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Chapter 53

Bloody Facts

Edward

It was already very late again when I helped Bella into my pajama top and she then snuggled up to me.

So much for making sure Bella went to bed early tonight. She had been in bed early indeed, but that had little to do with restful sleep.

She lay with her head on my stomach, I played with her hair, and spent half the night looked contentedly at her smiling face.

What kind of evening had it been? So intense, so deep, so overwhelming.

I felt little jolts drive through my body every time I thought back on it. Fortunately, Bella had forgotten her question. 'How can you have only been together with a woman once and then get me into such a frenzy?' she had asked, chuckling.

The answer was extremely uncomfortable for me. There was probably no one else who knew more about sex and seduction than I did. At least theoretically. One hundred and six years of mind-reading had not passed me by without leaving a trace. In my human days, people didn't speak about sex and - as I then found out as a vampire - they didn't think much about it either. But the times had changed quickly. Nowadays there was hardly anyone who did not think about sex. In pairs, in groups, alone, in unusual places, with toys, in countless positions, in public, with strangers, memories, wishful thinking ... It also didn't matter where I was. Such thoughts hit me always and everywhere.

So much for the theory. To really experience it myself, that was something completely different! The one time with Samantha was absolutely nothing compared to what I grasped with Bella about physical love. I finally understood the thoughts, which I always followed without the real feelings. I heard their excitement, but I did not feel it. Unlike Jasper. Now I experienced it firsthand.

It was the madness! I even caught myself thinking how it would all feel if Bella were a vampire too and I didn't have to consider her fragile shell.

In the middle of the night, Bella turned away from me. Before I carefully followed her movement she called out to me.

I smiled.

It was 2:42 a.m. Time for her nightly monologue.

"Edward?" she seemed to be looking for me.

But I was immediately with her.

"I'm here, dearest," I whispered quietly, resting a hand on her hip.

She sighed, first blissfully, then sorrowfully.

What had I done wrong?

"Edward," she said again, more challenging.

"Yes, Bella. I'm here," I continued to whisper.

"Kiss me!" she commanded.

I paused.

"Bella?"

"Mmm ...?"

"Are you sleeping?", I demanded.

"Mmm ... mmm ...!"

At least she was honest! However, I couldn't kiss her when she was asleep. Or could I? ...

Gingerly I turned her a little in my direction and gently put my lips on hers.

What already caused this tender touch in me was unbelievable.

Somewhat reluctantly, I raised my head again and looked at Bella.

First she smiled, then she seemed to pout.

I gently stroked her cheek and let my tongue slide over her soft lips.

Oh, how that felt and how she tasted. So sweet and tempting.

She covered my hand with hers and slowly guided it along her sensual neck, over her shapely breasts, and further over her belly.

This warm, soft skin was so exciting. Inside me it already tingled again.

I sighed excitedly.

My hand was pushed further, deeper and deeper. Under her panties I hit the frizzy hair there, but Bella still pushed me further down to her center while breathing heavily into my mouth.

It had taken me a brief moment to remember that Bella was asleep.

Quickly, I stood beside the bed and looked down at Bella. Shaking my head, but smiling.

That was really going too far. A kiss was justifiable when she was asleep. But if she summoned me to more, sooner or later I would no longer be able to restrain my own lust and would fall upon her. Sooner rather than later. In the middle of the night. When she should be asleep.

"No!" I said in a stern tone.

"Scuse me," Bella muttered, curling up a bit.

I laid back down with her again.

For the rest of the night she remained well-behaved, just snuggled up to me again and put her little hand on my cold heart.

Her smell gradually impregnated the whole room. It was more lasting than the previous nights. Her blood attracted me. It sang for me the most seductive melody I had ever grasped after Bella's 'I love you'. A magnificent bouquet that intoxicated me and with any other human I probably would not hesitate for a second to drink it. It smoldered in my throat as the night wore on.

