Some plot bunny told me that I owned the rights to Twilight but it lied.
Author's note: Edward's serenade is from a band called Porcupine Tree off of their album Snow. It is called "Wind at my Back". It's one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard and I am planning on dancing to it at my wedding. You can hear it for free on "you tube". Just type in the song name and you will find it right away. Let me know what you think of it!
Additionally, there are lemons below; it's nothing too risqué but you have been warned.
Family Tree Chapter 17
I arrived at the house a short time later. Alice was outside, leaning against Bella's tree casually. I was instantly alert.
"What is it? What happened?" I demanded, striding up to her quickly.
Before she had a chance to answer, I was in her head. Her thoughts whizzed by quickly but one thing became immediately clear.
Bella needed me. I knew it. I didn't waste anymore time with Alice but dismissed her with a dark look that told her I was unhappy. I climbed the tree and was inside her room in half a second.
I saw her huddled in the corner, her blankets covering her up to her chin. For the merest moment I allowed myself to be happy that she was all right and then, as I took in her condition, I was dismayed. Bella eyed me from the corner of the bed, tear tracks evident on her cheeks. Her eyes were red-rimmed and misty even now and before she could open her mouth I crossed the room and gathered her into my arms.
She latched onto me and began to cry earnestly into my shirt. I rubbed her back in small circles.
"I'm going to kill him, don't worry," I whispered, trying to keep the vitriol from my voice.
"What?" She croaked, pulling back from me, her eyes wide and questioning, as though she couldn't believe what I'd said.
"I will kill him for upsetting you," I repeated.
"You don't have to kill him! Why does everyone always fight? I mean, can't everyone just take a break already?"
"Who's fighting?"
"You! Alice! Julian and that…that Dahlia and even Carlisle and Esme and I'm sorry…it's all my fault."
I shook my head in disbelief, not quite understand what she was babbling about but it was clear that she was once again putting the world's issues on her shoulders. I forced myself to stay calm, despite the fact that I was angry enough to disembowel Julian.
"Shhh. Sweetheart, it will all be ok. None of this is your fault. You just happen to be caught in the middle. It's my fault if it's anyone's fault."
"No. Everything was perfect in your life before I came along and ruined everything."
It became immediately clear that she was exhausted, wrung out and her emotions were getting the best of her. She did have a tendency to be melodramatic but I wasn't going to hold that against her. I could not let her operate under the assumption that she'd ruined my life. If anything, my existence was meaningless until she came into it.
"Bella, you silly thing. I want you to be quiet for a moment and listen, because I need you to hear this. I want you to understand."
She nodded in agreement and I wiped the tears from her face and tucked her hair behind her ears. I couldn't believe I was going to subject her to a serenade but I needed to get through to her. I opened my mouth and let all of my feelings for her come rushing out.
"How can you
be Can it be
true You are the
wind at my back You're the focus the
beam All of the above I just want to live You are the wind at my back You're the focus the beam You are the wind at my back And my soul has been kissed
Like a sky stretched out before me
And the world is turning
your way
Even darkness is better this way
That it all comes rushing from you
When my resistance is
gone
And there's nothing that I can lean on
You give what I lack
You're the jewel in my
hand
You're like rain on dry land
You're realities dream
You're the blue in my black
You're
the wind at my back
I'll have the lot for
my love
And as we're becoming somehow
As we're changing the
future to now
In the place that you
have to give
I'll let the heat beat me down
Until the water
comes down
You give what I
lack
You're the jewel in my hand
You're like rain on dry
land
You're realities
dream
You're the blue in my black
You're the wind at my
back
You give what I
lack
You're the jewel in my hand
You're like rain on dry
land
Just because you
exist
You're the dream that's a fact
You're the wind at my
back…"
Bella watched me silently, wide eyed and blushing beautifully as I sang. As soon as I'd finished she wrapped her arms around me and kissed me on the lips. I forced myself to be still as the very scent and closeness of her was overwhelming but it was also one of the things I cherished the most. She became enthusiastic, her hands running through my hair, her lips, hot and moist, moving over my own. Everything in me was warning me to cool it, to slow down, but I couldn't. She was so sweet, so soft, so yielding…
I pulled her gently down to the bed and arranged myself so that I hovered over her but was placing no weight on her. I'd never before allowed this to happen. I panted, unnecessarily, checking my self-control. I was fine, for the moment.
