Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

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From Chapter 40 - Rhapsody...

"You're perfect," I said without thinking.

Her eyes closed, her brow furrowed.

"Bella."

"Nobody's perfect." she said softly. "But we're perfect, together."

~~Edward~~

"You're...everything I've ever wanted. I want to be everything for you. I want, everything with you." I tried to keep calm. I wanted to be in control. I wanted to sweep her off her feet, but I was intoxicated by her; just like I'd been at the cabin.

I knew Bella loved me. Being with her felt overwhelming and I was anxious and desperate. I wanted perfection. The atmosphere of this house, and the way Bella's body responded to me, was prefect. It was my confidence that was shot to pieces, not to mention my pride. I knew I couldn't live up to the hype of 'Edward Cullen', movie star sex symbol. I wanted to be myself with Bella, but a huge part of me wanted to be that guy, the one that would sweep her off her feet, make her swoon and pleasure her so thoroughly that all thoughts of her ex would be wiped away forever.

I was too ambitious; the fact was I wanted to calm myself enough to make sure I could last longer than a few minutes, knowing how quickly she made me lose control just with her mouth and hand.

Internally, I was judging my performance before I'd even taken her clothes off.

I was terrified with nerves and experiencing a pulsing rush of desperation, yet I was elated, happy—more than happy—ecstatic, and everything seemed conflicting and surreal and yet, so perfect.

I was wrapped up in the emotion and sensation of the feel of her, the soft warmth of her skin.

Images of us at the cabin kept bombarding me: the remembrance of the pleasure, the intense exhilaration of helping her climax, the taste of her on my tongue, the look on her face when she had me in her mouth, the rush I'd felt when we were in the shower and I nearly—

Bella touched my face, grounding me in the present.

I need you. I want you! I'm not going to ruin this moment, this moment when I give and show you my love.

I'll never want anyone but you. I love you, I need to feel you.

"I love you," I whispered.

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~~Bella~~

Edward whispered into my ear, sending a rippling shiver up my spine and over my scalp.

Then he kissed me and it wasn't soft or chaste. It was deep and passionate and made my toes—that were supporting all my weight as I reached up to him—tingle and grip the soft wool carpet.

Edward's hands were running up and down my back. There was urgency to his touch; it was pure desperation. I sensed that he was more than ready to make love to me.

No, not make love. It would be fast and carnal.

Kate was right; Edward and I were going to fuck.

Everything between us had built up to this point, and the zinging through my body told me that I didn't want to take it slow. The first time with Edward would be frantic and blissful and desperate, just like our need to understand each other. There was nothing stopping us now, and I believed that we could make our relationship work, regardless of his Hollywood career and the barriers my mind had erected as an insurance policy so I wouldn't get hurt again.

My fingers combed one more time through Edward's hair at the nape of his neck and then dragged down to unbutton his shirt.

I could feel the firmness of his chest, rising and falling with labored breath. His skin was warm and damp. My mind flashed me the scene of Edward sitting at the keyboard in the club, the spotlight shining down on him, while he sang our song.

He was sweaty and urgent. His fingers seemed to be trying to grip my dress, as I fumbled to get his buttons undone.

He stopped kissing me and looked into my eyes.

"Bella," he moaned. "I'm not gonna last long the first time. It'll be quick," he breathed out heavily against my face, "and then we can take it slow, all weekend."

His words made my heart beat triple time. The smile that erupted from me hurt my cheeks.

"Yes."

It was all I could say and all I needed to say.

Edward's hands lowered over my bum. He pulled me closer, whilst simultaneously trying to peel my dress up, but it was so form-fitting that he couldn't get it over my ribs.

I realized how delicate the fabric was, and even though I thought there would be nothing more arousing than Edward ripping it roughly from my body, I knew I would regret damaging it.

"Zipper at the side," I panted, as I continued to force the buttons through the buttonholes on his shirt.

God, I love this shirt.

When I had freed all buttons, I stepped back and raised my left arm. Edward's fingers were pawing at the zipper frantically.

I looked to his face. Even in the dim light he looked manic and wild and a little bit scary.

"Edward?" My hand touched his jaw. "Are you OK?"

He looked into my eyes then.

"No, I need this off you, now," he said with a croaky voice.

I placed my hand over his to find the zipper. Edward's fingers were shaking, quaking, vibrating.

