Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight :)
A/N: There will be one more chapter after this one. It's rather short, but I want to include it regardless because I feel that it kind of wraps things up nicely. And after that, there's the Epilogue. Sniff.
One reader asked if I'm going to keep writing stories about Bella/Carlisle. The answer is yes, I do have another story on the way. It's a little different, and I've enjoyed writing it immensely. I actually have 20 chapters already written, but I'm not sure when I begin to post. Maybe in a month or two, it depends. My goal is to finish the story before I publish the first chapter, because I don't want the readers to have to wait too much between the updates. It took over four years to finish Paths To Entwine, and needless to say, that was never my intention. Anyway, time will tell.
I hope you enjoy!
"It's true that the two halves were no longer hinged.
They weren't clinging to each other, but each was a cream-colored wing with a rosy flush inside.
I held one half in each hand. If I took this shell across the room or across the universe,
and the other one stayed here, they'd still be two halves of a whole,
and anyone would know they belonged together."
- Terri Farley, Seven Tears Into the Sea -
The Rest Of My Days
"Do we really have to?" I laughed. "Do we?"
Carlisle ignored my half-hearted protests, and I let him lead me to an area on the lawn where the flower beds and trees wouldn't be in our way.
"Yes, Bella," he answered with a smile. "We must. I'm afraid I insist on it – the bride and groom get the first dance. Who are we to oppose such an important tradition?"
"Traditions," I murmured under my breath, but smiled nonetheless.
The evening had been wonderful. After Eleazar had pronounced us husband and wife, Carlisle and I had been showered with numerous hugs and kisses on the cheek. Soft music had begun to wind through the garden, mingling with the voices of our vampire family and friends as they had congratulated us. Emmett had instantly latched onto my new marital status, and somehow he had found a way to call me 'Missus' at least fourty times during the first ten minutes after the ceremony had been over.
Quiet, nervous laughter erupted from my lips again as Carlisle took my left hand and wrapped his right arm behind my back. I matched his pace as we began to dance slowly to the music that drifted through the summer air. He was every bit as good of a dancer as I remembered, and I was suddenly glad that I had chosen to wear ballerinas instead of heels – with my luck, I'd have been the first vampire ever to get tangled in my own feet, as impossible as it should have been.
"You know, becoming a vampire didn't exactly enhance my dancing skills," I warned him as he twirled me about. "So say goodbye to your toes."
Carlisle chuckled, pulling me closer to him. His arm tightened around my back as we moved to the calm music. "I thought," he said as he suddenly spun me around, very elegantly, "that the last time we were doing this, I managed to convince you that you are not a poor dancer at all." I let out a quiet squeal as he suddenly tightened his hold around me and dropped me into a graceful dip.
I felt curiously out of breath. "And I thought," I said as he pulled me up again, "that I managed to convince you that it was you all along who made me look like a pro."
He chuckled softly, tightening his hold around my left hand. After a while, I noticed that Esme and Miguel joined in on the soft lawn of the garden that served as the dance floor, and I saw Tanya trying to perduade Edward to dance with her, practically dragging him with her under the apple tree that stood close to the glass doors of the living room. Soon Rosalie and Emmett followed suit, Kate and Garrett right behind them; it seemed that missing an arm didn't bother Garrett the slightest. The Amazons were observing our dancing intently; I wondered how often – or how rarely, more likely – they saw anyone dancing like this. Dancing culture was probably a little different where they came from. It seemed that just like in Esme's and Miguel's wedding, they settled for watching.
"You looked very beautiful that night," Carlisle murmured into my ear, drawing my focus back to our conversation. "Every bit as beautiful as you look now."
I smiled. "I remember how nervous I was when you asked me to dance with you, and I was so afraid that you'd notice."
He gave a soft laugh, pulling back slightly to see my face. "Of course I noticed. How could I not?" He released my left hand and placed it on his shoulder, bringing the right palm of his hand to rest on my upper chest. "The way your heart was racing, the way your hands trembled, the way you refused to meet my gaze... it flattered me that I was the one causing such reactions in you. At the same time, though, I feared that I was misreading you, just imagining it all – that I was searching for things that were not there. Things that I was most desperate to see."
I shook my head. "You weren't imagining any of it. Believe me."
He leaned in to capture my lips in a soft kiss. I pressed closer to him, wrapping my hands around his neck and feeling his arms encircle my waist. His warm lips against mine sent fire sizzling through my bloodless veins. It was too easy to ignore, even forget, the rest of the vampires milling about the garden.
"You know, about wedding traditions..." I said in between kisses. "Since we have the customary first dance almost dealt with, I believe it is a tradition in Venezuela that the just married couple will sneak out of the reception without being noticed."
