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I'm so excited about everything I have planned out, I don't think I have ever updated this consistently.

(Sorry to those waiting for updates on my other fics, they are coming - I swear!)

Chapter 4

Emmett's POV

"Emmett?"

This is it. It's really happening.

I took Bella's warm, soft hand and led her into the forest. I could feel the gentle pulsing of her heartbeat just under her skin. It was steadily growing faster. I hoped that was a good thing.

"Where are we going?"

"To a spot up ahead - it's not far."

I'd spent a couple of hours yesterday clearing out a few trees to make what I hoped would be the perfect place to finally confess everything to her. After Edward told me she said my name in her sleep - and after everything that had happened at her party - I was pretty confident that she at least felt something for me. It might not be as strong as the love I felt for her - not yet - but if she is willing to even give me a shot, I'll be over the moon.

Her delicate fingers tightened around my hand as we walked.

She wants you, too. She does.

We stepped into the small clearing I'd created. The breath I didn't need caught in my throat. I'd spent quite a lot of time the last few months looking at her, but right at this moment - with the moonlight bouncing off her creamy skin - she looked more beautiful than anything I'd ever seen. She looked like how I'd imagined angels did when I was a kid.

Fuck. I can't wait anymore.

I lifted her up into my arms - one of my favorite things to do - and spun us both around until we were in the center of the clearing. I slowly slid her down my chest as I put her back on the ground and let my hands linger on her hips. Now that I was free to touch her incredible figure, I was not ever going to stop.

I didn't plan to do it like this - I didn't - but I was completely out of patience. Her velvety pink lips were just begging to be kissed and her dark eyes were gazing into mine with what I hoped was desire. Well, I was about to find out.

Trust your gut.

I brought one hand up to cup her cheek, brushed my thumb along her cheekbone, and leaned in.

When our lips met, my entire body suddenly felt like it was on fire. I hadn't felt anything so intense since my transformation. I'd fantasized about this happening so many times, but I hadn't even come close to guessing the pure euphoria her kiss would be. I'd never felt true desire for someone until this moment.

Her warm arms locked around my neck and she crushed her body against me. I twisted my hand into her long hair to pull her even closer. To feel the unbelievable sensation her lips brought. They parted slightly and I carefully slipped my tongue into her glorious mouth. I just needed to make sure she didn't get cut on my teeth - my venom wouldn't turn her unless it got into her bloodstream.

This unimaginably strong desire she'd awakened made me feel like I'd been starving for my entire life and hadn't even realized it. I knew I would never be able to get enough of her. I wouldn't ever want to. I never, ever wanted this feeling to end.

She pulled her head back, just a little, and my heart sank. Oh, wait, I reminded myself, she needs to breathe.

I moved my lips to her jaw and slowly kissed down her neck, trying to taste every bit of her skin. Her heartbeat was strong, causing the blood flowing through her jugular to pulsate wildly, but I wasn't even tempted. I could never want to destroy anything as beautiful as her. Her strawberry and jasmine scent was driving my senses to the breaking point, though. I was having to focus more energy than I wanted to on not crushing her.

"Mmm… Emmett."

Fuck.

Hearing her moan my name was like having gasoline poured on the fire burning inside me. I kissed my way back up until I found her lips and let out my own moan against them. I needed more. I needed to have her. All of her.

Wait, an annoying voice in my head warned, not yet.

I groaned internally. The voice was right. Even though every part of my body was telling me to rip her dress off of her gorgeous body and make love to her right here under the stars - I needed to stop. I needed to talk to her like I'd planned on doing. She obviously wanted my body as much as I wanted hers - I could smell just how much she wanted me - but I needed her to know that I felt more than that for her. That I wanted more than that from her.

Using all of the limited willpower I had, I forced my lips away from hers. She was panting, trying to catch her breath. Blood rushed to her cheeks as she looked up at me.

"Is this a dream?"

I laughed. I couldn't help it. She was still human - and humans said the funniest things sometimes.

"No, this is real," I grinned at her, "you don't know how long I've waited to do that."

"Actually, I think I have a pretty good idea." She gave me the biggest, happiest smile I had ever seen.

She tried to go in for another kiss, but I hesitated, pulling back. Her happy expression fell and her eyes filled with intense sadness. Nice going, idiot. I felt like such an ass, but I only had a small amount of control over my body. I needed to keep it if I was going to really talk to her.

"Did I - I…" she gulped, "Did I do something wrong?"

"No! Shit, I'm so sorry for making you think so, Bells," I gave her another kiss to try and make up for it, just a quick one, "I want to spend every possible second kissing you, but I need to talk to you first."

I sat down on a log - hoping in vain that doing so would make it easier to stop myself from giving into the burning need. She sat next to me and started tracing her fingers along my forearm. It felt amazing. Too amazing. Focus.

"Bells," I struggled to find the words I'd practiced in my head so many times, "I want you. I've wanted you ever since I first saw you. It's been so hard trying to just be your friend, but I'm glad that I had to. At first, I thought I was probably only attracted to you, but waiting so long to tell you helped me really see how insanely incredible you are as a person - and how fucking perfect we are for each other."

