Isabella Swan
[Author's Note: Sorry I'm posting late… I took a roadtrip and it took forever. I have a kind of skeletal layout for this story but I write the chapters fresh each day so it takes a minute if I'm busy. But thank you all for your patience. I really love your support. Sorry last chapter and this one are more exposition.. But this one leads up to some spiiiicy stuff. And tomorrow's chapter will probably be just straight smut. Well not straight smut. Just only smut. So look forward to that, I guess lol]
When Bella was a kid and adults would ask her what she wanted to be when she grew up she'd usually just answer "great" or "special". She had no idea what sort of job she saw herself doing so she just stuck to adjectives instead of nouns. Her classmates all wanted to be firefighters and ballerinas and police officers like Charlie (except that one kid that wanted to be a chicken nugget) and while those all sounded like nice options.. Bella couldn't choose. She didn't want to be one thing. She wanted to travel and read countless books and learn so many things that her brain couldn't fit it all in. She wanted to do more than she could even list. And she felt so utterly trapped by her mortality.
She read a quote by Sylvia Plath in high school that pretty much summed it up. "I can never read all the books I want; I can never be all the people I want and live all the lives I want. I can never train myself in all the skills I want. And why do I want? I want to live and feel all the shades, tones and variations of mental and physical experience possible in my life. And I am horribly limited." Bella too felt horribly limited. So she began to wish for more. She began to wish that there was something beyond what she'd been given.. and because she was a hopeful person, she decided to believe that if she tried hard enough, read enough, learned enough she'd somehow earn extra time.
Of course when she told her mother that, Renee had said, "Bella honey, we all get one life. That's it. You just gotta make what you want of it." And it was fine advice. It was fine advice that just so happened to be entirely applicable to her current situation- what Bella wanted was Rosalie. What could she do but yearn to keep her forever?
Rosalie always drove with her hand on Bella's thigh and the small brunette adored the affection. Bella adored every little thing that her beautiful blonde vampire did to her. And it was just sexual either.. the way Rosalie pampered her.. her gentleness, her concern.. the romance. It was as though Rosalie was the air she'd begun to breathe, the blood she'd begun to pump through her veins.. the very fiber of her being. She could feel Rosalie all through her.. And Bella was falling hard..
The Cullen home was impressive and though she knew that it would be, Bella still balked. She leaned forward in the Bugatti and peered through the windshield up at the sleek, modern house of glass. The exterior was done in natural shades of browns and grays and because the house was tucked deep into a forest and along a winding path, it seemed to belong there.
"I'm sorry," the brunette said, still in awe as Rosalie came to help her out of the vehicle. "I keep forgetting that I'm dating royalty."
"That's right," purred the vampire, wrapping one arm around the smaller woman's hip, "I'm a prince, remember?"
"Right," Bella agreed. "So does that mean one day you'll be king?"
"Yes," Rosalie returned, playing along, "and you'll be what? My queen?"
"No." Bella's eyes gleamed mischievously. "I'll be your deity."
"Is that so?" Rosalie asked, amused. "So what do you want, Goddess? How do I respect you? Do I lavish you with gifts? Pray to you every night?" She came to a stop at the front door and turned to face her counterpart. "Or do you want me to worship you on my knees?"
Bella's eyes were still lost in hers when the blonde leaned forward and opened the door. Then, giving the smaller woman her hand, she led her into the entranceway. And suddenly they weren't alone anymore and there were four other vampires smiling at them.
"Bella!" Alice exclaimed first, from where she stood by Edward's side, the russet haired male vampire's arm draped over her shoulder. "You're finally here. And you look beautiful. Doesn't she, Rose?"
"She knows I think so," Rosalie replied.
"Hello Bella," Edward said, "I took your crate to your watchtower for you a few minutes ago."
"You don't always have to do that," she said, astounded.
"I look forward to it," he told her happily.
Then to the older vampires, Rosalie said, "Carlisle, Esme, this is Isabella Swan."