I considered why her scent seemed to capture me again more powerfully and burning than it had in recent days. My last hunt was just a week ago. My usual schedule was about three weeks and even then human blood didn't cause me any problems. But I saw no danger for Bella. Although it beguiled me immeasurably, made me feel the monster just beneath the surface, but Bella was more important to me than my own desires. I would simply reduce my hunting intervals, purely as a precaution.

Then I heard already Jake, who wished me a good morning in his thoughts.

He seemed to be in a good mood, turned on music downstairs and immediately loaded the coffee machine. Buoyant, he set the table and waited for the coffee to finish brewing. That quickly became too boring for him. He went to his room, already packed his school bag and looked for something to wear. When the coffee was ready, he heard Leah coming up the driveway as well. He was going to wait for her briefly and then bring Bella's coffee so I wouldn't have to get up for a change.

Then came Leah in.

I had already noticed her headache in the car and I also quickly saw the reason for it. Was turning to alcohol a normal diversion for the women in this family to when they were heartbroken? What would Bella say to this? She had deceived Bella yesterday, saying she had forgotten the time while chatting with Lisa and was too tired to drive. And Bella was very resourceful when it came to punishing her children. Leah had a lot to look forward to. Jake had no pity for her. But I did, the more I got to see of Leah's last evening.

'May I come in?' Jake asked mentally from the doorway.

Bella was still lying half on my naked torso. She had my top on now.

I wondered what Jake would think of that - given his outburst on Sunday. However, he certainly wouldn't have woken up any other way with Becky on Sunday morning.

"Of course," I answered quietly, and he came in.

His thoughts were completely quiet when he saw us and he wasn't really thinking above it either. He was rather amused at it that I was the one who got the coffee brought to bed today and not him.

"Good morning," I said kindly, to which he replied likewise. However, in his thoughts, so that Bella was not awakened. He informed me now, also mentally, that the breakfast was already finished, if I had not noticed yet.

"Thanks. Take headache pills for Leah."

'So do you already know what she did yesterday?'

I nodded.

He considered whether or not I would tell Bella.

"I haven't decided yet," I admitted, which surprised Jake.

I felt sorry for Leah and I could imagine how it must have hurt her. For one thing, she hadn't been prepared to meet Ben, and for another, to then see him with those two girls.

Jake fetched the tablets and then left again. Now as before in a good mood.

I considered how I would wake Bella up today and quickly came up with an idea.

I turned a little with her, pulled her head in my direction with my thumb and forefinger on her chin and let my tongue roam calmly over her lips again. Like last night.

For her nocturnal assault, she deserved an appropriate punishment.

Her heart faltered at first and then began to beat faster, but she opened her lips even though she definitely hadn't woken up yet. She sighed satisfied and I continued dearly. It took quite a while before she flinched in fright all over her body.

"Edward!" she cried out, stunned, and I chuckled.

"Good morning," I smiled at her and pulled her back into my arms.

She didn't fight back, but continued to complain.

"How dare you come down on me like that?"

"Counter question ... What did you dream last night?" I asked directly.

She winced again.

"No comment!" she said impassively, reaching across me to her cup and turning lovely red in the face.

While she drank, I told her about what she had tried to seduce me into tonight and she kept cowering in embarrassment and finally hid under the covers. Only the now empty cup was still peeking out above.

I set it aside and pulled the blanket away in a lightning flash.

She smiled embarrassedly.

"So, what were you dreaming?" I asked yet again, lying back down and kissing over her belly, which was now exposed by the swing of the blanket.

She became a bit thoughtful before she answered me however.

"I keep dreaming about the same room," she admitted.

"And what room?" I asked curiously between my kisses.

"A white bedroom on a deserted tropical island," she said, and I paused.

"Can you describe it?"

"A large white room. One wall is almost completely made of glass, where a white sandy beach begins and after only a few meters the sea starts in gentle glittering waves. In the room there's a monstrous white bed with mosquito nets hanging from it, blowing in the light wind ... The rest of the room is a blur."

I swallowed and just looked at her in confusion.