"You're shaking," I stated in a whisper.

He's nervous?

Of course he is...he said it would be quick. Apart from our intimacy at the cabin, he's not been with anyone else like this since he split up with his girlfriend two years ago!

The emotion hit me in the chest.

Edward was so desperate for me, so anxious and wanting that his body was reacting like a junkie needing a fix.

I am Edward's fix.

He wants me. He loves me and this feels so right.

I yanked down the zipper then, and he helped me to lift the dress over my head. A tangle of my hair got caught on the beading and I couldn't help but flinch and squeak from the pain.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," Edward chanted.

I set my hair free and looked at him, as I dropped the dress at our feet.

"Edward," I reassured him, as I reached up to gently glide my fingers over his jaw. "Kiss me."

His lips touched mine and instantly I could feel how much restraint he was placing on himself. I wanted to ease some of his tension. We were so wound up, and my mind was spinning with everything we talked about.

I was ready, he was ready, but there seemed to be something that was missing, something unsaid. I had no mental capacity to reflect. The adrenaline coursing through my veins was like a rush that was so overpowering; I couldn't even place myself consciously in the room. My eyes, my hands and my mind, could only focus on Edward and the way he was reacting to my touch and the look of love and need on his face.

I trailed my hands to push the shirt from his shoulders and then I reached around to unlatch my bra. Pure relief when I peeled the satin away from my breasts, that ached to feel Edward's touch. My hands were suddenly struggling with the button-fly of his jeans.

We didn't stop kissing. I was pulsing with need and love and emotion. Edward's kisses were on fire with lust, and blissfully audible as he sucked my lips and breathed heavily. His breath was quivering like his hands as he trailed the backs of his fingers over my waist. I broke out in goose bumps again and moaned with frustration.

I felt dizzy and panicked. I was so desperate and yearning to connect with him.

I pushed his jeans and boxers down and without warning I simply reached to hold him in my hands.

"Bella! Jesus!" he grunted and instinctively thrust his hips forward.

Silken and so very hard; the thought of him being inside me now was all I wanted. I reluctantly let go of him so I could shimmy out of my undies.

Edward stepped on the heel of one of his shoes to try and get out of them, his jeans still around his ankles. He lost his balance and fell back with an 'Unf' sound onto the bed.

He tried to sit up, but the vision of him half dressed, erect and lying down, was a vision I needed to absorb. I bent over him to put both of my hands on his thighs. Edward was panting and staring at my breasts.

My firm hold held him to the bed as my eyes devoured his nakedness.

I'd seen Edward naked before. It felt like I'd touched every inch of his skin. But there was something that I hadn't done, something that I'd dreamed about since we met. My eyes scoured his stomach and chest. I needed my tongue to caress every one of Edward's moles and freckles, starting with the first one I could see. Right there, about ten centimeters up from his belly button, just a little bit to the right.

I didn't hesitate. I kissed and licked gently, tasting the sweat on his skin. I wanted to be able to lick his freckles right off his body.

"Jesus, please Bella," whispered Edward, but instead of sounding like a chastisement, it sounded more like an invitation to continue.

His hands brushed my hair away from my face. He'd lifted his head from the bed to watch me. I saw movement. Edward's erection was straining away from his stomach and right towards me.

I couldn't help but stare. He was so exceptionally beautiful. I lowered my body so my breasts rested against his skin and concentrated on the soft sounds coming from Edward; they were insanely arousing.

I couldn't stifle the euphoric smile on my face. In that instant, I wanted to slowly glide down and take him into my mouth. But I wanted him inside me more.

I kissed softly against the freckle that I knew would be there for me to explore another time, and I slowly pulled my body and head back. My hair slipped from his fingers, but he held his hand stationary, his chest seemed to rise and fall more quickly than before.

He needs me now. I need him.

I knelt down on the floor and took off his other shoe and both his socks, then slowly dragged his boxers and jeans off together.

Kneeling at the foot of the bed seemed like experiencing déjà vu. I recalled the night I'd removed Edward's shoes after I'd taken him back to his hotel room; the night he'd sung Episode to me at Laurent's.

But this time, Edward wasn't drunk.

This time, I knew he loved me and he knew I was in love with him.

I can't even fathom Edward not being a part of my life now.