Bella gaped at Rosalie's parents. Carlisle was as handsome as the women in the town had said and Esme was.. Absolutely lovely. "Familial resemblance," she murmured quietly.
"What do you mean by that?" Rosalie wanted to know, tilting her head towards her.
"You're just all so attractive."
Carlisle smiled and there wasn't a single wrinkle that formed around his eyes. To Bella, at least aesthetically, he didn't look like a dad at all. He appeared maybe four or five years older than her but there was something about the expression on his face that made her respect him. "We appreciate the compliment," he told her. "And we appreciate the fact that you've decided to grace us with your presence. We've been looking forward to meeting you."
"Rose," Esme gushed as soon as her partner had stopped speaking, "she's a dream. You realize she looks just like-" She laughed in a show of disbelief. "A dead ringer."
"Like who?" Bella asked, glancing back and forth between Rosalie and Esme.
"Audrey Hepburn," Edward provided. "And now that you mention it.."
"I've gotten that before," Bella mused, remembering a time in Phoenix when an older woman in the grocery store had stopped to tell her that very same thing.
"She's prettier," Rosalie said and lifted one hand to place it on Bella's jaw affectionately. "More talented, more exquisite.." All Bella could do was let her eyes swim in Rosalie's and wish desperately that they were alone.
Esme gazed at them with adoration and she squeezed Carlisle's arm. "Look at them," she said, "look at Rose."
"I see," the male replied, just as transfixed. "In all my years.." He and his wife moved closer together and he put his arm around her.
Bella waited for Carlisle to continue and when he did not elaborate she said to Rosalie. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong," Esme said.
Rosalie continued to stroke her cheek and then she said, "My parents have never seen me like this."
Bella's heart pounded harder the longer she looked into Rosalie's angelic face. "Like this," she repeated, quietly, "with someone.."
"Happy," Rosalie added. "Yes." She leaned in and kissed the smaller woman's lips softly. "Are you hungry, Beautiful Girl?"
It was very difficult for Bella to remember where they were when Rosalie was looking at her like that and giving her affection like that. It made her feel very warm. "Yes," she replied, pathetically captivated.
Rosalie's cool fingers traced Bella's jaw and then she finally released her from her gaze. She looked back to her parents. "Esme, do you want to tell Bella what you made for her?"
"Of course," the motherly vampire replied, warmly, "A lasagna. Rosalie told us you liked Italian food and I-" she shrugged happily. "I had a recipe."
"I can smell it," Bella responded, suddenly really hungry. "It smells delicious."
Rosalie led her through the house, showing her the living area, the kitchen and finally the elaborate dining room. The entire house was extremely well decorated and the way it was laid out made everything seem entirely cohesive. Bella had bounced back and forth between two middle class parents and had felt content. But being somewhere like the Cullens house made her realize just how middle class she'd been raised.
Rosalie took her to the giant mahogany table and once she'd sat down the other vampires bustled around her to get her everything she needed. Then everyone mysteriously disappeared except for Rosalie, who sat on the table while Bella ate.
"Your house is amazing," the human said as she finished the decadent meal. "I mean this is the nicest place I've ever been."
"Esme designed it," Rosalie told her.
The brunette's eyes widened. "Really? It's gorgeous." She glanced around her at the open ceiling and the walls of glass. "There's so much light."
"We don't exactly have visitors," Rosalie replied as if she too could read Bella's mind. Her eyes were soft as she spoke. "You're our first."
"I'm honored to be," Bella said, trying to make sense of that. A perfect family with unspeakable wealth but no visitors, no parties to entertain, the risk of sun exposure too high.
She got up from her chair and pushed it in, intent on taking her disk to the kitchen. But Rosalie took it and immediately returned with empty hands. "You're my guest, remember?"
"I just want to be polite," Bella told her. "I want to make a good impression."
"You have." She brought her closer, "You do. You will.."
"Mm," the smaller woman replied, "don't do that.. You take my breath away when you look at me like that." She sighed when Rosalie didn't look away and suddenly she had a thought. "So where is your room?" she asked.
