Last Time...

"But ever so slowly you have granted me small pieces- cracks in this exterior to see a man who yearns for someone who understands, just as much as I do." Her fingers ghosted down his arms before she picked up his hand gingerly, placing it upon her cheek and leaning into his palm. "I wish I could show you the things I have said. To put your mind at ease. But… had you thought I was like her… truly like her… you would have killed me too. That's what you did, yes? A punishment justly served. So now if you truly think the worst of me, if I am wrong, then let me be damned."

His hand now cupped the soft skin of her throat by her own doing… and with a quick motion, she dragged his nails against the hollow of it so that the deep puncture frothed over with dark crimson.

Chapter 8

Aro's nostrils flared, a low grow rumbling from his chest. His fingers threaded through her hair possessively, pulling the girl closer to him as his lips attacked her pulse point, lapping greedily at her life source.

What surprised him, however, was the strangled moan that spilled from her lips. He pulled back just for a moment, the glazed look on her face confirming his suspicions.

"Mine." Aro growled, hearing another moan as he draped her legs around his waist.

He ran with her, the beast inside him snarling to feed and possess all of her. A second passed before Isabella felt a moment of weightlessness before resting against deliciously soft sheets.

Aro stood at the foot of the massive bed, illuminated only by the fireplace behind him. As primal as his state was, his calculating stare questioned her... her sanity, her will, her darkest desires.

Isabella met his stare, his eyes nearly glowing in the dim light like before. Breathtakingly deadly, she wanted him more than she thought possible. From her reclined position, she beckoned him with a single crook of her finger.

With a smirk, he rewarded her by slowly sliding up her body— agonizingly slow as he left a trail of kisses in his wake. Settling between the cradle of her thighs, he kissed her collarbone, her throat, her jaw… and finally her lips in a searing kiss.

Isabella was lost in it. God, he tasted good. Icy hands gripped her wrists as her fingers pulled at his clothing. "Ah, ah, ah. Not too fast, Isabella. What good is dying

a little when we do not stop to savor it?" He purred, bring her wrists above her head with one hand as he shifted to his side.

"Be good, piccola, and keep them there." Releasing his hold on her wrists, his fingertips glided down the curve of her jaw and slowly from the base of her throat, down her sternum between the valley of her breasts. A clear ripping sound followed as the fibers practically melted beneath his fingertips. The rest of her clothing followed suit, fluttering open with his ministrations.

Isabella bit her lip, willing herself to keep still as he commanded, his every movement send tantilizing sparks up her spine. God, give me the strength to "Ah!" She cried, his fingers flicking gently against her clit.

Kissing her inner thigh, he didn't need to see her mind to know the quickened pulse of her vein there was a result of her impending orgasm. Eyes already dark at the scent of her arousal and the blood on her lips from when he had kissed her, he sucked the pulse point of her thigh before biting with a deep growl. Isabella screamed, back arching and body shaking at the power of her orgasm.

"Oh my god…". Isabella murmured as she came down from her high. Aro chuckled at this, sealing the small wound closed with a swipe of his tongue before sliding back up to kiss her again.

Isabella took this opportunity to wrap her arms around his neck, her body molding perfectly to his. "You're wearing far too many clothes."

Aro's eyes glinted with amusement. "Why yes, I suppose I am."

A sharp tearing sound changed that fact, as Aro looked smug with himself. Sensually sliding his hands down the arch of her back, he gripped her backside, bringing her hips more flush with her own at an angle that elicited another strangled moan.

"Please…" Came her breathy plea. Aro did not intend to keep her waiting.

Aro's Rooms— Sunrise

Isabella gently stretched her limbs, relishing in the sweet soreness from the last few hours.

She sighed, feeling cool lips tracing slowly up her bare spine. Nothing much was covered of her, other than the blanket draped across her waist as they laid in front of the fireplace. Rather— where she laid as he continued to tease her body with sensuous kisses up her spine.

Other than being a dramatic backdrop for continuous rounds of carnal escapades, she required the warmth to sustain herself with someone certifiably not human. Additional sensitivity around areas such as her throat, inner thigh, and shoulder attested to this. Isabella never thought a vampire could drink her blood without injecting venom… she also never dreamed that she would love it. His samplings of her sweet ambrosia tasting blood had brought her to too many climaxes to count, though her throat was her favorite spot when he was inside her for the first time.

Isabella felt his lips pause as he placed a chaste kiss to the top of her head. She took this as her cue to turn, draping her leg over his own as she cuddled into his side. Aro wore a glazed expression as he began to stroke her hair absentmindedly— something she mirrored on his chest. "How was that for stamina, hm?"

She was rewarded with a soft chuckle. "Five hours is a good start."