How did she know that room?

I discarded further considerations.

Maybe she had seen a room like that on TV or in a magazine.

"And what were we doing in that white bedroom?" I asked instead.

"Who said I dreamed about you?" she teased me.

"You called for me!" I clarified, crawling to her lips and considering when I would carry her off to Isle Esmé, so that her dream would come true for her.

I sighed disgruntled.

"We need to get up," I said as Leah yelled at me in her thoughts.

Crap. Not paying attention again. I hadn't even noticed that Leah and Jake were already back in the house, let alone that Leah was now standing in front of the door and wanted to talk to me.

Bella nodded. Equally disgruntled.

She crawled to the end of the bed, stretched with pleasure while sitting on the edge and rose. She swayed and searched hopelessly for a foothold.

"Bella?" I hissed fearfully.

Lightning fast I stood by her and held her tight.

For three seconds I stiffened. I forced myself not to move. Not to let go of Bella under any circumstances. Clenched my jaw violently. I did not breathe.

"Are you hurt?" I asked after regaining control of my senses.

I wouldn't attack Bella. And if she slit her wrists, I wouldn't drink any of it. But right now, as she had sat up, the bouquet of her blood was exceedingly haunting in the air. I smelled her pure blood. It frightened me. Had I done something to her? Last evening, perhaps? An injury that had only developed to its full extent in the course of the night? Through those so beguiling intimate hours of love? I remained a dangerous monster!

Leah had heard my panicked tone and immediately stood with us. She looked worriedly at her mother, who was still clinging powerlessly to me. Leah's gaze turned to me mistrustfully.

She mentally brought together my question about an injury and Bella's obviously physical weakness with a vampire's thirst for blood. Ready to attack me ... should the next seconds give her reason to do so.

Quietly, she called out to Jake, who was just on his way in the bathroom.

"Bella?" I asked again, gently this time, as I got myself under control.

She stood on her own two feet again.

"It's nothing," she waved it off and tried to move on, but I kept holding her and got angry.

"Bella. Don't be a martyr," I looked her firmly in the eyes. "I smell your blood!"

Jake gasped briefly and came closer, bothering with the same thoughts as Leah.

"What's the date today?" asked Bella thoughtfully.

"Wednesday, September 18," I answered immediately, having no idea what her blood had to do with the date. "2024," I added condescendingly, in case she should get the idea that this was somehow significant.

"I'm getting my period today," Bella murmured softly, looking up at me slightly embarrassed.

I idiot!

I closed my eyes in relief, smiled, and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Everything was good.

"Good morning, you two," she walked up to her children and gave them a kiss on the cheek before disappearing into the bathroom.

The two of them, on the other hand, had not yet calmed down, standing tensely there, not letting me out of their sights.

"It's all good," I reassured them both, but they didn't easily believe me.

They had heard Bella's explanation, but thought it was anything but good.

"It just surprised me and frankly scared me. I was afraid I had hurt her."

"So can you handle it or what?" asked Leah incredulously.

"Of course. I already have before. I just wasn't expecting it and it caught me off guard. I had simply forgotten," I continued to explain and Leah was reassured.

"Does that mean you know exactly which girl is on her period at school?" Jake now asked, somewhat disgusted. He found this topic disgusting in itself and was just congratulating himself on being a boy.

"Only when she is close enough, that is, if they are sitting right next to me for a moment ..." I said, looking absently towards the bathroom, "... or when their blood sings for me."

"And how often does that happen?"

"Only Bella's blood sings for me and that no longer poses a problem for me," I clarified.

Jake was also calmed down now and left.

He shook himself inwardly and wanted to forget this information about his mother very quickly.

Leah remained.

After all, she wanted to talk to me.

With arms folded in front of my chest and an intent stern look, I stood in front of her.

"You are interested if I going tell your mother what you did yesterday!", I said now quietly.

She nodded and explained herself in her thoughts.

'I know I messed up. I lied to mom and drank way too much.'

