~ Forks, Washington - August 20, 2004 ~
"Dad said you lived outside of town, I just didn't realize he meant this far outside of town." Bella remarked, as we turned down the wooded road that led to our family home. The woods on either side were dense and heavy. "Should I be worried that you are taking me out into the woods all alone?" Bella asked in a teasing tone. I glanced over to see her smiling.
"What can I say, my family likes their privacy. Plus, it's much easier to hide the bodies way out here." I said in flat even tone before turning towards here sporting a devilish wild grin that showed my deadly teeth.
Bella gasped looked shocked at my predatory look. "You're just kidding right?" She asked in a shaky voice.
I changed my smile to one that was much less threatening. "Of course!" I replied lightly. "Besides, every predator knows that bodies should be disposed of away from the house," I said with wink. Regardless of my kidding, it was still good advice.
Bella sighed and smiled, before nudging my shoulder. "Oh you think you're funny. Well, mister, just remember paybacks are hell."
A few moments later we pulled up to the house. "Here we are," I said as I shut off the vehicle.
"Wow!" Bella said with a gasp of astonishment. "Edward, you…this… this is impressive. Who would've guessed this was back here?"
I smiled at Bella and shrugged, before I exited the car. In my excitement I walked around the front of the vehicle a little too fast. I could see Bella's eyes go wide she watched me. I had decided to not beat myself up over any small slip-ups. For this relationship to work, she would eventually need to know what I was. She was sharp and intelligent like Charlie, so I figured it would not be such a terrible thing if she started to notice small non-human things about me. In the back of my mind, I secretly hoped she would ask me about it so I could just tell her everything, but I knew it was too soon for that.
I opened Bella's door and held out my hand. "Welcome to casa de Cullen."
Bella took my hand and stood. She looked around at the outside of the house. "You've been out here all alone for the last month?" Bella asked.
"Yeah, but I like the quiet this place offers." I replied as I walked her around the back of the house and towards the path to the cottage. Bella looked up at me in confusion, so I explained. "I actually don't live in the main house. There is a cottage through the woods that is mine."
Bella nodded, but it is clear she didn't really understand. So as we walked, I gave her a modified version of the cover story about my family including the actual truth that everyone except for me was coupled up. I left out a lot of the details about the adoptions. It didn't really feel like lying if I left out that part, because the couples' part was absolutely true.
Once I finished, she stopped in the path and looked at me with an odd expression on her face. "So they're all…together? And you're the odd man out? Wow! That must suck for you." Bella gasped and placed her hand over her mouth. "I'm so sorry! That sounded harsh. I…I just meant to say…it must be hard to be around…you know what, I'm just going to stop talking." Bella turned away shaking her head in embarrassment.
I gently took Bella by the shoulders and spun her back towards me. "Bella," I said softy. "Look at me, please?" Bella slowly raised her eyes to mine. "It's okay. It does suck for me. That is great way to put it. But I've become used to it. I'm glad they all found each other." I paused and gave Bella a small smile to show her I was not offended. I slowly reached out and tucked some of her beautiful hair behind her ear, before I took both her hands in mine. It was time I started to test the waters to see how she really felt about me. "The good news is I recently found someone that I really enjoy being around as well." I said while giving her hands the slightest of squeezes.
Bella's breathing started to deepen and her pulse raced. She opened her mouth to speak but paused. Several emotions played across her face.
Surprise. Understanding. Indecision.
How I wished I could read her mind. I knew from her point of view she was just here in Forks on a visit. Maybe I was just a diversion until she got back to her life in Phoenix. I wouldn't like that, but I could accept that. Alice warned me not to get frustrated. I would just find a way to keep myself involved in her life until she got to know me more.
My thoughts were interrupted when Bella squeezed my hands in return. "She enjoys being around you too." She replied back in a near whisper. "More than what is probably good for her."
I couldn't hold back the smile that her words brought forth. I raised her left hand to my lips and placed a soft kiss on it. When I lowered it, I wove our fingers together, as I needed to feel her touch. "Come on, I want to show you the cottage." I said as we continued down the path.
"This is my place." I remarked as the cartage came into view. Bella's eyes widened and her smile grew as she took in the small house and its setting.
"This is so beautiful! It reminds me of something out of a storybook." She said, allowing her eyes to dart around.
"You father said the same thing when I showed it to him. He said it reminded him of the fairytales he used to read to you."
"It does. Can we go inside?" She asked excitedly.
"Absolutely." I opened the front door and escorted Bella inside.
It didn't take long to show her the tiny living room and kitchen. I pointed towards where the two bedrooms were, but I left out showing them to her. The gentleman in me didn't want Bella to think that I brought her here to be alone with me in my bedroom. Finally, I walked her back to the new music room, slash library. As we entered the room, Bella released my hand so she could wander around the space. I leaned against the doorway as she looked at the bookshelves. I watched as she reviewed my knickknacks and the books I had placed among them. I made a mental note of the titles she touched during her explorations.
Pride and Prejudice
Emma
Persuasion
Jane Eyre
Don Quixote
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Wuthering Heights
The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy
Bella looked over her shoulder at me as she touched that last one.
"What?" I said in response to her unasked question. "Douglas Adams is a satirical genius." I shrugged my shoulders, while Bella shook her head in amusement before continuing her perusal.
Bella paused in front of a row of books that made me stand dead still. I hadn't placed any of my tomes related to the occult or the supernatural in the library yet, but I had one title that I placed specifically where Bella was now standing. I took a cautious step into the room so I could jointly see her face and the contents of the bookshelf. I nearly gasped as she raised a delicate finger and ran it down the spine of a first edition from 1899 of Bram Stoker's Dracula. I found the book in my Chicago childhood home. It was the only piece of modern fiction in my father's library. The irony that he had purchased it before I was even born was too much not to give it a place of honor in my collection. Now Bella was looking at that same book with one of its subjects standing not ten feet from her.