"I've heard it's an important tradition," he murmured before capturing my lips again in a brief kiss. "It's supposed to bring good luck to the new husband and wife."
"Exactly. I was thinking... wouldn't we be bad people if we decided to ignore such an important custom? I mean... it would be rude to all Venezuelans."
He chuckled softly, clasping my left hand in his right one and gracefully spinning me around before taking my waist again. "I agree – a tradition like that should be honored. However, if memory serves, stealing away from the reception will bring good luck only if the couple manages to escape unnoticed. Considering our current company and their uncommonly accurate senses, I think it best if we thread carefully. We would not want to bring bad luck upon us, would we now?" He smiled playfully before leaning in to whisper into my ear, "Let us wait at least until Alice's attention is averted by something."
I chuckled. "Like that will ever happen. Nothing gets past her."
Carlisle only smiled. "I suppose we just have to be patient, then, and await the nightfall," he whispered, his voice low.
His words made me shiver. "And what happens then?" I asked quietly. "It's not like we have a honeymoon ahead of us, considering that I can't travel. Not safely, anyway."
He released my hand from his gentle grasp again and stopped dancing. Then both of his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me flush against him. "Traveling was not something I had in mind." His voice was so quiet that I could barely hear him. Another tremble traveled through me at his words, and he noticed it, a hint of a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
And then he was holding my hand again, moving our bodies to the beautiful music as if nothing had passed. I wanted to growl at his nonchalant, innocent expression, and he chuckled softly – apparently my frustrated expression amused him.
"Speaking of traveling," he began. "I know you have been around the US, but have you ever been overseas?"
I shook my head. "Never."
He stopped again. "Never?"
"Never." I studied the preoccupied expression on his face. "Is that weird?"
He shook his head, smiling. "Of course not. I was just going through a mental list of places you must absolutely see as soon as your thirst is under control." The song ended, and a new one began, but Carlisle took my arm and began to lead me towards the old, beautiful two-seater iron swing in the corner of the garden.
We sat down and watched the vampires dancing around the garden; I saw that Alice and Jasper had conquered one patch of the lawn, and Edward was now dancing with Kate. Rosalie was shooting daggers at Emmett who was deeply engrossed in a conversation with Laurent and Eleazar. After giving one last insistent tug at his sleeve, she snorted and went to dance with Miguel. Siobhan and Veronique were standing close to the glass doors, speaking in low tones; I wondered what they were talking about.
"Does it have many places?" I queried, turning back to him. "This mental list of yours?"
Carlisle smiled. "Many, many places," he assured. "It will take decades to show you them all."
"Well, we have time." The words seemed to have even more meaning now, given everything that had happened during the past weeks.
I shifted, swinging my legs over his lap, not caring if the delicate material of my dress got wrinkled. Carlisle wrapped an arm around my back, his other hand resting on my knees.
"Do you have a country in mind you have always wished to see?" he asked, his golden eyes curious.
I pursed my lips, pondering. "I've always wanted to see Ireland. Don't ask why – I don't quite know it myself."
"Ireland is very beautiful," Carlisle said. "If Siobhan decides not to stay in Italy and returns to her home, maybe we could go see her one day." His nose nuzzled my ear delicately. "During the summer when the wildflowers are in full bloom. How does that sound?"
"You're spoiling me."
"That is my new mission as your husband. I'm afraid you will have to learn to accept it."
I smiled. There was a pleasant catch in my stomach when he said the word husband. I still found it slightly hard to believe, that he was my husband and I was his wife. That I was married. Carlisle was looking at me curiously as I stared at him without blinking, trying to make myself believe that all this was indeed real.
Suddenly he reached out with his hand, his forefinger tracing the shape of my eye. It was easy to guess what he was thinking.
"Will you miss my red, newborn eyes?" I asked him teasingly.
He chuckled. "Your eyes were always beautiful, no matter what the color," he answered softly. "But now... When I saw you walk down the aisle in the rays of the setting sun, with golden eyes, and in that glorious dress... " He shook his head at a loss of words. "I have seen many beautiful things during my long life. But I doubt any of them could rival with the sight of you."
If there had been blood in my veins, I would have been blushing. I glanced down, my eyes studying the pale, silver-grey lace of my gown. "Well, Alice is a genious," I murmured.
"Believe me, it's not just the dress, Bella," Carlisle said, smiling. "Though I must admit that you carry it very well."
"Do I now?" I asked playfully. "You know, I might never take it off. I like it – I could get used to wearing it."
He chuckled. "So could I. But I'm afraid the angels in Heaven would grow extremely envious of you, and they might not accept your intentions to wear it for the rest of eternity."