"I'd say." Isabella agreed, placing an open mouthed kiss above his dead heart. "It's good to see that risks pay off… though I hadn't expected you to… ah…"

"Drink from you?" He posed, that smug look now accompanying his glazed expression.

"Mhmm." Isabella blushed fiercely, making him chuckle once again.

"I have excellent control. It lends well to ensuring your pleasure and mine." She heard the smirk in his voice. "Younger vampires are often unable to retract their venom when they bite… However with age and experience one can control it quite effortlessly."

Isabella huffed in fake anger. "Do you mean to say I'm not your first human lover? I'm shocked. Absolutely shocked!"

"I'm afraid I'm not your first either, piccola. Though I am not human."

"Definitely not". She smiled. "In that case, I suppose I can't be angry with you…". She murmured, kissing his throat before making her way to his lips.

Aro groaned, breaking the kiss. "Even as I would like to ravish you senseless, I have business to attend to." He glanced at the sunlight beginning to filter into the room. "The brothers patience has since worn out, my dear."

"Oh fine… just leave me by my lonesome while you do important vampire things."

"I will return to you as soon as I am able. In the meantime, you should try to get some rest." Aro picked her up then, bringing her back over to the bed and tucking her underneath the sheets.

"Aw… that was anticlimactic." She sighed, snuggling into the soft bedding.

Aro let out an exasperated sigh, stroking her cheek. "You're impossible."

"You're welcome." Isabella hummed, drifting off to sleep. Aro rose, feeling the most content in a long time.

Throne Room— Morning

No one made eye contact with the esteemed leader of the Volturi as he entered the throne room. Felix, however, could not hide a shit-eating grin as he nudged Demitri. "You owe me a ferrari." Demitri, in turn, look unenthused as he cursed in another language.

Turning to his brothers, Caius looked less than amused, while Marcus wore an all-knowing smile. "Thank you brother, for gracing us with your presence."

Aro ignored him for the moment, reclining on the central daius, hands folded thoughtfully. "Remind me brother, how long were you away when you and Athenodora were married?"

"Which time, brother?" Quipped Marcus.

"Enough, both of you." Caius growled. "Send our next guest in."

Aro's Rooms— Late Afternoon

Isabella woke with a start as usual, though she was surprised to see how long she had slept with the afternoon light filtering in through the space between the heavy drapes.

Red eyes were burned into the back of her mind— something that immensely startled her as her nightmares were beginning to shift. The burning backdrops remained the same, though the figures within them were muddled… except for those red eyes. They screamed, the sounds of metallic flesh tearing. Then she woke up. She could not decide what was worse— this dream or the previous from which Aro comforted her with the prospective loss of her family and friends.

Sighing, she stood and padded over to the window, passing the discarded clothes on the floor; none were salvagable in their shredded state. Her nakedness would have to do.

Pulling open the heavy velvet drapes and dark paned windows, she appreciated the view of the Italian countryside. Come to think of it, she quite enjoyed the feel of the sunlight on her naked body. With a smile, she picked a volume of prose and reclined on the chaise lounge situated just under the broad window, between two dark bookshelves.

An hour or so later, she heard approaching footfalls, knowing well that Aro was returning to her. The sun was barely starting to set, casting pink and orange hues in the line of light. Isabella did not look up from her book, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger, the rest falling across her chest. "How was business?" She mused, gingerly turning a page from her position.

Silence. Something was placed on a nearby table with a gentle thud before Aro came into her line of peripheral vision. "Dull." Came his silky voice; still, she did not meet his eyes. "While I looked forward to returning you, I had not expected this tempting vision."

"What would you suggest? My clothes are torn to ribbons. Would you prefer I walked naked around the castle?"

Isabella was suddenly pinned, the book tossed aside somewhere as Aro hovered over her, chest rumbling with a growl. "Oh…". She giggled mischievously. "Is that not what I should do, your grace?"

"Minx." He purred, crashing his lips to hers as they resumed what had previously been interrupted. While they did not have all the time in the world with the uncertain future ahead, they were set on making the most of it… whatever this might become.

Unknown Location— Nightfall

One more dead without the slightest detection. A V-shaped pendant flickered in the firelight, just to the pile of disembodied limbs. Picking up the pendant, the figure sneered.

"Stop." The figure called to the other, just before the fallen vampire's head was tossed into the flames.

The other looked with question, realization dawning quickly at the glittering pendant. Wait, they had said…. It had been far too long.

"It is time we send a message."

Author's Note: Soooo… Isabella certainly likes to get under Aro's skin hm? Long awaited too, especially with a dually sexually empowered Bella. As you can see, I borrowed some of the imagery/vampiric dynamics from universes such as Trueblood. Vampires are capable of such sensuality, and blood (and the moods that come with their feeding) is something fun to play with…. ;)

And ooh we've had a glimpse at a prospective villain. What do you think?