AN: warning! this chapter is rated MA!
No trigger warnings, but there is consensual sex described. if you aren't comfortable with that, I suggest skipping this chapter.

Chapter 12 - Reconciliation?

BPOV

I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe I had done that. I couldn't believe I had just done that! Why had I kissed him? It had sparked something in me and I wasn't sure I could stop myself anymore. But I wasn't sure I trusted him yet. He hadn't pushed me and for that I was grateful. I didn't know what I would have done if he'd pressed his case then.

The ride back was uncomfortable to say the least. The desire was raging strong within me and I squirmed in my seat, trying to relieve the pressure that was maddening. But to no avail. I needed to get out of this car. Edward seemed as uncomfortable as me. I felt his gaze on me multiple times, but he never said anything. Did he regret our kiss? Or did he want to continue as much as me? I bit my lip.

Why was I this confused? Why was it so hard this time around? But I knew the answer to that. I had made it hard. I had thrown up these walls. I had drawn the lines. Yet here I was trampling all over them and confusing myself in the process. The crunch of gravel caught my attention and I realized we were home. As soon as the car stopped I threw myself from the car. I needed space. I needed to think.

I hurried up to my room, refusing to acknowledge the rest of the family. I couldn't face them like this. I needed to get myself straightened out. I needed to know how I felt about what happened before sharing it with anyone else. Although Jasper probably got a good sense of what happened. My feelings were all over the place, but I knew desire was raging through me most strongly. I slammed the door of my room behind me and started pacing furiously. What was I supposed to do? More distance? It didn't seem to make a difference though. I knew I wanted him. I knew I loved him. But I just wasn't sure I trusted him completely yet. I gripped my hands in my hair and groaned. I was losing it, I was sure.

Suddenly the door burst open. I let out a startled yelp.

'I'm sorry.' Edward said, holding up his hands. 'Just.. would you please come with me?' he asked.

I looked at him confused. 'What are you talking about?'

'I know you're confused right now. And I get it. I don't want to confuse you further, but I don't want to stay away from you anymore… Bella.. I love you. I want to show you something.'

'What?' He signed me over with his head. I swallowed hard and went to him. He took my hand and pulled me down the stairs again. I saw jasper smile at me as he disappeared into his and Alice's room. Had he told Edward of my feelings? I groaned. Of course he had. Edward didn't stop pulling me along until we were out of the house. Then he squeezed my hand and started running. I hurried after him, careful not to fall on my face. Edward still gripped my hand tightly in his and it was hard to run like that. I wasn't used to it. We ran for just a couple of minutes before Edward slowed down and stopped.

He turned me to the side and gestured for me to look. It was a beautiful little cabin. Stone walls with a mosaic of colours, a wooden door with wrough iron accents. On the left side a lovely wooden window sill with shutteres painted a vibrant red. There was a planter hanging just underneath the window filled with lovely smelling lavender. The roof was thatched and there was a little picket fence around the front perimeter. I gasped. It was amazing.

'What is this?' I brought out. Edward smiled at my reaction. Then he pulled me inside the house. It was as lovely inside as it was outside.

'This is amazing.' I brought out.

Edward took a deep breath. I turned towards him and he took a step towards me. He took my face in his hands and stared into my eyes.

'I'm not sorry for what happened Bella. I wanted to kiss you. I've wanted to kiss you from the moment I met you. I've wanted to kiss you the moment Alice told me you were a vampire and you were inside the house. I want you. Forever.' He said earnestly. I sucked in a ragged breath. 'I know you're scared I'm going to hurt you again. But Bella, I will never hurt you ever again. You are the love of my life… No, my existence. There is no way I will let you go ever again. I can't believe I was stupid enough to believe I could force you into a human life. I should never have tried. You can't know how happy it makes me to have you here. To have you become part of my world. I'm so sorry for the way it happened, but I'm not sorry it happened. Because it means I can finally – finally -be able to love you like I should have been able from the start. I can give you everything you deserve and more. Please Bella. Please I'm begging you, make me the happiest I have ever been and agree to become my wife.'

he sank down on one knee and produced a small velvet box from his pocket. I held my breath. It couldn't be.

'Bella, I've loved you since the moment I saved you from that stupid van. I've loved you ever since I heard you say my name in your sleep. I love you now, more than I could ever tell you. and I will love you forever.' He said, opening the box. Inside was a beautiful oval ring. It was studded with small diamonds that sparkled in the light from the fire burning in the fireplace.

I brought a hand to my mouth as I gasped. It was beautiful. it was so classic and it was all Edward.

'It's beautiful' I whispered.

'It was my mother's.' He whispered back. I looked up at him then. His eyes shone with tenderness and love and I gulped at the sight of it. It did funny things to my insides.

'Will you marry me?' he asked when I didn't say anything else.

'Yes.' I finally whispered. 'Yes. I'll marry you.'

He grabbed my hand and slid the ring on my finger. He breathed a sigh of relief when it slid effortlessly on my finger. He then kissed my fingers and the ring softly. He looked up at me with such emotion in his eyes that my breath stocked for a moment.

'I love you, Bella.' He said, kissing my hand again, trailing his kisses up my arm. I sucked in a shaky breath. His lips were soft against my skin and the same feeling from the alley started building between us.

'I…' I started. 'I…' But I couldn't say it. I couldn't say it yet. Something was holding me back but I wasn't sure what it was.

Edward paused for a moment, but then stood up and took my face between his hands. He gazed at me for a moment and then crushed his lips down on mine. Whatever protest I had been about to make died on my lips. Or rather his lips. They moved against mine with a newfound urgency. They felt warm and pliant and I was lost in the sensation they were invoking inside of me. His tongue snaked out and traced my bottom lip. I moaned and opened my mouth inviting him in. His tongue swept in and stroked mine lovingly. It was a desperately sweet kiss and I moaned into his mouth. I couldn't stop myself.