"Oh." I pretended to ponder. "Well, I wouldn't want to hurt their feelings. I suppose I could be persuaded to take it off at some point." I leaned closer to him, nuzzling his jaw with the tip of my nose. "I might need some convincing though. A lot of convincing. I'm very fond of this dress, after all."
A very quiet, low sound rumbled in his chest. "I swear to God, Bella... you could tempt a saint to sin with the way you talk." He shook his head; I noticed that he had closed his eyes. It made me grin widely. I leaned in close to his ear again, speaking very quietly, my voice a mere breath against his skin.
"Well... there's a good reason why I'm not wearing pure white on my wedding day, isn't there, Carlisle?"
"Goodness gracious..." I heard him whisper, and suddenly I realized that I was back on my feet. Carlisle had taken my hand and wrapped his other arm around my back, and his steps were forcibly calm and controlled as he began to dance with me again, probably to distract himself. The look in his eyes made me grin, and I pressed closer to him as he held me and twirled me to the music. I chuckled as he gently tried to put some distance between out bodies.
"Don't tempt me, Bella," he whispered, "or I will go for that Venezuelan tradition and whisk you away in this instant."
"I wouldn't mind." I shifted closer to him again, only to have him prevent my movement by raising our joined hands as he led me into a graceful twirl.
"I only intend to marry you this once," he murmured. "And I will make sure that you will not miss your own reception, Bella."
"That's very... honorable of you," I teased him, and I chuckled as he shook his head in a resigned manner.
As tempted as I was to continue my teasing, I let up after a while. The mellow June evening was wonderful, full of beautiful music and sounds of quiet laughter and conversation. The entire garden looked like a sea of roses and candles, and I was suddenly filled with unspeakable peace as I watched the vampires around me, some of them dancing, some of the just sitting and talking. I couldn't help but notice that Jasper began to hang close to Carlisle and me during the evening – I didn't know if he noticed it himself. Apparently our deliriously happy mood drew him in like moth to a flame.
I danced with everyone – it didn't make me as nervous as I had thought. At some point during the evening, I found myself spinning around the garden with Edward while Carlisle was taking his turn with Rosalie.
Edward was looking at me peculiarly as we were dancing, his movements as slender and expert as I remembered. I idly wondered why the Cullens and the Denalis were all such good dancers – it couldn't be a vampire thing since my dancing skills hadn't magically improved. Even though my movements were now graceful and easy – and even though I hadn't stepped on anyone's toes during the evening – it didn't mean that I wasn't feeling at all out of my league. Maybe this was something that took some practise, as simple as that.
"What?" I asked with a soft laugh when Edward kept looking at me in a funny way.
He shook his head. "I've never seen you dancing and smiling so much at the same time. You used to run for the hills if someone even suggested it."
I chuckled. "Well, that was when I had to be scared for my health. Twisting an ankle is hardly an issue with me anymore."
He gave a soft laugh. "Maybe. But I don't think it's just that. You... carry yourself somehow differently."
"Since when?"
He seemed to have to ponder my question carefully. "I'm not sure, actually. I suppose I first noticed it when I came to Buffalo a few months ago. When I saw you on the morning of Esme's and Miguel's wedding."
I studied him carefully, staying silent for a while. "And... why did you bring it up now?"
He shrugged. "It was just an observation, I suppose. A way to say that – " He hesitated.
"A way to say what?" I prodded, curious.
He sighed quietly before leading me into an elegant spin, maybe to get more time to think how to answer. As he took my waist again, his other hand grasping my right, he just looked at me for a while in silence.
"A way to say that you're different, I suppose," he mused. "That you have changed. Or grown, more likely. In a lot of ways, you still are the same Bella I met in Forks all those years ago. The same Bella I once fell in love with." His hand tightened around mine momentarily. "But then I close my eyes, and when I open them again, a very different person suddenly stands in your place. A person I've grown to know, and admire, during these short few months." He paused. "I suppose what I'm trying to say is that... I can easily see why Carlisle fell in love with that person. With you."
My throat felt suddenly thick. I didn't know what to say, and even if I had, I didn't get the chance to voice my thoughts; Edward was speaking again.
"This is going to sound very cliché, and I apologize in advance," he said, smiling wryly. "I'm glad you have him, and I'm glad that he has you, Bella. I'm glad that he's not alone. He's my oldest friend, and he's my father, and he's many other things, and loneliness is something I would never wish for him. And.. I'm also glad that you're with him instead of someone else. No other man is going to treat you better than Carlisle. There isn't, and will never be, another like him on this earth."
I nodded, somehow finding my voice again. "I know that. Thank you, Edward."
