east of Brazil… until you got to Africa. The lights of Rio faded and ultimately disappeared behind us. Finally the curiosity I'd suppressed so long got the best of me.

"Are we going much farther?" I asked.

"About another half hour." His eyes took in my hands, clenched on the seat and he grinned.

Oh well, I thought to myself. He was a vampire, after all. Maybe we were going to Atlantis. Twenty minutes later, he called my name over the roar of the engine.

"Bella, look there." He pointed straight ahead.

I saw only blackness at first and the moon's white trail across the water. But I searched the space where he pointed until I found a low black shape breaking into the sheen of moonlight on the waves. As I squinted into the darkness, the silhouette became more detailed. The shape grew into a squat, irregular triangle, with one side trailing longer than the other before sinking into the waves. We drew closer, and I could see the outline was feathery, swaying to the light breeze.

And then my eyes refocused and the pieces all made sense: a small island rose out of the water ahead of us, waving with palm fronds, a beach glowing pale in the light of the moon.

"Where are we?" I murmured in wonder while he shifted course, heading around to the north end of the island.

"This is Isle Esme."

The boat slowed dramatically, drawing with precision into position against a short dock constructed of wooden planks, bleached into whiteness by the moon. The engine cut off, and the silence that followed was profound. There was nothing but the waves, slapping lightly against the boat, and the rustle of the breeze in the palms. The air was warm, moist, and fragrant—like the steam left behind after a hot shower.

"Isle Esme?" My voice was low, but it still sounded too loud as it broke into the quiet night.

"A gift from Carlisle—Esme offered to let us borrow it."

A gift. Who gives an island as a gift? I frowned. I hadn't realized that Edward's extreme generosity was a learned behavior.

He placed the suitcases on the dock and then turned back, smiling his perfect smile as he reached for me. Instead of taking my hand, he pulled me right up into his arms.

"Aren't you supposed to wait for the threshold?" I asked, breathless, as he sprung lightly out of the boat.

He grinned. "I'm nothing if not thorough."

Gripping the handles of both huge steamer trunks in one hand and cradling me in the other arm, he carried me up the dock and onto a pale sand pathway through the dark vegetation. We were alone on a deserted island for two weeks. No Charlie, no vampires just the two of us. My heart thudded audibly against my ribs, and my breath seemed to get stuck in my throat.

He set the suitcases on the deep porch to open the doors, waiting until I met his gaze before he stepped through the threshold.

He carried me through the house, flipping on lights as he went. My vague impression of the house was that it was quite large for a tiny island, and oddly familiar. I'd gotten used to the pale-on-pale color scheme preferred by the Cullens; it felt like home.

The bedroom was big and white, and the far wall was mostly glass—standard décor for my vampires. Outside, the moon was bright on white sand and, just a few yards away from the house, glistening waves. But I barely noted that part. I was more focused on the absolutely huge white bed in the center of the room, hung with billowy clouds of mosquito netting. It reminded me of the bed in the cottage.

Edward set me on my feet. "I'll go get the luggage."

I walked slowly forward until I could reach out and touch the foamy netting. For some reason I felt the need to make sure everything was real. I was married to a mythical creature, we were on a tiny island in the middle of nowhere in this beautiful house – first my fairytale wedding, then my enchanted cottage in the middle of the woods and now this. It was a little hard to believe that I was not dreaming. I bent over, to run my hand over the smooth white cover on the bed. My knees started getting weak as my imagination took over, thinking of what we'd be doing in this bed before the night was through.

I didn't hear Edward return. Suddenly, his wintry finger caressed the back of my neck, wiping away a drop of perspiration. He pulled me back against him. His hands on my hips, his hard cock against my ass. He kissed my neck, moving his hands inside my shirt to touch my stomach, moving up to my breast. I welcomed his touch. We didn't have any alone time while we travelled today.

"This is not how I wanted to start our time on the island." he whispered. "But the sight of that delectable ass in the air and that short skirt is too much to resist."

I wiggled in anticipation. I was already wet from the time I realized that it was two of us alone on this island. I was ready for him.

"Then what are you waiting for." I decided to spur him on. I reached under my skirt and started to pull my panty down.

This incited our lust; we were desperate for each other. We didn't bother undressing. He pulled down his pants just enough to free his cock. He knew I was ready for him so he thrust right in. One hard thrust and he was fully sheathed. My body welcomed him back. Stretching to accommodate his size. He held my hips and started pounding into me hard and fast. He moved one hand under my shirt, pulling my breasts over my bra to twist my nipples. Alternating. Right, left, right left. While he gripped me with his other hand pulling me into his thrusts. I used the edge of the mattress to keep myself up. From this angle, I could look underneath me and see him going in and out. In and out. The sight of his balls tempted me so I reached under and caressed it. This caused him to pump his hips faster. He leaned over my back and kissed my neck, nibbled on my earlobes and my jaw. Then he went back to his quick hard pace. Thrusting faster and faster. I reached my clit and started rubbing. Soon we were both falling over the edge. Groaning and panting. He pushed me on the bed and laid next to me. Pulling me close while we tried to regulate our breathing.

After a few minutes he said.

"Let's start over."

"Okay. How did you plan to start the night?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to take a midnight swim with me?"

"Sounds nice." Wet naked Edward. Oh my.

His lips brushed against my throat, just below my ear. He chuckled once and his cool breath tickled my overheated skin.

"I'll give you a few minutes. Don't take too long, Mrs. Cullen."

His lips brushed down my neck to the tip of my shoulder. "I'll wait for you in the water."

He got off the bed and walked to the French door that opened right onto the beach sand. On the way, he shrugged out of his pants, dropping it on the floor, and then slipped through the door into the moonlit night.

I reminded myself to breathe, then I stumbled to the bathroom. I peeked out through the long windows that opened to the same beach as the French doors. A small movement caught my eye—draped over a bend in one of the palm trees that fringed the beach, the rest of his clothes were swaying in the light breeze.

Edward was skinny dipping. Did my skin burst into flames? I had to look down to check. Nope, nothing was burning. Knowing that we were alone here seems to be wreaking havoc with my body.

I walked across the warm powder, pausing beside the curved tree where he had left his clothes. I looked across the low ripples, black in the darkness, searching for him.

He stood, his back to me, waist deep in the midnight water, staring up at the oval moon. I stared at the smooth lines of his back, his shoulders, his arms, his neck, the flawless shape of him. Would it always be this way? No matter how many times I saw him, the sight of his naked body is always enough to drive me crazy with desire, even the thought of his gorgeous body could drive me crazy with desire.

The fire was no longer a flash burn across my skin—it was slow and deep now. I slipped the towel off without hesitation, leaving it on the tree with his clothes, and walked out into the white light; it made me pale as the snowy sand, too.

"Beautiful," I said, looking up at the moon, too.

"It's all right," he answered, unimpressed.

He turned slowly to face me; little waves rolled away from his movement and broke against my skin. His eyes looked silver in his ice-colored face. He twisted his hand up so that he could twine our fingers beneath the surface of the water. It was warm enough that his cool skin did not raise goose bumps on mine.

"But I wouldn't use the word beautiful," he continued. "Not with you standing here in comparison."

I smiled, then raised my free hand and placed it over his heart. White on white; we matched, for once. He shuddered the tiniest bit at my warm touch. His breath came rougher now.

"This moment feels so perfect, so right, so magical. We were meant to be together. Forever."

His arms wrapped around me, holding me against him, summer and winter. It felt like every nerve ending in my body was a live wire.

"Forever," he agreed, and then pulled us gently into deeper water.