Chapter 4
As I turn down the ramp for the beach, I am hit with another set of separation pains. Needing to get off the road and off the bike quickly, there is a small diner just before the main beach road. I pull into the farthest corner in this small gravel parking lot to wait out the pain. I hoped no one inside questioned why I was sitting on a motorcycle, holding my helmet, crumpled over in pain. If these pains continued, staying on the run was going to be more complicated than I anticipated.
Feeling my insides constricted, I tried not to focus on the lack of air filling my lungs. I imagine his face behind my closed eyes, partly to remind me of my anger towards this bond and the other part, a part I am embarrassed to even acknowledge myself, finds comfort in visualizing his face. I chose to focus on how he looked at me before I jumped out the car. His eyes had looked deeply into mine as if I was some miracle before him. At the time, I was too scared and focused on getting away to appreciate his attention. Now, I have time to process. The more I lived in the memory of him, the lesser the pressure on my chest. It was still there but bearable.
As the tightening finally loosened, I took the time to gather my bearings. There were a few other cars in this parking lot where I think others were having breakfast in the small beach themed diner. There was one large tv that I could see from the windows. I couldn't make out the words from where I was standing. However, I couldn't mistake the face that was on the screen. It was mine. Making sure my face was hidden under my hat, I got just close enough to read the words on the screen. Under my photo, a rolling text gave my physical description and last sighting. I couldn't believe that Edward had enough power to put out a manhunt for me. I guess I can mark off being on "America's Most Wanted" off my list of things to do before I die. Thanks mate.
That thought was stopped by my own shock when the next photo came on the screen. It was Edward except he wasn't just Edward. I now realize why he looked familiar. I'm an idiot. A complete idiot. I had seen him on tv when vampires first came out as humans. He was the king. No, I couldn't have just mated with any vampire. It just had to be the fucking king of vampires. On the tv, he was offering a reward for any information or my safe return to him. It also stated that if any harm came to me that the person would be punished. It didn't appear to be a live broadcast but a clip from last night. Jake didn't mention that Edward had started a nationwide search for me, then again he probably didn't know either. My mate didn't waste any time in trying to get me back.
Not wanting to get recognized, I jumped back on my bike to continue down to the beach. Running from my problems is so much easier than facing them head on.
The beach wasn't much farther down the road. Getting off my bike quickly, I tore off my helmet, jacket, and threw my backpack half haphazardly on the group. I just wanted everything off me. Nothing holding me down. With it still being early, there wasn't anyone else on the beach. I ran to the water's edge where I could sit with my feet grazing the water in its tide while still not getting the rest of my body wet.
Resting my head on my bent knees, I looked out on the open ocean water. Its vastness made my own life feel small and insignificant.
I couldn't quite define what I was feeling. No, that wasn't right. I was feeling too many things at once. I was angry, sad, lonely, frightened, and overall I was just plain tired. Any exhilaration from running away on the bike was gone. I just felt alone. The tightness in my chest tugged again, but not like the previous episodes. It was more of a reminder that I didn't have to be alone. I was also angry at myself for having these conflicting feelings. I hated that I had feelings for him. That I was falling for the mate bond. Would it be so bad to be with him? Maybe if I set the terms? If I just gave in…
Rather than continuing that thought, I closed my eyes and got lost in the sound of the waves.
Eventually, I had to get up. The water was coming in, and I needed to move to avoid getting up. I wanted to stay here, but Jake had warned me to keep moving. Then again, I also had my face all over tv. My mate turned out to be one of the most powerful vampires out there. If I was honest with myself, I wouldn't be able to stay hidden for long. The choice I needed to make was do I wait for him to find me or do I go to him.
As fate would have it, I didn't get to make that choice. Just as I started to walk back towards my bike to leave, I heard his growl. I couldn't see him, but he had found me.