A crooked, slightly wistful smile I knew very well appeared on his lips as we continued our slow dance. When the song eventually ended, he gave my hand one last gentle squeeze before murmuring quiet congratulations into my ear. I felt oddly light as I watched him make his way to the glass doors of the living room where the Denali sisters had gathered to talk with Jasper and Miguel, and I smiled as I saw him walk to Veronique a moment later. She gave him a surprised look as he reached out with his hand, asking her to dance with him. She took it and let him lead her to a more quiet nook in the garden.
When Carlisle returned to my side, I saw from his eyes that he had heard what Edward had said to me a moment ago. I didn't feel just light, then. I felt renewed, like I had just taken a breath of fresh air after being underwater for a long time. The feeling was... invigorating. Soothing.
Uplifting.
It was well after midnight when the vampires occupying the garden began to make their way inside the house one by one. Carlisle and I were sitting in the iron swing again, having a quiet conversation about everything and nothing at all. The night had been wonderful; I realized I didn't want it to end.
There were quiet whispers on the third floor of the house, and I glanced up, noticing that there was faint, flickering light coming from the room Carlisle and I considered ours. I frowned confusedly, easily recognizing Alice's elated giggle and Carmen's voice as she tried to shush her. I wondered what was going on – Alice hadn't let me enter that room in two days, and I had assumed that she had set up yet another wedding preparation workstation there.
My frown deepened when Jasper and Emmett left the garden, trailing behind Tanya and Eleazar. Emmett stopped at the doorway, turning around and throwing us a wide grin. He opened his mouth to say something, but a pale hand reached out from inside the living room, grabbing his elbow and pulling him inside before he even got the first syllable out. I saw a quick flash of Rosalie's golden locks as he ushered Emmett forward.
Carlisle chuckled. It was just me and him in the garden now. The hinges of the swing squeaked silently under our weight; the sound got drowned under the beautiful music that was still drifting through the air. I wondered if Alice was going to leave it on for the whole night.
Sounds of quiet conversation kept wafting from the house. There was a faint sound of clothes rustling, and then I heard as someone ran a brush through their hair before tying it into a ponytail. Keys jingling, the sound of a car door opening and closing. It made me raise my head from Carlisle's shoulder, and I gave him a confused glance.
"Is someone leaving already?" I asked. "Siobhan? The Denalis? I thought they would spend a few more days here."
Carlisle shook his head. There was a strange light in his eyes as he smiled at me. Wordlessly, he got up from the swing and held out his hands to help me up, like I was still human. I'd noticed that he hadn't abandoned those simple, gentlemanly gestures after my change.
"What's going on?" I asked when he kept smiling in a peculiar manner. He offered me his arm and began to lead me inside. I threw one last glance over my shoulder, allowing myself a moment to admire the beautiful garden behind me.
Alice appeared at the doorway of the living room before we made it there. Her beautiful dress was gone; she had replaced it with jeans and a sweater. The outfit looked too ordinary on her. She gave me a grin before turning to Carlisle.
"We're all done now," she informed him. "Zafrina, Senna and Kachiri are ready to head back to Amazon, but Siobhan is coming with us, and after that she's planning on heading to Italy. The rest of us will be back in a few days."
"What do you mean, in a few days?" I asked. "Where are you going?"
"We're leaving for a hunting trip – all of us, including Garrett and Veronique. We're heading somewhere in Minnesota, and maybe Nebraska after that; Irina's never been there," she explained. "You'll have the house for yourselves for a couple of days."
"Oh." I stared at her. "Oh."
Alice's smile widened as she took in my expression, evidently enjoying my state of surprise. I had assumed that since traveling was off limits for me at the moment, we'd just have to skip the honeymoon and save it for later.
Apparently someone else had other plans. I had been aware that Carlisle had taken a few days off from the hospital, and now I knew why.
Sneaky.
We followed Alice through the house. The others were in the front yard by now, standing beside Tanya's SUV and the huge, green jeep Emmett and Jasper liked to use. Everyone had replaced their fancy suits and dresses with more practical outfits. Like always, the Amazons were clad in animal skins. I saw Garrett give them curious looks; I wondered if he was considering getting a jacket made of animal hide or something.
Alice skipped through the front door to join them, grabbing a digital camera Rosalie tossed through the air. I exchanged a confused glance with Carlisle – Tanya and Esme had already taken a fair share of pictures during the night.
Alice motioned for Carlisle and me to step outside onto the porch. After exchanging one more bemused glance, we did just that. I tightened my hand around Carlisle's elbow, and just as we made to step over the threshold, it suddenly occurred to me that Jasper and Emmett weren't among the vampires standing by the cars.