"Uh uh," came the scolding retort, "not yet."
Bella groaned. "Why not?"
"Because once I take you in there, we're not coming back out for a while."
"I'm staying here tonight? But I didn't bring anything to.."
"To wear?" Rosalie finished, her hands sliding into Bella's back pockets. "I don't think you'll need anything." She smiled when Bella's eyebrows knitted together in frustration. "Do you want to see Carlisle's office?"
Bella was absolutely awestruck by the doctor's library and office. In addition to wall to wall bookshelves, there was an old style lawyer's desk, matching leather chairs and countless trinkets and statues. The brunette spent a long moment looking up at the vaulted ceiling and appreciating the Sistine Chapel replica painting that covered it.
"A fan of art, Bella?" Carlisle asked her, stepping up to stand beside the two women.
"Some of it," Bella replied. "I mean, I love art, I just don't know a lot about it." She let her eyes slide along the paintings on the walls and took a liking to a very elaborate one with cherubs and full sized angels. "Like I love this but I have no idea what it is."
"It's a François Boucher," Rosalie said, stroking Bella's knuckles where their hands were clasped.
"Indeed," Carlisle quipped. "He painted this for me in 1765."
"1765?" Bella looked to Rosalie for clarification and she nodded. "Okay, so.. So how old are you?" She bit her lip. "Is that rude to ask? I'm so sorry."
Carlisle laughed a pleasant deep laugh. "It isn't rude. I would love to tell you. I was born in 1640. I'm 382 years old."
"Oh." She swallowed and then, in an effort to smooth over her shock she said, "Doctors hate him."
Carlisle looked at her curiously. "Hmm?"
"It's a meme," Rosalie explained, her eyes sparkling with amusement, "When someone looks really young but is actually old.. There are these ads." She laughed. "Nevermind."
The elder vampire smiled regardless of whether or not he understood the reference. "I'm sorry. Trends have changed a lot since I was your age." His lips held a smirk as he spoke. Then, addressing Rosalie, he said, "Kitty, would you mind terribly if I spoke to Bella alone for a few minutes?"
Rosalie immediately stiffened at the statement and Bella somehow knew the issue right away. She pressed herself closer to her gorgeous vampire and said, gently, "I don't mind Rose. It's okay." She relaxed and she kissed her cheek softly and then she slipped into the hallway, closing the door behind her.
Carlisle put his hand in his pockets and leaned back against his desk. "So I've been told that you're quite the literary scholar?"
Bella blushed. "I don't know about scholar.. I like to read. And I have a degree in literature if that's what you mean."
"Charlie told me you graduated Summa Cum Laude with highest honors?"
"Um," Bella nodded, "that's true."
"That's very impressive," the doctor noted. "According to your father you've always been an exceptional student and a very patient, understanding person."
"My dad's opinion is kind of biased," Bella told him, "because he loves me. Ask my mom and you'll get a different answer."
Carlisle smiled. "Well my opinion matches that of the Chief," he said, "and adding to that your unique abilities.. I would say that confirms the statement of your exceptionality."
"My special abilities?" asked Bella. "Do you mean my ability to withstand..?"
"Yes," he confirmed. "I hope that our Rose has told you how entirely special you are."
"She has," Bella assured him. "She does. All the time. But I.."
"You don't feel that you are?" He asked. When Bella didn't respond and instead just looked at him expectantly, he said, "Do you care for stories?"
"Stories?" she asked.
He motioned to one of the leather chairs sitting around the room and when she sat, he said, "I'm not sure how much you know of our family so excuse me if I repeat anything you've already heard before. There has been only the five of us for such a long time that speaking candidly like this seems odd. But I want you to understand- we are all special. I was created alone many many years ago, but my gift for self control allowed me to live long enough to truly hone my endurance. When I found Edward in 1918, dying from the Spanish Influenza, I knew right away that he was extraordinary. I pride myself on having a sort of gift, a clairvoyance of sorts. I can see beyond someone's humanity to their vampiric inner-abilities. That is to say, if they have one. In my nearly 400 years, I have only come across four individuals with undeniable gifts; my Esme, our Edward, your Rosalie and.." He paused, allowing Bella to guess.