That night at Laurent's seemed like eons ago, but it had only been two and a half weeks!

I felt a breeze blow in from the open doors and the coolness snapped me out of my lust-induced recollection.

I slowly stood and looked down to him. He lay with his head flat on the mattress. He was looking at me intently. I thought he was about to say something, but he simply gazed at my face adoringly.

I love you.

His chest was heaving, his naked form on the bed, the most surreal vision I'd seen in my life, because he wanted me. He wasn't trying to talk me out of it. He wasn't telling me we should wait. He couldn't disguise his expression; it was so readable. He needs me, just as much as I need him. It made the ache I felt for him intensify.

His hand reached for me.

"Bella."

Desire, love and reverence.

I couldn't wait, and yet, I was suddenly conscious that the doors were wide open, and I didn't want to tempt fate.

I walked briskly to close them, and pull the curtains across. I hurried back to the bed, opened the bedside table drawer and took the matches out; lighting one candle before grabbing and hastily tearing one foil packet loose from the strip.

Edward shuffled to the top of the bed, throwing the pillows to the floor and pulling on my wrist desperately.

His shaking fingers took the condom from me. I guessed he was too aroused to have me do it.

I simply knelt on the bed and watched; biting my lip the whole time as he pinched the tip and his dexterous, yet shaking fingers rolled it on. I thought my heart was beating so fast that it would punch a hole in my chest.

"Bella," he croaked.

I didn't speak; I just touched his chest and lay on the bed next to him. My hands needed to roam; his jaw, his neck, his hair. I was suddenly aware that my nervousness had dissipated. There was nothing like this feeling, the feeling of being admired, no barrier of clothing, no secrets or misgivings. Just two people that were in love and needed to express that love physically.

I understood now. I could understand everything that Edward was feeling, because we seemed in that instant to be at the exact same place, mentally and emotionally.

Our caress would speak louder than any words, or promises.

Edward kissed me deeply and I rolled to lay flat on my back on the large bed; pulling him down to me with my hands on the back of his neck. The anticipation of him was almost too much to bear. When I felt his knees push my legs apart, everything seemed to slow down.

Time didn't exist. There was just a moment when the look on his face and the presence of his body encompassed all my vision and it was like there didn't need to be anything else ever. I would only ever need him. Nothing else mattered; just me and Edward.

He scooped one arm under the small of my back and then I felt him nudge roughly and impatiently. His chest brushed my nipples. His jaw was flexed tightly and he looked feral and alive and his eyes were burning with intensity and concentration, then...he lowered and pushed his body forward.

Words cannot describe.

Edward's body merged with mine in one long, measured thrust.

We both grunt-sighed and absorbed the feeling of each other.

Edward kissed me and instantly started to move. He moaned and then moved his lips from mine and pushed his open mouth against my neck. I couldn't think about anything except the sensations flowing through my body. My hands smoothing up and down his back and reaching to try and grab his beautiful bum.

Edward was firm and rough; filling me in a smooth, steady rhythm.

He whispered words into my neck, but I couldn't make out what he was saying. All I could do was lose myself in the feeling.

I was surrounded by Edward: the aroma of his faded cologne and his sweat, the thumping of his heart and his heaving breath, his skin touching mine, sending shock waves through my body.

I tried to concentrate on one emotion, but everything, every sensation combined to overwhelm me.

I kissed his jaw and my hands glided up to run through his hair.

Then he looked at me. Not fleetingly, but intensely, staring into my eyes.

"Bella, I..."

He didn't need to say the words. I could feel it. I kind of knew I'd always feel his love, and he would always feel my love for him.

And then the hand he had sandwiched between my back and the mattress moved down to my tailbone, squeezing my bum as he shifted his body up towards the head of the bed and kind of lifted me at the same time. The sensation became sublime.

"I love you," he whispered.

I was overwhelmed and lost. Edward was making love to me. The steady, sensual rhythm belied our desperation.

"Ed-ward..." I was literally out of breath. I couldn't verbalize. He was pushing on the one place I knew would make me explode.

I wanted him to keep the grip he had on me, and his steady rhythm. My eyes sunk closed, yet I could still see the red flickering light from the candle through my eyelids. I couldn't hear anything except mine and Edward's heavy breathing and sounds of pleasure. The constant unwavering action of his thrusts were sublime and what he was doing was going to...

