Hi everyone! I'm back for a (not so little) outtake!
First, thank you a million times and more to victoryben66, kittyloveranime, and my lovely serial reviewers CoppertopJ, fresh-BLOOD-was-drawn-2night and traceybuie! I'd give you a hug if I could! Thanks so much!
Second, you have to thank traceybuie for this. As soon as I read her review, I had this idea of Christmas in my head that I hadn't planned to write. Here I was, trying to find some ideas for a possible sequel with the Charlie issue, then the review came. And this came popping up into my head, and has been nagging me ever since, urging me to write it down. So thanks again, traceybuie!
This outtake was supposed to be a normal chapter, but Edward and Bella being their usual chatterboxes, it's in two parts. So I give you the first one today, the second one will be posted on Monday. Enjoy!
Christmas in Montana (part 1)
Bella
"If you ask me to string another garland of holly on the banister of the stairs, I'll behead you, Alice!" I hollered down, trying not to tear the garland I was holding apart. Edward, holding the other end of the garland and wrapping it around the banister, just chuckled. He knew that I was fed up with the decorations of the main house, which were becoming a little too much.
"We're almost done, Bella!" Alice hollered back from the living room, sounding exasperated. Join the club, sis.
"Thank God!" I exclaimed loudly. "It's Christmas at the Cullens', not Macy's!"
"Oh, please!" Alice protested loudly, making the rest of our family laugh, entertained by our shouting match. "I have much more taste than that! We can do much better than Macy's, and we are!"
"If you say so," I shrugged as Edward took my end of the garland and finished wrapping it with a wink.
Alice just grumbled, but I tuned her out. My mate was standing in front of me, looking good enough to eat in his casual polo shirt and faded jeans. I licked my lips in anticipation, and he gave me his crooked smile, his eyes darkening significantly. I wanted him, again.
"Not the right time, guys!" Jasper chimed up from downstairs, sounding disgruntled.
He was tired of repeating this twelve times a day, but we couldn't help ourselves. That was why Edward and I lived in the old farm down the road of the Cullen mansion in Montana, the latter belonging to Alice. Edward had bought it when the old farmers had put it on the market, outbidding every offer and making the farmers rich for their well-earned retirement. Alice had remodeled it, of course, and all the family had worked under her supervision, so now we had a nice renovated place to ourselves, just four miles away from our family. We were far enough not to hear them, but close enough to spend time with them. We needed it after our two months in Volterra. We had returned just four weeks prior, and the experience was still a sore spot for all of us.
And now we were getting the mansion ready for the first vampire gathering in history. In less than forty-eight hours, we would be forty-six vampires here. It was mindblowing, but we were all very excited about it. We had hunted many carnivores from far away, and were keeping them in the stables of our farm, in large, comfortable cages. We were making the fortune of several delighted butchers around us, and we couldn't wait to share a nice Christmas meal with all our acquaintances. I was especially looking forward to meeting Maggie, with whom I had been talking via email since our return from Volterra. I had the feeling that we would be close friends.
"Are we done now?" I asked, averting my eyes from my delicious mate with a huge sigh, closing my fists to control my desire.
"Just one more thing," Alice trilled happily.
"I think I've heard that before," I muttered dejectedly.
"Twice already," Edward said, his velvet voice enveloping me and making me yearn for him even more. "Let's go down, love. As soon as we're finished being her slaves, we'll run to our place and make love until Christmas Eve."
"Sounds like a plan, Mr Cullen," I said, my spirits soaring. I looked at him, then, and felt warmth rising in me under his adoring stare. I loved him with all that I was, but he had never ceased to worship me, telling me every single day with his words and his gestures that I was his whole life. I was so lucky.
He gently took my hand, kissed the back of it revently, then led me downstairs, where we joined our family. It looked like an army of elves had stormed up the place and fired cannonballs full of holly, fir tree branches, baubles and garlands of all sorts all over the place. It wasn't gaudy, but it was staggering. And it was way worse that at Macy's.
"Alice?" I ventured cautiously. "Don't you think this is all... a little too much?"
"For us, yes it is," she said calmly, nodding from her chair while hanging her last baubles. "But Bella, please remember that we'll be hosting a party of vampires, who never had any Christmas celebration before for a large majority of them. We need to show them what it is and how it's done. Trust me, they need this."