The realization came too late. I heard something – or several little somethings – rush through the air as we stepped onto the porch. My instant reflex was to step back inside – and I could have done it fast enough to avoid what was to come – but I just laughed and raised my arm to shield my face as Carlisle and I were shovered with rice. Emmett was aiming with such precision that it would have probably hurt if my skin hadn't been impermeable. The front yard echoed with loud whistles and claps, and then the camera went off a dozen times. Of course Alice had to perpetuate this moment.
After a while when it seemed that Jasper and Emmett were finally done and the rice storm was over, I ventured to lower my arm. Carlisle did the same beside me. He chuckled as he plucked a few grains of rice from my hair, an amused glimmer in his golden eyes.
I may have hugged and thanked everyone at least ten times before letting them get inside the cars. My wedding wasn't something I had dreamed of very much over the years like so many other young women, but if I had, I knew those dreams would have had nothing on reality. There truly wouldn't have been a better, more wonderful way to spend this night. Everything had been absolutely perfect.
"And don't even think about cleaning the garden," Alice told me fiercely. "We'll take care of it when we come back."
I saw Carlisle give Siobhan a warm embrace. They didn't say a single word, but I saw Siobhan smile for the first time after the battle. It was a small smile, and a little sad, but it was a smile.
When everyone eventually left, the Amazons darting off into the woods and the rest of the vampires getting into cars and driving away, it seemed almost too quiet, then. Music was still winding through the garden and the empty house, and I sighed quietly, easing my hand from the crook of Carlisle's elbow and clasping his hand instead. He was watching me, a small smile playing on his lips.
"So," I said and turned to him, giving his hand a gentle tug. "You knew about this hunting trip of theirs?"
"There were whispers of it," he answered, his eyes glimmering. "Are you surprised?"
I nodded. "Mh-hm. I thought that since I can't travel, having a honeymoon is absolutely out of the question."
"We will have plenty of time for traveling later," he answered, reaching out to cup my cheek. "I meant what I said earlier. There are so many places in the world you absolutely must see, and I cannot wait to show them to you."
"So if the actual honeymoon comes later, what are these upcoming days supposed to represent? A mini-moon?" I teased him.
He grinned. "Something like that, yes." He leaned in to capture my lips, and I stepped into his embrace, wrapping my arms around him. I giggled against his mouth as he suddenly stooped and scooted me up in his arms, breaking away from my lips as he carried me up to the porch. He stopped momentarily, glancing down at me with a smile, and then he carried me over the threshold.
"Traditional, are you?" I teased him.
"Did you expect something else, Mrs. Cullen?" he whispered.
His words made my spine prickle, and I had to admit that I liked the sound of my new name. As he caught my lips again, my fingers went into his golden hair, and I was vaguely aware of the blur of movement around me as he carried me up the two flights of stairs.
He didn't pull away from my lips until we were in our room. He gently set me down on my feet and leaned his forehead against mine, his thumbs caressing my cheeks tenderly. I closed my eyes at his touch and drew in a breath. His unique scent was mixed with something else; my nostrils filled with the strong aroma of roses and melting candle wax, and I frowned confusedly, opening my eyes to look around me.
The room was... incredible. I suddenly realized why Alice hadn't let me come here during these past few days. There were dozens and dozens of burning candles on every table top and in every corner of the room. The large, curved window was framed with white, long curtains that pooled down to the floor like waterfalls. The window was cracked open, letting the cool night air flow inside.
Even though the whole night had been filled with festive decorations and romantic touches and details, this room... wow. Just wow. It took my breath away.
And the bed... it was entirely covered with red rose petals. I suddenly remembered Alice's quiet giggles a few moments ago and how Carmen had tried to shush her. There was no question about what they had been up to.
Carlisle was taking in the room as well – apparently this was a surprise Alice had managed to keep from him as well. He turned to me with a soft smile, dozens of candle flames dancing in his eyes. A strand of hair had escaped the hairdo Rosalie had created a few hours earlier, and he reached out to brush it away from my face. He didn't say anything as he ducked his head again, his hands taking my waist as his lips claimed mine in a slow, sensuous kiss.
My hands dove into his hair before traveling down his neck. I settled my palms on his shoulders for a moment, and then my fingers were grasping the lapels of his tux. As handsome as he looked in it, I began to push the coat away from his shoulders. His hands left my waist momentarily so he could shrug the coat off. The loss of his touch made me sigh with longing, and I broke away from his lips, my fingers beginning to seek the bow tie at his collar. I untied it deftly, using as little strength as possible in order not to tear it. My fingers went to work on the buttons of his white shirt next.