Now the hard part. I'd waited for this moment for months, but now that it was actually time I was beyond nervous. If I wasn't a vampire, I'd probably be sick. I should have chucked up that cake earlier, just in case.

"In my whole life," I cupped my hand around her cheek again, wanting to see every possible emotion pass through her chocolate eyes as I finished my speech, "I've never felt anything like this. I've never felt anything this strong. You are literally all I think about. I spend all day and night just trying to think of ways to make you smile. Nothing in the world matters to me like you do. Hell, I'd burn the whole world to the ground if I thought it would make you happy. I love you, Bella."

She was staring at me, her mouth hanging open. Her heart was beating so fast I was almost worried it would burst. I hoped that was a good thing. I hoped that she'd been feeling even a fraction of what I had.

"Em…" her voice was barely a whisper, "I love you, too. I've been in love with you for months. You are literally the man of my dreams."

Bliss, elation, joy - every word I knew was meaningless. There was nothing that could come close to describing what I felt in that moment. Nothing.

She loves you back. She really does.

I closed the small space between our lips, giving in to the burning desire she'd ignited.

This time, kissing her felt different. Somehow, everything I felt for her had amplified to a point that even I - an immortal vampire that hadn't slept in over seven decades - was wondering if this was a dream. The taste of her lips, the way she moaned as I wrapped my arms around her, the feeling of her fingers winding into my hair - it was all too much. Too strong.

She could break me, I realized with horror, she has the power to break me.

This must be what it was to really, honestly be in love with someone. To give yourself over to them completely. I knew that, from this second on, I belonged to her. I would worship her for all eternity. It didn't matter if she chose to adore or destroy me - I would be hers all the same.

I grabbed a hold of her hips to pull her onto my lap, needing to have her closer. Needing to feel her body against me. I ran my hands along the soft flesh of her thighs - her dress had risen up to her waist - and she locked her legs around me.

"Oh! Em… Mmm…" She moaned as I ground my hips into hers. I could feel how wet she was through the thin materials between us. "Mmm…"

Fuck.

Trying to keep part of my brain focused on controlling my strength was difficult. All I wanted was to lose myself in this moment. To focus on nothing but how she felt while crushed against me. As amazing as her human body was, I couldn't wait until she was a vampire and I wouldn't have to hold back.

My hands found the small zipper on the back of her dress. I undid it slowly, letting my fingers trace down her smooth skin. I couldn't wait to really see her. To taste her.

"Em..." she pulled her lips away from mine, "wait."

My fingers froze in place.

Was I doing this wrong? My only experiences with women had been with Rose and a few girls from my human life that had lived in my town. As far as I could remember, none of them had ever asked me to wait or even hesitated to have sex with me - and I had never felt for any of them anything near what I felt for Bella. Was I missing something?

"I'm… sorry."

I hated feeling so unsure of myself.

"No, I'm sorry, Em. I just… I…"

Blood rushed to her cheeks and she dipped her head down.

"Hey," I put my hand under her chin and lifted her face so I could see her eyes, "if I'm doing something wrong, you can tell me."

She shook her head, "You're not doing anything wrong. It's me. This is all just so… new. I… I don't know if I'm ready. Not yet."

What does that mean? I felt my eyebrows furrow together. This was so confusing. She'd said she loved me, but did she not actually want me? Did she need time after being with Edward? I'd understand, even though it would hurt like hell, and I'd wait for however long she needed until she did want me.

Calm down, man. I told myself. Find out what she means before you panic.

"Not ready for what exactly?"

"Em, I…" she tried to hide her face again, but I held it up, "I… I'm a virgin. I don't know if I'm ready to have sex yet."

Oh. I'm an idiot.

I laughed with relief.

"Don't laugh at me!"

She tried to wiggle off of my lap, but I tightened my arms around her.

"I'm not laughing at you, Bells. I'm laughing at myself for being so dumb. I thought you didn't want me."

"Of course I want you! I've never wanted anything more than I want you, Emmett. I just need to take it a little slow. I've never done anything like this," she ground her hips against mine and I moaned, "before and it's a little daunting. Give me some time to get my bearings?"

"We can take all the time you need, Bells," I zipped her dress back up, "I'm sorry I got carried away. I guess I just thought that… I don't know what I thought. Can I ask you something, though?"

I knew that she'd never had anything close to sex with Edward - he could barely even hold her hand without having to fight the bloodlust - but I'd always kind of assumed that someone as beautiful as she was had to of been with someone before. There was no way that some human male hadn't lusted after her.

"Shoot."

"Well, when you say that this is all new, what do you mean? Wasn't there someone before Edward who you wanted?"

She blushed again, "No, there wasn't. Edward was my first kiss - that's the only thing we ever did - and even then he never, ever kissed me like you do. I have never once felt anything so unbelievably good as what I've felt with you tonight."

I am the king of idiots.

"Is it bad for me to say I'm glad? That I'm happy I get to be the only one to make you feel this way?"