"I can see your point," Rosalie admitted grudgingly from the other end of the room, where she and Emmett were finishing hanging fake snowflakes from the ceiling. "But what else do we need? There are enough decorations."
"Something is missing!" Alice chirped, jumping down of her chair and grinning mischievously.
"What?" Emmett asked sullenly. He loved Christmas but hated decorating. He couldn't wait to be freed of his obligations, that I could see.
"Think about it," Alice winked at us, then grabbed Jasper's hand and led him outside in a blur, he following meekly as usual.
We all thought about it, looking around us. I couldn't see anything missing. All the usual Christmas decorations were there, and there were lots of them, in addition to the largest fir tree I had ever seen. I was happy I had put my foot down when Alice had offered to decorate our farm. Edward and I had done it ourselves, and it was simple but elegant.
"Nope, I don't see anything missing," Emmett said after a few seconds, looking around him like all of us.
"Me neither," Rosalie shook her head, wrapped up in her mate's huge embrace.
"Esme?" I asked our mother, whose eyes were twinkling.
"I know what's missing," she said, but did not elaborate. Edward's mouth was twitching too.
"Won't you tell us?" I asked them, and they exchanged a smirk before shaking their heads in unison.
"Carlisle?" I tried again, addressing our father, sitting on one of the couches next to his mate.
"No clue, Bella," he said honestly, glancing around the room. "Popcorn garlands, maybe? We had them a century ago."
"Our first Christmas," Edward reminisced with a soft voice, tightening his grip on my hand. I knew that the memories were bittersweet for him. He had loved Carlisle's surprise, but it had only been the two of them, with their loneliness. My mate didn't like to be reminded of the past, except the recent one, where I came into his life and he in mine.
"No, it's not that," Esme said, leaning forward and kissing her mate.
"Well?" Alice's voice rose from the other side of the back door. "Have you guessed yet?"
"Edward and Esme have, but not us," Emmett grumbled.
"The most romantic among us," Jasper's amused voice rose. "I'm not surprised."
Romantic? I shot another look around me, and this time it hit me. "Mistletoe," I whispered, noticing its blatant absence.
"One point for Bella!" Alice chirped happily, bounding inside, her arms full of branches with the little white balls, Jasper equally loaded. "We need to hang this everywhere. I hope you hung some in the farm too," she added, giving my mate and me a stern look.
"Yes, Alice," I sighed, accepting a dozen branches. "But why so much?"
"Because you know that some of your guests are still single," she gushed joyfully while indicating us where we had to hang the mistletoe. "And I've had wonderful visions of mating couples in two days! They'll need lots of mistletoe to kiss under!"
"Your matchmaking thing?" Rosalie inquired while going upstairs with Emmett.
"Yes!" Alice trilled, tackling the hall. "I know that I did the right thing when meeting the single Volturi guards! I invited some of them here."
"You did well," Carlisle said, helping Esme in the kitchen then the game room downstairs.
"That's good," I agreed, while my mate and I hung branches in the hallways and staircase of the house. "I love it when single people meet their other halves."
"A true romantic at heart," Edward told me with a kind and loving smile, no trace of teasing in his melodious voice. "A true daughter of Jane Austen."
"Always and forever," I agreed. Even though I knew every book of my favourite author by heart, thanks to my flawless vampire memory, I couldn't help rereading her novels every few months. I was an Austen addict; when Edward wasn't pouncing me, of course, which wasn't very often.
We hung our branches, then gathered in the living room. Alice was eyeing us with a jaded look. "So, Bella and Edward will spend the next two days in their farm, while we'll contact all our guests and give them the details of our Christmas gathering. Bella, I've purchased an appropriate outfit for you. You'll find it in the red garment bag in your closet. Edward, wear the clothes you bought last week."
I knew better than argue with the fashion pixie, even though I kept the right to veto her choices of garments for me. But I trusted Alice. She had made a huge effort not to force me into clothes I didn't like, and I trusted her taste. I knew I probably wouldn't be disappointed.
"Our first guests will arrive at three pm on the 24th," Alice said, her eyes glazing over, her vision hitting her. "The Denalis. Then the ex-Volturi guards at six. Marcus and Heidi will follow, then all the nomads."