"Alice?" she presented, thinking she was correct.
"No," he shook his head. "Alice came to us after she'd already been turned. I would assume that she did harbor the same qualities as the other members of my family but we will never know for sure. I was referring to you."
"To me?" Bella couldn't help but point at herself incredulously.
"Yes," he nodded. "Actually, your vampiric aura is extremely bright."
"So what does that mean exactly? What is my power?"
"That's what's got me so utterly fascinated," the doctor admitted. "I'm honestly not sure of your power. I've never come across someone like you Isabella Swan. You seem to harbor shield abilities but there's something else I haven't yet been unable to understand." He paused, touching his hair in thought. Then, fixing his amber eyes back on Bella he said, "When I found Esme, I could feel her humanity radiating from her and I knew without a doubt that she would be the most humble of us all. I sensed Edward's inner monologue, his intellect, his inquisitive nature. I knew that he would be telepathic. And Rosalie.. Rosalie radiated light in her human life and when I found her.." His words trailed off in retrospect.
"Mr. Cullen," Bella said.
"Carlisle."
"Carlisle. Can I ask you.. How did Rosalie die?" It wasn't a question Bella wanted to ask, but it was one that she needed to ask, as much as it hurt her to think about. Lose, even past loss she could never understand.. It made her ache for other woman. And suddenly she felt the vampire's hand on her shoulder and she sighed without meaning to and put her fingertips on Rosalie's knuckles, willing her to keep touching her.
"I was attacked," Rosalie said, her tone even, her words icy, "by my fiance. He wanted our relationship to be physical before our marriage and.. Because I had refused, he took what he wanted. And so did six of his friends."
Bella gasped, she spiraled in her chair, catching the vampire's hands. She was speechless and instead of muttering in abhorrence, she searched Rosalie's face for information.
"They left me for dead," she went on, "in a back alleyway. Like trash. But Carlisle.."
The elder vampire came forward and put one hand on his daughter's shoulder. "I found her," he said, "Edward and I both smelled the blood and because he wasn't ready to be around blood in that caliber, I sent him away and I went to her. I knew right away that Rosalie's gift would be charm. Even Edward and I knew of Rosalie Hale as a human, and I was immediately certain that our kind would know her name too once she'd been changed. And I was right."
"Rosalie.." Bella finally managed. "I didn't know.."
The gorgeous vampire gave her a sad smile. "It's alright," she said, "it was a very long time ago." She moved away from her father, came in front of Bella and brought her up and into her arms. "You make me forget," she whispered to her.
Carlisle escorted them both out into the rest of the house and the entire group reconvened in the living area.
The human's mind was still reeling but she tried to get ahold of herself long enough to appear social and thankful. "The lasagna was amazing," she told Esme. "Even though you didn't have to cook. And this house is breathtaking. Thank you so much for having me here tonight."
"Thank you Bella," Esme returned in earnest. Now that Bella knew, she could definitely sense a difference in Esme. Perhaps it was the humanity that Carlisle had seen.. She was so normal.. So humble.. "Will you still be here in the morning? I'll gladly fix you breakfast."
Bella looked to Rosalie and the vampire told her mother, "We're staying."
Esme's eyes gleamed. "Wonderful."
The Cullen home had a main ranch style building with wings on either side. Rosalie's faced the west. They went up two sets of dark wooden stairs to an elaborate hallway that ended in a thick door. Rosalie opened it for Bella and let her inside and Bella stood for a moment, taking it in.
The vampire's room was done entirely in white with elements of gold. One entire wall was made of windows and the others held bookshelves and music collections, a giant television and stereo set up, and an insanely large, incredibly comfortable looking round bed.
"This is your room?" Bella asked, going forward to touch the comforter, spinning around to take in her surroundings.
"Yes." The vampire's arms slid around her from behind. "Do you like it?"
