Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight
Author's note: Yes, I deserve to be spanked. Any volunteers?
Seriously though, I'm so sorry for the unusual delay. I did have my reasons though. There were several deadlines and meetings at work that needed my full attention throughout the week. Um, you can also blame Princess Alexandria for writing her cool OC Christy Taylor...read two of her stories and couldn't get my head out of the Marvel universe for a couple of days.
"Fuck!"
"Bella, it's ok. You did quite well."
"You call knocking you down 'quite well'?"
"I'm stronger than I look, Bella. I can take it."
"That wasn't even that hard a thrust..."
Emmett snickered to his wife. "Ooh I bet you can't wait to see what her full effort looks like. Oh shit-" He took a step back and stood behind Rosalie while Bella glared at him.
"Emmett, don't antagonize her right now," Carlisle said from his position in the tree line. He stood dignified as always and ignored the mirthful glances Rosalie and Emmett kept giving his unkempt hair and the blotches of dirt on his face.
"Try it again, Bella," he said, noting her chagrined expression. "Work on that focus."
Bella sighed and stamped down the sarcastic remark bubbling inside her. She was grateful for Carlisle's help, really she was. But the man didn't seem to understand that it was impossible to focus on anything but the pain.
"Come on Bella," Rosalie said softly. "One more time, please."
As always, Bella melted a little inside when she heard the tone in Rosalie's voice. She would do anything to hear her speak to her like that every moment of every day.
Sighing, Bella braced herself once more and took a few steps away from Rosalie and Emmett to be safe. Like she'd done dozens of times over the last week, Bella closed her eyes and concentrated on calling up the fiery monster within her. Nothing happened for quite a while. Bella's automatic attempts to quell the fire, a habit seven years in the making, made it extremely difficult if not impossible to create so much as a flame if she wasn't feeling strongly enough for it. The first few days, Carlisle had no choice but to use lighters and small campfires to coax the monster out. Today though, he insisted they leave the props at home and work on igniting the spark within her.
Pain. This was the worst part. In order to come even close to calling the fire, she had to force herself to relive some pretty terrible memories...and there were so many to choose from. Her mother's face in the flames. Her father the moment he decided Bella wasn't worth saving. Countless taunts, shoves, and all the creative ways children devise to torture their peers. The deaths. The faces of every soul she had killed. And most recently, Edward's harsh words...Charlie's hateful eyes.
Steadily, the pain rose and rose. Now the tricky part. In order for a burst of fire to come through she had to allow the pain to reach its tipping point. If that were all she needed to worry about she'd succeed...but the forest, and her friends, would blow up in seconds. No, she needed to find a way to pull back as soon as the blinding pain turned to pleasure...before the monster could gleefully take control and revel in the destruction.
This was easier said than done.
Then, as had happened many times this week, she shook with pain.
"Rose," she whispered. From the corner of her eye, Bella saw Rosalie and Emmett tense, preparing to run for it if Bella lost control. It was the only warning she could give them even as her thoughts neared shutdown. She closed her eyes and held on as far she could and chanted Rosalie's name in her mind. Rose, Rose, Rose...Fire. Bella opened her eyes.
"Oh fuck," said Emmett.
"Jazz! Let's go!" Alice shouted as she ran down the stairs.
"Bella?" He asked as he came out of Carlisle's study. They were out the door and running in seconds, Esme following close behind. One look from her was all the confirmation he needed. This wasn't the first time this happened this week.
Together they ran at top speed. Even if they didn't already know where Carlisle and Bella were practicing, they would've been able to find it easily. They smelled the smoke and burnt wood miles before they arrived.
"Oh, Bells," Alice whispered. She turned to nudge her husband but Jasper was already approaching the human girl. Alice walked up to her more slowly and stopped by Rosalie, Emmett and Carlisle. She squeezed Rosalie's hand when she reached her-she looked positively miserable as she looked down on Bella's crying form.
Jasper reached her side and sat down. They all felt the wave of calm and love he sent her way, and gradually Bella's crying ceased.