My lips found his jaw as I came; physically shuddering as wave after wave of sensation rippled through me. I wasn't even mortified at the sound that erupted from me.

"Urgh, Bel-la," Edward groaned and his body stilled for a second and then he continued his thrust.

I could feel the thumping of his heart against my chest as he collapsed on me and I could feel my own heart pounding as I pulled him tighter.

I was in ecstasy. I let the feeling linger. I was panting and my cheeks hurt from the smile that I couldn't stifle.

"I love you. I love you. I love you. Edward."

I kissed his jaw and ran my hands over his back, up and down. I was euphoric and dizzy and alive and happy. Adrenaline rushed through me with the aftershocks of the most satisfying orgasm of my life. I was so blissfully happy. I felt the tears. I squeezed my eyes shut to expel them.

My mind felt clear for the first time in three years. Like someone cleaned the glass and the clarity was glistening as everything fell into place.

Soul mates? Is this what Edward meant when he said we were twin-souls?

"Bella, love," he panted.

Edward kissed me passionately. His hand left my bum and was suddenly against my cheek.

He felt the tears. He brushed them away with his hand.

He looked panicked when he pulled back to look at me. The candlelight flickered and cast a beautiful warm luminance over his face. He looked so young and I realized it was because the lines on his forehead—the ones that always appeared when he was anxious—had faded. Yet, I could see confusion in his eyes.

"I'm so happy," I reassured him and touched my fingers to his sensual mouth. "I don't know how to explain. It feels almost spiritual being with you. I don't want to be without you."

"Bella..."

Our lips touched. It was soft, yet with the thrill of our fast breaths and pounding hearts.

Edward's lips worshipped mine. The way he sucked in a breath with the kiss, and the erotic wet sound of it, sent that zinging pleasure through my entire body.

"Bella," he said when he pulled back from the kiss. "I need you to...remember this. If you see a photograph of me, if you read something you know isn't true. Please, think of this moment. Know that I love you and we're meant to be together. We were always meant to be...Please."

I blinked more tears away and smiled, pulling him back to me, to continue kissing, silently communicating that I understood. I'd never doubt his love. I was going to revel in it and feed it until the day my heart stopped beating.

Somehow I knew that it would always be like this.

The moment was bliss.

Our kisses seemed endless.

Then Edward shifted and I felt his hand lower between us, gently touching and sending an erotic shiver of goose bumps over me.

He gripped the base of the condom as he pulled out of me, but didn't break away from our kiss until my body had adjusted to him no longer being inside.

"Let me get rid of this," he whispered against my lips. "Don't move; I'll be right back."

I watched Edward raise himself off the bed and turn to walk into the ensuite bathroom. I stared at his gorgeous bum, he curve of his back, his strong thighs.

How can I be this blessed?

I was in a dizzy post-orgasmic haze. I could still feel impressions of him on my skin.

I lazily rolled onto my stomach.

My body was exhausted, but my mind was running a mile a minute.

Did we talk about everything? Was there more to say, or was everything out in the open now?

I closed my eyes and brought my hand up to my breast.

Edward just made love to me!

I was ecstatic and girlie and so very high on the feelings of love and connectedness that I felt with Edward.

I wanted to scream out at the top of my lungs. I wanted to shout out the window, "I LOVE EDWARD CULLEN!" like a crazed fan-girl, like a giddy fourteen year old. Instead, I had to internalize this mania, and try and reconcile it all in my psycho mind.

He loves me. Me. Bella Swan. Isabella Marie Swan.

My mind was still trying to comprehend it.

I breathed in deeply, and absorbed the tingling all over my body. The crisp, fresh sheets stuck to the sweat on my skin, my heart rate slowed to a normal rhythm.

"Hey," said Edward as he lay next to me on the bed. He pulled my naked body to his, kissing me, whilst caressing my back and encompassing me in his warmth.

~0~

~~Edward~~

I felt hypnotized; punch drunk.

I pulled Bella close; rapture rushing through my body. There was emptiness inside me that I could feel fading. It disappeared; it completely vanished.

I would give her everything, be anything for her. There's nothing like us together. Nothing could compare.

In the short time I'd known her, Bella Swan had easily and elegantly torn my world apart.

I felt her hand touch to my jaw.

"Are you OK?" she asked.