I nodded, as tears built up in her eyes.

She fought against it inwardly. It was all totally embarrassing for her and she was ashamed.

'I'm sorry. It wasn't planned that way. Actually, I just wanted to distract myself a bit, have some fun with the others. But then Ben showed up. That threw me off track and I ordered one drink after the other, because it made me forget him better and better.'

While she was losing the battle against her tears, she showed it to me in thoughts: How Ben had entered the bar yesterday and how her friend's words immediately echoed in her mind as he walked towards the two girls. That he was supposed to have kissed someone else.

"Leah ..." I murmured, walking up to her and wanting to put a hand on her shoulder comfortingly.

Instead, she dropped into my arms and began to sob. I held her tightly, stroked over her head and murmured soothing words.

I felt the unnatural warmth, knew she was actually a bit taller than me, also noticed the numerous muscle groups she kept tensing as she took a breath, knew her age, and heard daily what her appearance at school was doing in so many minds. Still, I did not have a woman in my arms. A little girl crying over her first heartbreak.

Like her mother, I thought. She had also wanted to drown her memories on Saturday and they were both punished with the aftermath the next morning. Leah still had a headache. Bella would probably be more understanding about it than I thought she would be, even if I had to remind her about Saturday. And I would! But she had intentionally lied to Bella. Bella would not forgive her for that.

"Will you promise me something?" I asked Leah, who had calmed down a bit and was now almost ashamed of her outburst of tears, which she felt was inappropriate towards me.

She nodded hesitantly.

Gently I lifted her gaze to me.

"Don't ever lie to your mother again!" I demanded, calmly.

"I promise!" she said with endeavored composure as she wiped the tears from her cheeks.

She was serious about it, I heard it in her thoughts so I promised to not tell Bella. Strictly I still continued that I would make up for it if Leah did not comply.

'Thank you!' she murmured in her thoughts and her arms wrapped around me a little tighter once again.

"Jake's done in the bathroom," I said quietly after a few moments, looking at Leah again.

She nodded and turned toward the door.

'Damn, he looks good ... so half-naked!' she thought as she walked out.

"Leah!" I hissed after her.

"Just a factual observation," she winked at me, wiping away the last of her tears and pulling the door shut behind her.

I shook my head. Smiling.

Would I be too good-natured as a father? Would my own children walk all over me because I would always excuse them of everything? ... Probably yes.

I went into the bathroom.

Bella had just turned on the water in the shower.

"You're going to shower without me?" I asked accusingly, bracing my arms to the right and left of the glass door to the shower stall.

Bella was a little startled because she hadn't seen me coming.

"Isn't that too much for you if I ...?"

She left the sentence unfinished.

I shook my head in the negative, quickly got rid of my pajama pants, and got under the warm water with her. I pulled her backwards against me.

"Your blood doesn't excite me nearly as much as the rest of you!" I whispered right by her ear and began kissing her shoulder. "But for the next three to five days, maybe we should limit our lovemaking to the shower," I added, because I was actually a little concerned. Under the water, her smell was not as powerful as it had been yesterday in bed. Yet when the clear aroma of her blood came into it, I wasn't quite as confident. After all, I didn't have to intentionally challenge the bloodthirsty monster.

Some sensual time later I carried her carefully out of the shower, because she had nodded off again a little. After dressing, it happened yet again.

Full of concern, I demanded if she knew what the problem was.

She waved it off that it only had to do with her PMS.

"You never used to have any problems with it," I doubted her explanation.

"I didn't use to have children yet either. Don't worry, Edward. It's not like this every month, and when it is, then I only have these little bouts of weakness the first day or two. It's just stronger than it was that time."

"And you're not just saying that now to reassure me?" I persistently demanded. I wasn't going to let my martyr pull a fast one on me. My concern for her was too much for that.

She shook her head.

"But so you do not ride the motorcycle!" I still determined.

For a brief moment, her eyes sparkled militantly, but she seemingly conceded defeat on her own.

Thank you for reading!