I could ignore the sound of cars coming to a sudden halt, the hairs on my neck raising, or even that animalistic growl. However, I couldn't ignore that suffocating, ever present tightness in my chest was gone. I could breathe again and my heart was beating at its regular rhythm. Which means, he was close, too close.
Mere seconds later, I got my first glimpse of him. He ran too fast to follow his silhouette, but he paused at the edge of the beach near my bike. While he was still a bit far, I could see the distress in his movements. His fists were tight against his side and his nose flared breathing in deeply. I took a step back in alarm, wetting my feet in the ocean without thinking. I thought for a second of swimming away but with my luck, I would end up drowning. Plus, if I failed to outrun him on land, there was no way I could do it via the Pacific Ocean. I was dumb to run, but not dumb enough for that.
Before I had a chance to blink, he was standing in front of me, demanding my attention. His eyes were wild and desperate. I thought he would throw me over his shoulder and drag me to his cave. Instead, I gasped in shock when suddenly he dropped to his knees.
His hand gently glided across my right foot, slowly moving up my leg. His eyes followed his hands movement. Not understanding what he was doing, I tried to move my leg away from him but he just tightened his grip enough to keep me from moving but not tight enough to hurt. Once I stopped trying to move my legs, he brought his hands to my stomach.
"What are you doing?" I asked. I felt stupid asking it. He could do whatever he wanted to me.
As he continued to move his hands over me, he replied, "Where are you hurt?" I tilted my head in confusion.
Again, I tried to stop his hands. He growled in response.
He lowered his head to look at me directly. His eyes captured mine. His hands moving to grasp my shoulders. "Stop moving away. I need to check to see you're okay."
"I'm fine." I stuttered.
He paused for a moment. He shook his head slightly as his lips trembled "I thought I lost you."
Shocked by his continued behavior, I stayed still. He moved his hands gently across my exposed skin. He poked and prodded like we were in a patient doctor relationship rather than reluctant mate and vampire.
He continued to mumble to himself "She's okay. She's okay."
Having had enough of this examination, I tried to pull out his arms again. I received a deep, guttural growl from him.
"Don't you ever do that to me again." Each word was louder than the next. He was still visibly stuttering and breathing deeply through his nose. He was both beautiful and terrifying.
Now, this was behavior that I was expecting from him. The dominant vampire was finally surfacing. Was this point where he would break? I've heard stories about vampire mates attacking men who have accidentally touched their mate. Any threat that could take their mate away must be destroyed in their eyes. For me, I was the one who tried to take myself away. What would he do to me?
Despite the strong tone of his voice, his eyes looked fearful. For a moment, I felt guilty for hurting him. It was not my intention. In the last 24 hours, my feelings, my fears, the state of events have been the opposite of what I thought I would be.
I stayed silent not really knowing what to say, not wanting to provoke him further. I ran to find clarity, but he found me before I had any chance to make my own decision. The life on the run that I had looked down upon only moments ago, now seemed like paradise.
Before my next breath, he picked me up bridal style. His arms like steel bands around my back and knees. I wasn't going anywhere. Any fight left in me was extinguished as he took off running. I couldn't look around since his speed made the trees and surrounding all blur together. It was only a few seconds and we were back at his car. Except this time, there wasn't just one with the royal vampire emblem but an entire row of them. Edward had brought backup this time.
Not wasting anytime, he opened the door and maneuvered our bodies into the backseat with me seated on his lap. His hands firmly around my body. I might as well have been chained to the backseat. As soon as the door shut and locked loudly, an awkward reminder of my escape attempt, the vampire driving the car drove forward.
Both of us remained silent for the beginning of the drive. Edward seemed content to hold me close and breathe in my scent. In this position against his chest, I couldn't see him but I could feel him move his head to breathe against my neck. His arms would also constrict holding me impossibly tight before loosening slightly. It was if he was afraid I would disappear before remembering I was right there.
I didn't speak because I had too many questions. Where were we going? What was he going to do to me now that he had me? Why wasn't he talking?