I breathed in deeply. I'd panicked before. Worked myself up into a state of confusion and… none of that mattered now.

"Yes, better than OK."

I slipped my body down the bed, so I could look into her eyes.

"I knew it would be…amazing with you. It was a million times better—"

Bella silenced me with her lips, kissing me passionately. She pushed my shoulder, forcing me to roll onto my back. Our bodies just seemed to fit together in perfect alignment. The warmth and floral smell of her saturated my being.

"Nothing, can equal this," she half-whispered, half-moaned into my mouth.

Her petite, hot hand started running down my arm, trailing a fire that stirred in the pit of my stomach.

"I'm still burning for you," she whispered.

Her touch, her words, sparked my desire.

Bella's fingers danced lightly from my arm to my hip, and then I was instantly burning to have her. The air in the room was suddenly stifling.

I rolled, pressing her underneath me, reluctantly breaking away from the kiss as I reached to open the drawer. I fumbled for the row of condoms, inadvertently pushing my dick into her hip and lining up my shoulder with her lips.

"Yes," she said softly.

Then Bella's tongue was swirling over my skin as she kissed, licked and sucked my sweaty shoulder.

"Shower," I moaned, gripping the condoms firmly in my hand. Her tongue on my shoulder was simply too erotic, driving me insane. I pulled back, dizzy and needy.

In a blur of soft, pale skin and desperate hands, Bella was climbing off the bed and pulling me with her towards the bathroom.

Somehow we managed to turn on the water, still kissing passionately whilst standing in the pitch dark.

I flicked on the light. The sting of the brightness, made me flinch, until my eyes adjusted and I looked to Bella's face.

Her makeup had smeared under her eyes, her hair was in silken tangles and her lips were a vibrant red, puffy and wet from me sucking on them feverishly.

I backed her into the shower. I was desperate to remember this moment; the tenderness of her touch, the look on her face. She was so right—nothing could equal the bliss that I felt.

My wet hands smeared soap over smooth skin and firm breasts. I took a fresh facecloth and gently wiped most of Bella's makeup off, intermittently kissing her cheek, her ear, her shoulder.

Our bodies moved naturally, until I was holding her ass, as I pressed her back up against the tiled wall, her heavenly legs wrapped around me. My body was screaming for hers.

I realized I'd dropped the row of condoms on the floor…

Bella wriggled, pressing herself firmly against me, nodding and contracting her thighs around my hips.

I tried to dismiss what I thought she was soundlessly implying.

I shook my head 'No'.

"Please?"

Please don't beg me.

"Just for a moment. I need to feel all of you," she said in a breathless whisper.

I was incredulous and yet aching to give her what she wanted.

"No. You know I won't be able to stop," I said, my voice sounded pained.

"I trust you," she said.

I was blown away by her statement, because she did. Her trust and faith in me was written all over her face.

I was a man of flesh and blood and I couldn't deny what I wanted.

Find the will to stop!

I pushed against her, my body instantly feeling her warmth, her welcoming heat.

I gave in to my instincts; passion rushing through my veins. Slowly and steadily our bodies joined, without the barrier of latex.

In that instant, Bella owned my soul. My heart was in the palm of her hand. If there was ever a slither of doubt that she was not my soul mate, it just evaporated with wetness and heat and pressure and pleasure.

"Arghhhhh, Edward I"

My eyes flashed opened as I watched her. She'd forced her hands in between us to touch herself. Her eyes half-closed, her teeth sunk into her bottom lip.

Jesus fucking Christ!

I barely thrust all the way in and Bella's body was shaking and pulsing with her orgasm.

I pushed in fully and instantly knew I couldn't take the chance; her reaction to me felt like nothing else.

My willpower seemed non-existent. I thrust twice and then pulled out so quickly it made my head-spin.

Bella's legs dropped down as I pressed my mouth on her shoulder and tugged myself, almost violently. The shooting pleasure careened out of me with so much force, my knees buckled.

Bella's wet lips pressed against my ear. "Soul mates," she panted.

We held each other so tightly it almost hurt.

Now I knew I had experienced it, and my life would never be the same again.

Perfection.

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A/N: Sorry for the delay in posting…if you're still here, say 'Hi' by hitting that Review this Chapter link and let me know what you think?

I haven't been receiving fanfiction story alerts, so fingers crossed this works!

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