"Perfect," Esme nodded with her gentle smile, looking happy. She loved hosting people, a true nurturer. This first vampire meeting was thrilling her.
"We'll leave the details to you," Edward said hurriedly, tugging on my arm. "Let's go, love."
I didn't wait to be told twice. "See you in two days!" I shouted eagerly at my family.
All of them chuckled. "See you, lovebirds!" Emmett shouted back. "Don't destroy anything! You'll have to host fourteen vampires in two days. Now's not the time to repair anything!"
"Don't worry, Em," I purred while walking to the door with Edward. "We know."
Then we exited the mansion, and we ran. Not towards our lovely farm, but to our meadow. The one we carved in the forest around us, uprooting trees and replanting them farther away, then sowing wildflowers' seeds for next spring. We did well, creating a secluded space for us without damaging the wilderness. We were very careful about it now, knowing the situation our planet was in.
We raced to the meadow, not leaving any footprints in the snow, silent as ghosts. It was exhilarating, and I was with my mate. Utter bliss. Edward beat me to the meadow, of course, but I took revenge by tackling him down in the snow, jumping on his back. In a swift gesture I rolled him over and pinned his arms and legs to the ground, using my tremendous strength. "So you're still faster than me," I growled mockingly.
"And you're still way stronger than me," he growled back playfully. "What shall I do with you?"
"Well, hubby," I said teasingly, watching his eyes darken immediately, "I think the real question is: what shall I do with you? Maybe do you?"
"If you can," he teased back with a small snarl.
I smirked at him. So, that was how he wanted it? I wanted it rough, and he wanted to fight. Tough luck, my love, I thought, earning a real snarl. With another quick gesture I gathered both of his wrists in one hand, he thrashing uselessly beneath me, and ripped his clothes off of him. Then I ripped mine off, and he ceased to struggle, watching me with wide eyes. Even after sixteen years, we were both still enthralled by our mate's body. And I could never get enough of him.
Without warning, feeling his large, rock-hard erection against my thigh and knowing that I was beyond ready for him, I straddled him and slid on him, taking him deep inside of me. He roared in pleasure, his eyes scrunching closed. I moaned in sheer ecstasy. The feeling of my mate inside of me was unbelievable, and if I could I would always be making love with him.
I started to move, my pace fast and hard, and he struggled against my hold again, trying to take the upper hand. I knew he wanted to be on top, taking me and making me scream his name, but I also knew that he liked it when I was dominating him. So I did, riding him hard and not releasing my tight hold on him. He thrashed and snarled, but his eyes were pitch black and his face showing his intense pleasure.
Then, as I was reaching my peak, his eyes closed, his features smoothing in rapture as he tensed beneath me, then spilled inside me with an ear-splitting roar. I shattered around him then, shouting his name. "Edward!"
My grip on him slackened then, out of pure bliss, and swift as a snake he rolled us over. He growled on top of me, taking me hard and fast, and I couldn't fight him. He was my mate, and I loved everything that made him what and who he was. "My turn," he snarled with fire in his eyes, and I moaned under his ministrations. In no time he had me screaming again, and he roared powerfully before biting my neck, claiming me and making me shatter yet again. It was perfect.
Forty hours later, we finally disentangled ourselves from each other, me whimpering a little when he pulled out of me. I was only feeling complete when making love to him. He put his hand on my cheek and kissed me, his love pouring out of him. I leaned into him and kissed him back, never having enough. Eternity wouldn't be boring for us.
"Soon again, love," he promised me, desire and love swirling in his gorgeous golden eyes.
"Soon, my love," I agreed, kissing him, making our tongues dancing together.
After another few minutes he pulled away, chuckling. "Marcus will be very amused."
"I don't doubt it, and I hope so," I told him truthfully. "I can't wait to see him and Heidi."
"A month is so short, but so long too," Edward nodded as he helped me on my feet. Not that I needed any help, but my mate was still the most gentlemanly vampire walking this Earth. "I really hope he and Heidi will decide to come live here in America."
"So do I." I missed the old vampire, our new uncle for all intents and purposes. And Rosalie missed her soon-to-be best friend.