Carlisle was watching me with dark eyes as I unbottoned his shirt, my movements deliberately slow as I pushed the garment off of him. When his chest was finally bare, I trailed the tips of my fingers along his sides and then over the defined muscles of his stomach and chest. His skin seemed to receive a golden glow in the light of the candles. The sight made my stomach coil. When my hands reached the broad planes of his shoulders, I met his eyes again, almost as if he had wordlessly invited me to look up at him.
His eyes were like black obsidians, but the light of the candles brough a hint of glimmering gold into them. He lifted his hand to caress my cheek before he pulled me closer, capturing my lips in a tender but heated kiss. His fingers sought the hidden zipper on the back of my dress, and he dragged it down gently, as if afraid of breaking it. Then he pulled away from my lips to look at me.
My stomach clenched as he peeled the pale silver dress from my body, the look in his eyes making me feel curiously out of breath. As the dress dropped to the floor and pooled around my ankles, his eyes took in my white, lacy underwear, garter belt and stockings. He closed his eyes and ran a hand down his face.
I bit back a chuckle, just watching him for a while. His eyes were still closed, and his breaths were deliberately slow and controlled. I stepped out of my ballerinas and pressed closer to him so that every inch of our bodies was touching. I rose to my tiptoes, winding my fingers through his soft, blond hair, nuzzling the hollow of his throat with the tip of my nose.
"Do you see something you like?" I whispered against his skin.
A quiet moan welled up in his chest. "Dear Lord, Bella," he murmured, and his voice was actually hoarse. He opened his eyes and took a step back, looking at me from head to toe before shaking his head. "Are you trying to kill me?"
I chuckled. "Of course not. I'm just trying to be a good little wife."
I wasn't sure what happened next. One moment I was there, standing under his heated gaze, and the next moment, urgent lips were assaulting mine, warm fingers pressing against my bare back almost desperately. The world tilted as Carlisle suddenly swept me up into his arms, and a split second later he lowered me on the bed. The rose petals spread on the duvet gave off a pleasant scent as some of them were crushed under my weight.
"Wife," Carlisle repeated the word as he leaned over me, his hand cupping my cheek again. He dropped a swift kiss on my lips. "I cannot believe that you are my wife. My wife. It seems too good to be true."
"You better start believing it. Or do you want me to give you a moment?" I gave him an innocent look, quirking my eyebrows in a questioning manner. "I guess I could wait outside while you work things out with yourself..."
I made to get up, pretending that I was leaving, but Carlisle took my shoulders and actually growled quietly. And Carlisle almost never growled. He pinned me down gently, his mouth devouring mine, and I took advantage of his distraction, my fingers finding the buckle of his belt. I undid it quickly, idly taking notice that the metal buckle twisted in my urgent grip, but I couldn't focus enough to care. He pulled away from my lips momentarily as I made a quick work of the rest of his clothing. I heard his shoes hit the floor somewhere close to the bed, and then he was crawling over me, the touch of his warm, smooth skin against mine sending shivers up my spine. Heat flooded through my body, making my head spin.
"Well?" I asked breathlessly. "Do you believe it now? Or do you need me to do something to convince you?"
Something between a sigh and a groan left his lips, and he closed his eyes again, shaking his head. "In all honesty, Bella... you are the most enticing, tempting creature I've ever met. How is it that you make a few simple, ordinary words sound so... alluring? Here you are, looking so innocent and innocuous... and in truth, you are..."
"Cunning? Teasing?" I supplied, raising my eyebrows and pitching my voice low. "Wicked?"
He droppped his head to my shoulder, breathing deep and squeezing me tightly against him before letting out a low exhale. I chuckled softly, running my hands through his silky hair, raking my nails gently along his scalp. It made him shiver. "Well, someone has to be those things," I said with a grin, my tone playful. "Since you're so proper and conventional and well-mannered and predictable... not that I can blame you, considering that you're the son of a pastor and all..."
Carlisle had raised his head from my shoulder, and he was looking down at me now, his dark gaze intense. "Predictable?" he asked softly, his voice quiet. "You think I am predictable?"
I swallowed thickly; the look in his eyes did strange things to my insides. I tried to keep my tone teasing and playful, but I didn't know if I succeeded. "Well... I suppose sometimes – "
Half a second passed, and then I suddenly realized that I was lying on my stomach. A startled whimper left my mouth, and I flinched in surprise as warm lips pressed against the side of my neck. I was vaguely aware that my breathing was slightly labored, and the smell of roses grew heavy in my nostrils as I pressed my cheek against the duvet. I shivered as Carlisle's lips moved to my shoulder, and then a peculiar sound of tearing reached my ears. At first I couldn't place the sound, but when his mouth moved to my other shoulder, and from there to the middle of my back, the strange sound repeating itself again, it suddenly occurred to me what it was.