My arms wrapped around his shoulders and I pulled him closer to me. He grunted and pulled me closer to him. I heard something tear and suddenly I felt his hands trailing on my bare skin. They skimmed my shoulders, down my bare arms, up the insides of my wrists, then they jumped to my waist and trailed across my ribs. My own hands grabbed hold of his shirt around his shoulders and pulled. The fabric gave way easily and I threw the pieces away from me.

Edward broke the kiss to place kisses along my jaw and down my neck. I trailed my hands over his chest and bit my lip. I had never done this before. Edward had always been unreachable in my human days, but now I was free to touch him whenever and however I wanted. And I knew I wanted him. Right now.

'you're so beautiful Bella.' He murmured against the skin of the top of my breast. I pulled his face back up to mine and kissed him with everything I had. He groaned and wrapped me tightly in his arms and pulled me against his chest. He moved us backward until my back hit a wall. He pressed me tightly against it and my hands headed down to his pants.

'Bella.' Edward muttered as my fingers deftly undid his belt. I was sure if I had still been human my fingers would have been trembling like crazy and I would have been blushing beet red. But in this new body... everything was better. I wasn't nervous; I was elated. The feelings coursing through me were stronger than anything I'd ever felt before. The sheer desire raking through me made me sure of myself. I knew what I wanted and I wasn't going to let anything stop me. I pushed Edward away from me and down onto the rug in front of the fireplace.

He grunted when his back hit the floor, but I was straddling him the next moment and had my lips down on his again. He moaned and his hands clutched at my thighs and moved up to cup my butt. I ground my hips against him and bit his lip as desire raked through me. He flipped us over so I was underneath him. His lips moved down my neck and headed for my breasts. The fabric of my bra tore quickly under his fingers and his hot mouth descended on my sensitive skin. I gasped and arched my back, pushing myself more into him. He growled and the sensation of his growl rumbling in his chest as he lay on top of me was overwhelming. My hands grabbed his hips and I pulled him against me. He growled again and his hand moved down to my hips. I felt the slight tug as my clothes gave way. And suddenly his fingers were tracing the inside of my thigh. I sucked in a breath and let out a breathy moan.

'You're so so beautiful Bella.' Edward murmured.

'So are you Edward.' I breathed.

'I want you, Bella.' He said, pulling back slightly to look into my eyes. I smiled up at him.

'I want you too.' I said softly.

He smiled back at me and moved his hands with purpose now. My panties disappeared and I made short work of the rest of his clothes. His fingers grazed my most sensitive flesh and I shuddered. He slid through my wet folds groaning softly as he sucked the skin of my neck.

'What you do to me Bella.' He murmured softly. I trailed my hands down his chest and curled my fingers around him. He sucked in a ragged breath. The friction he was creating was delicious and I started rubbing him in the same rhythm. He slipped one of his fingers inside me and I cried out in pleasure.

'Edward, please.' I pleaded. I gripped him tighter in my hand and he started pumping me faster in response. He lips claimed mine in a soaring kiss as his hand flipped around to massage me at the same time. Stars exploded behind my eyes. I cried out as pleasure flooded my senses, arching my back as it was almost too much to bear. I slumped down, shuddering, as I rode out the waves of my climax. I was panting hard. Edward was panting as well. My hand had stilled as I had been lost in the waves of pleasure, but it seemed my orgasm had made him even more excited.

He rolled fully on top of me and I wrapped my legs around his waist. He held himself above me for a moment, emotion was sparkling in his eyes. It was breath taking to see his face like this, so open and relaxed and absolutely blissful. He lined himself up and with one stroke he was inside of me. I gasped as he filled me completely. His hardness slid into me as if we had been made for each other. A perfect fit. He was warm and hard and stretched me in a delicious way. He groaned and his head fell to my shoulder as he held himself still. I threw my head back and clawed at his back to try and get him to move. He picked up on it soon enough and started moving his hips. I moaned and bit his lip roughly as the sensations he was creating inside me were overwhelming.

'Please don't stop.' I muttered, putting his forehead to mine. A cocky grin stretched across his face.

'Don't worry.' He grunted. 'I won't.' he assured me. He picked up his pace then and my eyes almost rolled back into my head. He crushed his lips back to mine and I took advantage of his distraction to flip us over. He grunted in surprise but then smiled up at me. I put my hands on his chest as I started riding him. His hands held on to my hips tightly and the sounds he was making made even more desire race through my veins. He flipped us over again and started pounding into me harder and faster. I cried out and Edward groaned. I felt my muscles clench as stars once again burst behind my eyelids. I gasped and shuddered around him as I cried out his name. My name fell from his own lips as he groaned and pumped once more into me, before slumping down on top of me.

We laid by the fire just looking at each other for a long moment afterwards. Edward was trailing his fingers softly up and down my arm and I was enjoying the sensation. I was in pure bliss. I couldn't believe that pleasure like that even existed. As a human I would have never thought it possible. Edward seemed utterly content as well as there seemed to be a permanent smile on his angelic face.

'What are you thinking?' he asked after a moment. I laughed. How long had he been biting his tongue on that one?

'I've never felt anything like that before in my life.' I said smiling at him. 'it was amazing.'

'Neither have I.' He said, kissing me softly on the lips. We resumed our silence for a little while before Edward started again.

'Can I ask you something?' He asked, his tone guarded.

'Sure.' I said easily.

'After I said I loved you…' He started. I looked away from his gaze. 'You couldn't say it back...'