"You didn't hurt us, Bella," Carlisle said. "In fact, now we know we can definitely outrun it."
"You could've died..." Bella whispered as she hugged herself tighter.
Alice winced from the residual emotions Jasper pushed her way but didn't say anything. Her husband was often overwhelmed from Bella's emotions these days. She'd do this much at least to help. Something caught her eye though that distracted her from Bella's pain. Alice poked her sister and pointed behind them.
The surrounding area was blackened and bare from the damage. Alice always felt a sense of awe whenever she witnessed Bella's gift. It was incredible how much raw power she commanded-or didn't command as they knew that was her problem. Rosalie, Emmett and Carlisle followed Alice's gaze. In the midst of the destruction, two small sections remained distinctly green and alive. Rosalie's face immediately morphed into a big smile.
"Bella! Look." She pointed behind her as Bella stared, confused. "That's where we were standing. We didn't even have to run. You protected us."
"Which means you didn't lose all your control," Carlisle said gently. "You're making progress."
Bella said nothing. But she stared long and hard at the two undamaged areas nearby. Something was wrong. She was far too tense and Jasper looked about ready to pass out.
"What is it, sweetheart?" Esme asked.
Finally, Bella looked up. "It's still there," she said. "It...wants to keep burning."
After a moment, Carlisle kneeled in front of her. "Bella," he said. "What are you feeling right now?"
"Frustrated..." she whispered. "I've...never been able to stop it before it was done. It wants to finish it."
"Tell them," Jasper whimpered, shaking next to her. "Tell them how it feels."
Bella turned to him. If anything she looked sorry. "It hurts. A lot," she said.
"When things explode?" Esme asked.
"No," Bella replied, gritting her teeth. "Before that. While I try to keep it down. The urge is so strong...it burns."
Esme kneeled beside Bella as well and took her hand. "And when it does come out?" she asked quietly.
Bella looked down at the withered grass. She was silent for a very long time before she finally spoke.
"It feels wonderful," she said, her voice barely a touch above a whisper. "Like I've found the answer to every terrible thing...like I'll never be hungry or thirsty or tired ever again. I'll never feel pain ever again. It's exactly what my body needs. Every time I have to fight it...I have to fight the desire to feel that. I've been fighting that...craving...ever since...Ever since. It hurts more than anything you can imagine when I succeed. And it feels better than anything when I lose."
Alice stared at her. The whole family stared at her. None of them knew where to begin. Bella seemed to be describing...them. She was describing their daily struggles with not killing her and every human they crossed paths with. Her words may very well refer to their own hunger for human blood.
Carlisle cleared his throat. "Would it be easier if we let you finish?" He asked.
She laughed bitterly. "Yes. But I'd like to try...if it's ok, I'd like to try to contain it."
"We're here, Bella Bear," Emmett said. "We're not leaving you."
Rosalie squeezed his hand. Bella closed her eyes and noticeably changed her breathing to a steadier rhythm. Rosalie shuddered as a flash of pain appeared on Bella's face which disappeared as quickly as it came. They remained in their places, watching her with concern and fascination. After a few minutes her face visibly calmed, but Jasper was still trembling.
"I'm sorry, Jasper," Bella said under her breath. "This is awful for you. You should go. It's gonna get worse."
If she didn't know it was impossible, Alice would've thought Jasper was about to break out into sweats. "Thank you, but no," he said. "I can help you and I will."
Alice didn't understand. Bella looked fine. She looked like she was meditating. What had Jasper so worked up? He must've felt her confusion then, because a moment later she felt him reflecting some of what Bella felt onto her. She gasped and fell to the ground.
"Holy...how are you...how can you stand this?" She cried out while breathing heavily out of habit.
Bella opened her eyes, and Alice's heart fell from the pain she saw in them.
"Years and years of practice," Bella answered.
The minutes ticked by. Hours were nothing to Vampires who lived for hundreds of years, but watching their friend go through that kind of pain and knowing they could do nothing for her made the minutes tortuously slow. Jasper finally relaxed and rubbed Bella's back as she slowly looked up.