Did he just bite my bra off me?
Holy hell.
If a moment ago my lungs had been heaving for air, I now felt like breathing took too much focus. There were too many sensations to pay attention to as I felt Carlisle slowly kissing his way down my spine. When his lips reached the band of my garter belt, I felt his teeth rake gently against my lower back before another sound of ripping rang out.
My eyes might have rolled back in my head right about then.
I could barely register being flipped onto my back, and then my chest was heaving for air again. I swallowed thickly as Carlisle repeated the intimate process with what remained of my undergarments, and as his fingers reached out to glide my stockings down my legs one at the time, I was literally squirming.
When my body was as bare as his was, he finally crawled over me, his eyes like black diamonds.
"I take it back," I managed to pant out. "You're not predictable. I take it back."
"Shh." He dropped a soft kiss on my lips. "I am not done with you yet, Bella."
I couldn't decide if it was a threat or a promise. He chuckled darkly at my expression, and then his fingers reached out to take the comb out of my hair. He placed it on the table by the bed before plucking the hairpins out of my wavy locks, one by one and very slowly, probably to torment me. He left the two roses for last, gently pulling them from my hair and placing one of them on the table with the comb and the hairpins. I felt like I was as close to passing out as a vampire can be as he took the other rose and placed the short stem between his sharp teeth.
I slammed my eyes shut at the sight but forced them open immediately. Seeing him hovering over me, holding a red rose between his teeth... that must have been the most erotic thing I had ever witnessed.
He put my silent, inner statement to test right away; I heard myself mumble something unintelligible as he began to trace the rose along my collarbone, then down over my breasts. I reached for him blindly but he took hold of my wrists and pinned them to my sides. The rose petals crushed and crumpled in my grip as my fingers grasped the duvet, and a violent tremble went through me as he dragged the rose down my stomach and over my hip bones. It was such a soft, delicate touch, barely there, and yet it made my whole body thrum with feeling.
As the light touch of the rose traveled lower, brushing over my inner thighs, I closed my eyes again. I was afraid of looking down, afraid of seeing what he was doing, afraid that a visual stimulus like that would make me break to pieces. I felt the hold of his hands tighten around my wrists, and at first I didn't know why.
And then, he ran the rose over my sensitive mound at the apex of my thighs.
I couldn't recognize the sound that escaped my lips. All I knew was that I wanted to scream and moan and whimper at the same time. Words were pouring from my lips, getting tangled on their way out and forming a sentence that was more or less incomprehensible. I threw my head from side to side as he continued his delicate torture, the muscles deep in my stomach quivering and tightening in a way that was both uspeakably excruciating and wonderful.
And then the touch was gone, and I felt like I was plummeting towards the ground after rocketing up through the air uncontrollably. I expected to hit the ground, to drop as fast as I had taken off. But then the touch was suddenly back, and I vaguely comprehended that the texture and intensity of the caress was different now, vaguely realized that it was no longer the rose that was stroking my tender, heated flesh, vaguely became aware that it was Carlisle's mouth instead.
I saw lights. And stars. And black spots. And rainbows. My thighs were burning, my spine was trembling. It was as if every bloodless vein in my body was suddenly carrying fire, and that fire was heading only one way. Carlisle's hands tightened around my wrists, and I idly realized that he was using a lot of strength to keep me still. I was still a lot stronger than him, and releasing myself from his hold would have been easy in any other situation, but the intimate caress of his lips and tongue took all my focus, and the only movements I was able to perform were the rapid rises and falls of my chest and the trembling of my muscles, and even those things weren't voluntary. Nothing I did was voluntary; even my vocal cords had a mind of their own. An unsteady stream of moans and pleas escaped my lips, and I wasn't sure if I was screaming or whispering. The tension in my stomach was close to snapping, so close that I felt like every inch of my skin had caught on fire and was about to melt away any second.
But then that fire was curbed and held down as the touch of his mouth left me, and I blinked. I actually had to make an effort to focus my gaze. I was still trembling and heaving as Carlisle crawled up my body, and it took a moment for me to realize that he had released his hold around my wrists. It didn't matter; I felt curiously weak and enervated, like couldn't move a finger.
His mouth caressed the hollow of my throat before finding my lips, and I shivered as he settled his weight over me, his other hand palming the curve of my breast.
"What was that now, sweetheart?" I heard him whisper against my lips. "What did you say?"
Had I said something? Had I actually articulated myself? Had there been a moment when the air in my lungs hadn't come out only as sighs and moans?
Apparently.
"Please," I heard myself pant out. "Please, Carlisle, please..."