I also didn't speak out of pure frustration with myself. I was right back to where I fucking started. Trapped in the arms of my mate except now I had angered him by running away. The one thing they warned us not to do.
While he had only been gentle with me at this point, I couldn't help but fear 'Was he going to punish me for running?' I shivered at the thought.
Seeming to know my train of thought, Edward finally decided to end the silence.
"Shhh, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. I could never hurt you." He hummed.
I pushed against his chest, needing to see his eyes. To see the truth in his statement. He growled lightly from feeling me pull away from him, but ultimately loosened his grip to allow me to see his face.
His eyes softened under my gaze. He moved his face forward mine to touch his nose against mine in an eskimo kiss. If I wasn't so scared of him, I would have fainted at the gesture.
"Why did you run?" He asked boldly, not taking his eyes off mine nor any distance.
I didn't expect him to come out and just ask me. There are so many answers to that question.
Before I could even begin to respond, he said "Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? You could have gotten hurt." He squeezed my hand.
"There is so much to discuss and explain and so little time."
Interrupting him, "What do you mean little time?"
"Bella, I know you may not realize it, but I am struggling to stay in control. Every instinct I have says I need to mark and claim you." My heart sped up.
"Don't be scared. I won't ever hurt you. But with you running away or even the small ways you move away from me, it makes it harder to stay in control. I want to make it easier for you when we get home. I will claim you. I don't want you to get scared." Nothing he said was making this easier.
"What do you mean by claiming me? They never talked about the details on the news" He didn't reply at first. If Edward could blush, I think he would be.
"It's a primal process where I will let myself go to my baser instincts. You will see my vampire side, and I will mate with you once you accept me."
"Accept me?"
"The claim will not be complete until I feel that you have accepted the bond and will accept my mark. It's a process that can take days. At the end, I will bite you. It won't change you into a vampire, but it will solidify the mating. It won't hurt. I promise it will be pleasurable for both of us."
"What if I don't want to do this?"
He growled again. "Please don't say that. I'm not sure how much longer I can stay in control with you denying the bond. You are my mate." He shook his head as if to focus himself.
In a voice barely loud enough to even be considered audible to the human ear, I whispered "I don't want a mate."
To say he didn't like that answer would be an understatement. The growl that he released was so loud that it vibrated through my own chest.
"Focus. No. No. No." He whispered to himself before he suddenly stilled.
His body was pulled tight like a predator before spinning on its prey. I think I pushed him over the edge. He was acting more animal than man. His eyes turned to that honey gold. I guess this was the side he was talking about.
I tried to lean back away from him in fear of what he might do next. That didn't help the situation.
Again, he pulled me impossibly close to him. This time placing both of his hands to hold my face. At first he brought his forehead to touch mine, breathing deeply. He stopped only to rub his cheek against my cheek before giving it a surprise lick. I tried to move away but he only held me still and added more surprising licks. Finally, he stopped by cradling my face to his chest and I swear he purred.
His hands didn't move in their vice grip against my body. I was stuck, and I hated to admit it but his sounds had an effect on me. It was both calming and arousing. Eventually, I just let myself rest falling in and out of sleep as we drove on. Nothing changed until the car suddenly stopped. I couldn't see much from this position other than we had arrived at a massive house. Something you would only see out of a magazine.
He didn't give me much time to appreciate the house. He had me out of the car in his arms, running so fast that I couldn't even see where we were going. One minute I was outside, the next I was in a bedroom. A beautiful bedroom with floor to ceiling windows that overlooked a small forest. He placed me in the middle of a wooden four post king sized bed centered in the large room.
"Mine." He growled again, moving over my body. Like he had warned me, he was here to claim his mate. He had me where he wanted me. There would be no more running.
Author's note: I am going to try to update once a week. The lemons will come next chapter. Again, thanks for the support and comments. It inspires me to continue this story.