She seemed surprised by the arrangement but was not complaining. Slowly, I let my mouth capture hers. I nudged her lips open and let my tongue dance into her mouth. She gasped and moaned and my head swirled. My body was taut as a whipcord but I did not let my passions overrun me. I needed to show her, physically how much I loved her.
I pulled back from her mouth and kissed my way down her jaw, and down the delicate column of her throat. Her pulse was pounding deliciously, just beneath the surface. I licked her jugular and her hips bucked in response. I moved lower, worshipping her collarbone with my tongue. I kept my hands still and off of her, as much as I wanted to touch her. I only allowed my mouth to glide over her sumptuous skin, blushing beautifully as I placed tiny kisses just above the cleft between her breasts and so very close to her pounding heart. I let my ear touch her heart and listened to the music of it, absorbing it. It helped me to stay in control, to keep myself from rushing into something neither of us were ready for.
"Edward…God I need you," she breathed in a voice full of yearning.
She squirmed beneath me and her tiny movements paired with her request brought me to the edge. I hovered, wanting so badly to dispense with the control, and give in. I wanted to taste her, wanted to explore every inch of her skin, paying homage to the immaculate perfection that was my Bella.
Instead I pulled back and forced her to look at me.
"You know we can't, but…" I paused, choosing my words carefully.
"But?" She waited, breathless with anticipation.
"But…I'm starting to think that I want to try…more. But only if you're ready."
"Yes," she answered immediately, without giving it any thought whatsoever. She tried to pull me back to her mouth.
"Hold on. I may need to…remove myself if things…get too difficult. I don't want to hurt you, physically, or otherwise. I don't know how much I can handle."
"I understand. Whatever you feel comfortable with."
I felt a surge of desire at her words, her trust and faith in me.
I made a vow to myself. I will not hurt her.
I decided to go slow. If at any time I felt like I couldn't control myself, I would stop immediately. I also wasn't going to let it get too out of hand. I respected her.
Tentatively, I placed my lips on hers again. Her reaction was the same. I let my tongue duel with hers and allowed one of my hands to ghost along her body, rising slowly up her hip, the valley of her stomach…the swell of her breast.
She moaned into my mouth and as gently as I could, I squeezed one of her breasts. She moaned again and encouraged by her response, I allowed myself to feel the shape and form of it, the perfect round softness of it, paired against her taut nipple. I pulled back and looked at her; her face was as flushed as I'd ever seen it, her eyes hooded and glassy, her mouth slack. I pulled my eyes from her face and slowly peeled her shirt off of her skin, exposing her beautiful breasts. Though I'd caught a glimpse of them before, I'd never gotten to really look at them. I didn't know much about the female body other than what I'd learned in medical school, but I knew I loved them. I let my hands skim along her skin, over the pink, dusky nipples and she liked that. I could smell her arousal and it washed over me, making me ache for her.
I lowered my mouth to her breast and laved her until her mounds were moist. She mumbled incoherently and said my name over and over as I kissed my way down her stomach. I allowed myself to rest my head against one of her inner thighs, just smelling her until I felt it was too much.
I needed to back away or take her, right now.
It nearly killed me to pull her shirt back down and place a chaste kiss on her rosy lips. I stood shakily from the bed and made my way to the rocking chair. I watched her warily, trying to keep myself still. It was difficult, moreso than I'd imagined. Thankfully she knew enough to stay on her side of the room. She straightened her pajamas and pulled the covers over her body.
Silence reigned until dawn peeked over the horizon but she broke me from my reverie.
"Edward?"
"Yes?" I answered, my faculties more or less under control.
"Thank you."
She said it with such passion, such conviction, such sincerity that I had to cross the room and gather her into my arms, temptation be damned.
"No, it is I, who should thank you. That was...beyond words. You are so lovely, Bella Swan."
"I love you so much," her voice cracked and her eyes became misty.
I took her hand and brushed my lips across her knuckles. "I love you too."