"I cannot hear you, Bella," he whispered tauntingly. I had never heard him speak in that tone before – it didn't exactly make the job of forming words any easier. "I'm afraid you have to speak up."
My body flooded with another stream of violent heat. I idly wondered if the dozens of candles burning in the room had all fallen over and made the walls catch fire. If that was so... well, too bad. I'd gladly stay here and burn alive – this certainly was a glorious way to die.
"Please, I need you," I heard myself moan. "Carlisle... Oh my – " My eyes squeezed shut as he shifted, pressing himself against my inner thigh. I was still having hard time locating my limbs, but that helped, and I forced my arms to cooperate as I raised them from the bed, my hands fumbling their way along his body, the tips of my fingers brushing across the arch of his hips, seeking, searching.
When I reached between us and my hand found him, a sharp hiss erupted from his lips, his hips giving an involuntary buck. His face dropped to my neck, and I felt a quivering breath leave his mouth. "Heaven help me," I heard him whisper, a strangled moan leaving his lips as I stroked him.
"Sorry," I whispered. "Heaven can't help you now." I bit my lip to keep from grinning as I felt his muscles twitch and tremble at my words. I felt that a little retaliation was in order, given how he had tortured me with that rose...
I dragged my free hand up his body, tangling it in his hair and giving his golden, short locks a gentle tug while my other hand continued its intimate caress. "Is this for me, Carlisle? Do I make you feel like this?" I emphasized my question by tightening my hold lightly. He groaned quietly, his hips flexing in a clear demand – or maybe it was a plea.
"God Almighty," he murmured against my neck before the weight of his head disappeared. "Yes, Bella, only you," he whispered before he leaned in to stroke my lips with his. His hand sought my own, stopping my caress. He interlaced our fingers before he shifted, his other hand grasping the outside of my thigh, bending my leg and holding it to his hip. His mouth embraced mine a moment more before he pulled away to gaze at me.
His eyes never left mine as he aligned himself, and his grip around my hand tightened as our bodies slowly tangled into one. My name left his lips in a desperate whisper. For what seemed like a long moment, he stayed completely still, our bodies a tangle of limbs, the air filled with the heady smell of roses and the sounds of our breathing. I reached out with my free hand to cup his cheek, and then his lips were on mine again, embracing, touching, feeling, his hips beginning to move in that same, sensuous pace. I arched to meet his movements, my body acting on its own accord as I wrapped my legs behind his thighs, wanting him closer, even though every inch of my skin should have been aware that this was the closest our bodies could ever get.
Maybe he heard my wordless wish. He released my hand from his tight grasp, wrapping both of his arms around me, and all but crushed me against him. suddenly, there was urgency and despair in his touch, in his kisses, in the motion of his body against mine.
Had I been human, there might have been pain. But I wasn't human, and I wasn't breakable, and I tried to convey this to him by holding him to me as tightly as he held me to him. I didn't let go or loosen my hold even when I began to feel the familiar coil in my stomach, maybe seconds, maybe hours later. It tightened and tightened before coming almost unbearable, and I was barely conscious of my lips leaving Carlisle's, barely conscious of the moans leaving my chest, barely conscious of my teeth pressing into the marble skin of his shoulders, not quite hard enough to cause damage, but firmly enough to catch his attention. I felt his lips place an urgent kiss below my ear, felt his hard breaths brush against my skin, felt the throbs and shudders of his muscles, and that was enough to make the coil in my stomach break.
Heat crashed through me in incessant waves, making my back arch and my toes curl, unraveling my last thread of control. As the surges of heat kept rolling over me, all I could comprehend was the cascade of pleasure flooding through my muscles and the urgent caress of Carlisle's lips on my throat as he suddenly stilled against me, his whole frame tightening and trembling as he came undone with me. I felt his warm, strained breaths brush against my skin as his muscles flexed and spasmed from the force of his release. Then his body seemed to give out from under him completely and he sank on top of me, tigtening his hold around me before he turned us onto our sides and clutched me close to his chest.
Our bodies still joined, our chests still heaving for air, we stayed there. We closed our eyes and clung to each other like mortal lovers who'd have to part tomorrow, who were sharing their last moments of closeness and trying to cherish every moment they had together.
But we weren't mortals, and we weren't mere lovers, and we wouldn't have to part tomorrow. The thought made my unbeating heart soar.
And when it came to cherishing our time together...I had a feeling that nothing in this world would make me value it less. And on the other hand, I didn't know if there was a way to value it more than I already did; I felt like my heart was overflowing with feeling, with devotion and passion and love...
Carlisle tightened his hold around me, and I sighed against his chest. I then decided that if there was a way to cherish and treasure what we had even more than I already did... I'd gladly spend the rest of my days trying to find it.