We ran hand in hand towards our farm, and went straight for a good shower. We took it separately, otherwise we wouldn't be able to resist one another. Edward with body wash lathered on his perfect body was simply irresistible, and the strawberry shampoo on my long hair was driving him wild, apparently. So we hastily washed, then readied our farm to accomodate our guests. We would host the seven ex-Volturi guards who had wanted to come plus Othella and Will, three other ex-guards Alice had invited specifically for her matchmaking gig, and Benjamin and Tia. Edward and Benjamin had developed a close friendship over his blogs, and they often talked via email and phone calls. I was happy for my mate. He needed friends other than our family.
I also knew that we would host the Volturi because of our talents. Even though we had no reason to distrust them or their intentions, Edward would be listening to their thoughts and I would keep my shields ready. Just in case. We were still wary, after two months in Volterra. I knew that no one would blame us for it.
The farm was a long wooden building with two stories, and we had five en-suite bedrooms plus our own master suite. Then we had used one of the large barns to convert it to a guest house, with six bedrooms and three bathrooms. Our guests would be comfortable, I was sure of it.
When all the beds were made – not that they would be used for sleeping – and all the last-minute cleaning done, I went to my closet and retrieved the red garment bag Alice had told me about. I tried to ignore Edward getting ready at the other end of the house, and opened the bag. I found a nice black dress, tight-fitted and classy. I wouldn't be ill-at-ease, and I silently thanked my sister and best friend. I got ready, putting on some beautiful – and very expensive – jewelry Edward had gifted me with, then went downstairs to meet him.
He was mouth-watering in his elegant black dress pants and green shirt, his hair as wild as ever. He knew that I liked it that way. The only time he had tried to sleek it down, I had denied him any sex for six hours. Supreme punishment – for him and for me. He never tried to tame it again after that. Quick learner.
"You're stunning, Bella," he said, closing his mouth after gaping at me for a handful of seconds.
"You don't clean so bad yourself, husband of mine," I purred, rubbing my hand over his chest, desire spiking in me. Christmas shmistmas.
But as soon as that thought came Edward's phone rang loudly. He sighed and glanced at the ID caller. "Alice," he murmured.
"Crap," I whispered, anger rising then abating. It had been like that for the last sixteen years, and it very probably would be for the next ninety years, this frustration. I wanted to yell, or cry, or run away with my mate on my back without a backwards glance.
Edward ignored the call and looked at me, taking me in his arms. "We have time, love," he assured me, knowing how I felt. "You know we won't go back to school until next September, and we will be free to act in whatever way we want there. We won't deny ourselves, love. And I know how much you need me. I need you just as much, my Bella. But we have guests tonight and tomorrow. Very important guests. We will finally know if we vampires can live next to each other outside of a coven. And we'll have a great time, Alice has seen it."
"I know, my love," I nodded, knowing how right he was. "And I promise I'll try to be reasonable. But we'll have to make love, Edward. And we need time to ourselves. I agreed to school next September, but just for a year, to help Carlisle get settled. After that, I want a decade with only you, my love. We need time with our family now, that's a given. I can't bear to be apart from them anytime soon. But I think a year and a half will be enough. After that, I need you more, my Edward."
"I swear we'll have a decade to ourselves in eighteen months, love," Edward said earnestly, his eyes boring into mine as our foreheads touched. I felt so close to him that way, without making love. "We need it. But I only ask that we don't go too far away from our family."
"Agreed," I accepted immediately. The thought of being more than a state away from our parents and siblings was unbearable. Volterra had done a number on us. Aro – curse him – had done a number on us. I was so relieved the old scoundrel was dead. "Not farther than Idaho, Wyoming or North Dakota," I added.
"I agree," he said seriously. "But we can remain in Montana too, love. Like in Ireland. We weren't far from our family then, whilst still living as couples."
"True," I nodded, leaning into his large chest and snuggling. "I like it here, but maybe we could go north, closer to the Canadian border."
"I'd want that," Edward said softly, kissing my hair and putting his arms around my waist. "Great Falls is perfect for our family, and especially Carlisle. But we could go near Glasgow, or near the Glacier National Park."
"We'll think about it," I said as Edward's phone rang again. "Alice is getting impatient, I guess."
"She most certainly is," Edward snickered a little, then kissed me before taking my hand. "Come on, love. Let's go celebrate Christmas."
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