"It's so you," Bella told her. "It even smells like you in here. I want to look at every single book, every cd, every record.." Her words trailed off when Rosalie moved some of the brunette's chestnut hair from her neck and then, pulling down the edge of the turtleneck, she began to place kisses.
"You did so well tonight, Little Bell," Rosalie praised.
"Do they like me?" Bella wanted to know, closing her eyes.
"Yes."
"What Carlisle said.."
"Which part?"
"About me.. And about you."
Rosalie spun her, resting her hands on the smaller woman's waist. "Darling Girl," she whispered, catching Bella in her gorgeous golden gaze. "Could we.. leave that until tomorrow?"
It was incredibly easy for Bella to get caught in Rosalie's trap, if that's what it would be called. When she looked at her like that, it made her knees weak. "Can we talk about it tomorrow?" she wanted to know, her body already buzzing for touch.
"Yes," Rosalie told her, not looking away, "I promise you."
She began to walk Bella across the room then, towards the only other door. When they reached it, she stepped aside and let Bella go in first.
"A fucking jacuzzi?"
Rosalie didn't reply. She went forward, bent, and began turning knobs. Water and colors and soaps and oils all came out and mixed in the enormous basin. The room filled with steam and when Rosalie turned off the water and stood again to turn to her, Bella's heart was pounding.
"Are we..?"
"Can we?" the blonde vampire came to her and put her hands to the buttons of Bella's borrowed jeans. "Do you want to?"
Bella didn't answer her with words. Instead, she began to unbutton Rosalie's dress and after a moment, both of them were unclasping bras and rolling down thongs. And the second they were both naked, Rosalie had her backed up against the sink. She reached behind her and using a hair band, the vampire pulled Bella's hair up into a messy bun. Then she did the same to herself.
"I have to tell you something," she said afterwards, her hands on the brunette's hips, their lips brushing as she spoke, "I have to go to New York on Thursday."
"You have to go to New York on Thursday," Bella repeated, the information not registering for a moment. Rosalie had one of her thighs between hers and she was pushing gently, rubbing her knee against her center, making her wet. Then it sunk in and she could feel herself pouting. "What do you mean you have to go to New York on Thursday?"
"They called me while you were with Carlisle," she said, "I have a club opening on Friday night and I have to meet with a couple of managers beforehand."
"Oh."
Rosalie bit Bella's pouting bottom lip and pulled at it gently with her teeth. "Stop that Sexy Girl.. I'm not telling you I'm leaving you.. I'm asking you to go with me."
Bella's eyes widened. "You're what?"
"Do you want to come?" Rosalie presented directly, bringing one hand up to play with Bella's hardened nipples.
The brunette whimpered and then, with her eyes closed she said, "But my job.."
"Something can be arranged," the vampire purred, "but if you don't want to go I understand."
"I want to go," Bella quickly countered, "I mean I am going with you. But I-"
Rosalie kissed her, slipping her tongue into Bella's mouth and the brunette moaned and gave in. She felt the vampire lead her back and after a moment, they were both in the tub and she was in Rosalie's lap and they were making out. Then Rosalie's fingers were petting her thighs and she was reaching down into the water and guiding them to the center of her.
"In the morning," she said, closing her eyes, "the windows.."
"There are panels," Rosalie said, and she found Bella's throbbing clit and began to massage it with her thumb. "They'll close and we-" she paused, watching Bella moan when she picked up her pace, "can stay in the dark," she swapped her thumb for her middle finger and she showed Bella the same pattern she liked to use on herself, "for as long," she moved them, sat Bella's ass on the ledge in the water and then positioned herself in front of her, "as you want.." She increased her speed quite a lot and when Bella cried out Rosalie shuddered in appreciation.
"On one condition" Bella managed to respond, reaching behind herself to clutch the edge of the tub and steady herself.
"And what's that Babydoll?" Rosalie replied, pulling gently at the skin of Bella's jaw.
The brunette inhaled raggedly and then she said, as firmly as she could, "We get to take turns."
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