After a long minute, Bella eventually moved on until she came to my grand piano. She looked it over before turning towards me.
"This room is amazing, Edward. This cottage is amazing. And, I can't believe you did all of the renovations yourself. This is some serious craftsmanship…and it's so beautiful." Bella paused as she looked around the room. "This room is perfect. The books. The antiques. The garden outside." Bella turned and pointed to each item as she said it. "And this…" Bella pointed to the piano. "Do you play?"
Her reaction to my sanctuary was more than I could've hoped for. I loved this space before, but I now loved it even more because Bella approved of it.
I walked over to the piano and sat down on the bench. "I do." I replied as I ran my fingers up and down keys causing the instrument to come to life. "Any requests?"
"I don't know…just surprise me." She said. The shock of the room and my piano playing was still evident on her face.
"Okay. Why don't you have a seat by the garden window." I replied.
All week I had wanted to see Bella seated on the leather chaise by the back window, however my imagination was nothing compared to her actual beauty. She was silhouetted against the natural window light, surrounded by the warmth of the room on the inside, and the vibrant colors of the garden and forest on the outside. It was a vision I would never forget. I started playing Bach's Piano Concerto No. 5, Largo. It fit the serene and content feeling I had being here with Bella. As the music filled the air, Bella alternated between watching me and looking out over the garden.
About halfway through the piece, Bella got up and continued looking around the room. Along the sidewall, flanked by bookcases, I had placed a rustic stone fireplace. On the mantle, Bella found an old black and white photograph of my human family together. It was taken about a year before my parents died. My father and I were wearing matching charcoal suits with starched white shirts and bow ties. My mother was wearing her favorite white lace dress. I was curious how Bella would handle the picture. Most people would assume it was a modern photograph processed to look old. However, if the person knew what to look for, it would be easy to notice that it was a true antique. Bella picked up the picture frame and turned to look back at me. Her eyes danced between the photograph and I before giving another Swan family raised eyebrow. She placed the frame back on the mantle and continued her wandering.
As the song came to a close, Bella had made her way over to my music collection. I rose from the piano and stood behind her as she inspected my eclectic compilation.
She looked over her shoulder to find me staring down at her. She smiled sweetly at me before facing my music.
"What are you listening to?" She asked as she pressed the power button on my stereo. An acoustic guitar filled the air as the first measures of Van Morrison's Into the Mystic played through the speakers. Bella's head and shoulders started to sway in time with the music. Soon she added her hips to the movements. I stood there transfixed on Bella as she turned slowly towards me. Van Morrison's lyrics playing across her lips.
We were born before the wind
Also younger than the sun
"Will you dance with me, Edward?" She asked. There was no way I would turn her down. I reached out, and with my hands on her hips, and her hands around my neck; we swayed to the music. Our eyes locked on to one another as she continued to mouth the words.
Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic
We moved together, synchronized to the rhythm of the song. To me it was so much more than just a dance. To feel the gentle curve of her hips under my hands as she moved was heavenly. However, the feel of her fingers playing with my hair, and the brush of body against mine, surpassed that ten-fold. She was branding herself to my soul, and I loved it.
And together we will float into the mystic
As the song came to a close, I reached up behind my neck and took one of Bella's hands in mine. Pushing her away from me a bit and spun her around. She was elegant and poised as I twirled her in a circle. As she came back around, I captured her body and dipped her low. Bella let out tiny giggle as I righted her. The next song started and I pulled her close to me.
I can hear her heart beat for a thousand miles
Van Morrison now sang Crazy Love as Bella and I slow danced like it was the most natural thing in the world. Our one set of fingers wove together as my other hand rested on her back. We clung to each other while the music said what I thought.
Take away my trouble, take away my grief
Take away my heartache, in the night like a thief
She give me love, love, love, love, crazy love
Bella's head rested on my chest. With her pressed against me I could feel each pulse of her heart as if it was my own. Every lonely moment I spent during my existence all melted away. I had found my happiness.
Yes it makes me righteous, yes it makes me feel whole
Yes it makes me mellow down in to my soul
As the song came to an end, Bella raised her head until she could see my eyes. Her heart rate sped along with her breathing. In one choreographed move, she placed her hands around the back of my neck, while I slowly brought mine along her shoulders. I lowered my head down until our lips nearly touched. I checked that everything with my beast was well in check before I closed the remaining distance and kissed her.
I was not prepared for the explosion of emotion and sensory feelings I experienced when my lips met hers. What started out tentative soon deepened as I slid my hands up her neck until I could cup her cheeks. A few seconds later we both pulled our lips away before bringing them together again. This time I could feel Bella open her mouth slightly as her tongue lightly touched my lips. She softly moaned, as she tasted my skin. I wanted so badly to do the same, so I slowly opened my mouth and tasted her lips. She was pure ambrosia. The combination of her taste and her scent shattered me…but not in any dangerous way. I knew there were some things I couldn't give Bella, but this kiss had given me the desire and courage to give her everything else…in time.
Bella pulled away to catch her breath. I rested my forehead on hers and we both sighed.
"Wow!" Bella gasped between breaths. "Just wow!"
"Indeed," I replied.
Bella turned her head to the stereo. Van Morrison was singing another of his songs. Sometimes I loved irony.
"Kind of appropriate, if I do say so myself." I said before singing the next part of the song to her.
Our hearts a thumpin' and you
My brown eyed girl,
You my brown eyed girl