"No, I'm so happy it's you, Em. You know," she lowered her voice, "just because I'm not ready for sex doesn't mean you have to stop kissing me."

My lips were immediately back on hers. They had a new purpose now. Somehow, this gorgeous goddess in my arms had no idea the kind of pleasure her body was capable of feeling. It was my job to show her.

I moved us to the ground, laying her gently on the damp earth, and kissed a trail down her body. Moving from her neck to her chest, the top of her breasts, then eventually jumping down to her thighs. I took my time to taste every bit of her exposed skin.

I slid my hands up the outside of her thighs as I kissed the inside. I had never tasted anything as mouth watering before. When I reached the thin lace material of her underwear, I started to pull them down, then hesitated.

"Is this okay?"

"Yes!" She gasped.

"Stop me if I get too carried away."

I slowly removed them and returned to kissing the inside of her thighs. As I moved closer and closer to her core, the smell of her arousal had me groaning with need. Be patient. This is about her.

When my lips connected to her delicate flesh, she yelped. I froze, terrified I'd somehow hurt her.

"Don't stop!"

I grinned and stuck my tongue out to lick up her slit.

Fuck. She tastes so good.

"Emmett! Oh! Mmm…"

Her hips started bucking wildly as I tasted her. I firmly grabbed her ass to hold her still, happy I was able to get this reaction from her. Amazed that I was the only man to ever get this from her. I drew it out, making sure to kiss and lick every bit of the outside multiple times, before finally plunging my tongue as deep inside of her as it could go.

"Oh! Oh God!" She was screaming now. "Don't stop, Em! Please don't stop!"

I moved my tongue at a speed that would have been impossible for a human, making sure to lick every corner I could reach. Her body was shaking now, trembling violently as I continued my assault. I removed a hand from her perfect ass so I could rub her clit, carefully trying not to use too much strength.

"Emmett!" She screamed as she came.

Her body collapsed and she struggled to catch her breath. I couldn't help laughing a little at how human she was. When she was a vampire, I would make it my goal to make her feel just as worn out as she did right now. Even if it took centuries.

I kissed my way back up her body, then rolled us over so she was laying on top of me.

"That was the most incredible thing I've ever felt in my entire life." She was still panting.

Pride flowed through me. I'd known I was good, but hearing her say that made me happier than I could ever remember being. Hell, just laying with her like this made me that happy.

"That's only the beginning. I can't wait to show you everything else there is. I love you, Bells."

"I love you, too."

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I adjusted Bella, moving her just slightly so I could get it out. It was a text from Alice.

'Family meeting in 20 minutes. You need to be here. Bella has to go home, though. Charlie is getting worried.'

I groaned. I wasn't ready to leave. I never wanted to leave her side now that I actually had her.

"You have to go?" The sadness in her voice made me want to ignore the text, but if Alice was telling me that I had to be there then I knew it was important.

"I'll come back," I promised, "as fast as I can."

"You better."

She started to sit up, but I stopped her.

"Hold on, I still need to give you your birthday present."

"You've already given me more than I ever could have asked for."

I smiled at her, "I'm going to give you so, so much more throughout our life together, Bells."

I pulled the small cloth bag out of my pocket. I was suddenly nervous again, bracing myself for a whole new form of possible rejection. She loves you, I reassured myself, don't be afraid.

"Before I give it to you, I want to explain." This would have been so much easier if Edward hadn't pulled that half-assed stunt earlier, "When I was a human, my family was very, very poor - even before the depression. I had a lot of siblings and my parents were immigrants who struggled to find work. I don't remember a time when we weren't hurting for something. It was all my parents could do to keep us fed. Almost every valuable that they'd brought over from Ireland was sold before I was even born. The only thing they held on to was this."

I took the gold ring out.

"This is a Claddagh ring. The hands are for friendship, the crown for loyalty, and the heart for love. My dad gave it to my mother as an engagement ring, but it doesn't have to mean that. Traditionally, it has a lot of different meanings. There are no strings attached here and you don't have to wear it if you don't want to. I just wanted to give it to you as a symbol of how much I love you. How I will always love you, Bella."

"Em…" Her eyes were watering. I couldn't tell if that was a good thing or not. "It's so beautiful. I love it. Of course I'll wear it."

This was the best night of my existence. If my heart could beat, it would have stopped altogether with joy. And I'll admit, part of me felt a little smug that she'd said yes to my plain gold ring after Edward had offered her that giant, diamond covered thing.

I slipped it onto her left ring finger.

"Happy Birthday, Bells."

I was about to go in for another kiss, but my phone buzzed again. Damn Alice.

'Leave now or you won't.'

With another groan, I picked Bella up and ran us back to the trailhead behind her house.

"Emmett!" She gasped as I put her down, "A little warning next time!"

"Sorry," I grinned at her terrified expression.

"No you're not," she grinned back, "I wish you didn't have to go."

"I'll be back as soon as I can. Try not to do anything too funny while I'm gone."

I pulled her in for one more mesmerizing kiss.

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