"Thank you," she said looking at each of their faces.
Bella moaned softly when she felt the blonde's lips on her collarbone.
"I can't believe," Rosalie murmured as her hand pushed Bella's collar aside, "you managed to talk us into letting you come back here."
Bella opened her mouth to respond, but all that came out was a groan-Rosalie's other hand was at her left breast, pinching her nipple through her shirt.
"Mmm," she moaned. Bella's hands caressed Rosalie's cheeks, her fingers tracing the shape of an ear. "You know why. I'm too volatile still. And he'll ask too many questions if I move to your place. Can't put your family- oh fuck...under the spotlight."
Rosalie body moved lower on top of Bella's. Her mouth replaced her hand and she gently nipped the other girl's very erect nipples, still maddeningly through her shirt. Were those stars she was seeing? Bella's body moved seemingly on its own. Her hips thrust upward, again and again. She clutched tightly at anything she could grab on Rosalie, her shirt, her hair, her neck, and wrapped her legs around her. Both of them groaned when Rosalie moved her body to match Bella's thrusts.
"Fuck...come here," Bella whispered and pulled her roughly to meet her lips. Rosalie happily complied and for the hundredth time that afternoon Bella melted into her mouth.
She tastes like sunshine, was the only incoherent thought to fly through Bella's mind as the kiss deepened. A moment later, Rosalie's tongue was sliding over hers and the thoughts stopped entirely.
They both whimpered in pleasure, their tongues and hips waging their own wars while each of them fought to control one's self. Bella bit Rosalie's lower lip before she traced it with her tongue. Suddenly she linked her legs through hers and grabbed her hips, twisting them both around so Bella was on top.
"I'm sensing a pattern here," Rosalie teased. Bella didn't fall for the bait. Instead she fell in between Rosalie's legs and resumed their kissing. She moaned...she definitely liked having the blonde beneath her. Rosalie's hands cupped her cheeks and brought her even closer. Bella's own hands started to make their way up Rosalie's shirt.
"Fuck!" Rosalie yelled, jumping off the bed. A split second later the room was filled with the white substance pouring out of the fire extinguisher that had been sitting by Bella's bed. When the air cleared, the curtains on the window flapped weakly then fell to the floor, charred black and in pieces.
Rosalie set the fire extinguisher-one of many that now adorned Bella's shed-and went to hold Bella, whose eyes were screwed shut and would remain so, Rosalie knew, until the pain cleared.
"It's ok," Rosalie whispered. "It's ok."
Bella nodded but remained quiet. Rosalie wished Jasper had never shared what he felt from her. She hated being so helpless when she knew just how much pain Bella had to endure when something like this happened.
"It's all right, love. Come back."
A few minutes later, she felt her relax further into her. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"I know," Rosalie replied. "You're much better. Last week we had to stop within minutes. We've been here all afternoon."
She nodded again and squeezed her hand. "Sorry," she repeated, more sheepishly this time.
Sighing, Rosalie slumped back. "Yeah...If I didn't know any better I'd think you were the biggest tease this side of the equator."
"Am I making you randy, Rosalie Hale?" Bella asked with a smile. "Whatever happened to that knight of yours with the impressive set of biceps?"
Rosalie grinned. "Oh, he helps. He'll probably want to present you with an official proclamation of his appreciation soon seeing as how much my inability to have my way with you has dramatically increased sex for him."
Bella laughed. "So I put in all this work and he gets all the glory?"
"'Fraid so, little human. Until you can work your way to the grand prize without blowing up the state."
"Evil vampire," Bella muttered.
"Cocktease."
"Bloodsucker."
"Pyromaniac."
"Sex addict."
"You bet," Rosalie replied wickedly, leaning into her ear and putting a lobe into her mouth.
"Fuck..." Bella moaned.
Author's note: Rosalie rocks. (fanning self). Review, people! Tell me how you feel, what you think, your hopes and dreams. I guarantee I'll listen!