Over this past week, this story has received a large number of new readers/followers. If this story was recommended online, please message me the URL. Thank you all for reading and reviewing! And to the new readers/followers...welcome!
One final thing, I was asked what my favorite Jane Austen novel was. Although Pride and Prejudice is typically considered the Jane Austen novel of choice, my favorite is Persuasion.
Now, lets see how Edward's and Bella's day at the beach progresses :)
~ Washington - August 20, 2004 ~
We setup the blanket on the empty beach and sat down to enjoy our private ocean view. The clouds had come in just enough that the sun's rays could not penetrate. It wouldn't rain, and I doubted the sun would break through either. Which was good, as I would imagine seeing me light up like a disco ball would be hard for Bella to reconcile at this point in time.
Bella sat with her shoes off and her toes in the sand. The temperature was just warm enough for Bella to wear shorts, which she changed into back at the house. The sight of her creamy legs stretched out was creating an uncomfortable, yet very pleasurable, problem in my own pants. I could count on one hand how many times I became aroused before Tuesday. Since I picked Bella up at the airport, it seemed all I had to do was be in her presence or think about her, and that would set me off. Luckily, the length of my shirt tales covered most of my reaction and my arm covered the rest.
"This is nice. Phoenix has the sand, but not the water. I like the water." Bella said with a sigh. She looked around the beach and then towards the tree line. "So the only way to get to this section of the beach is through the woods?"
"Or the water," I answered. "Those rocks on either side would cut a human to shreds." I respond.
Bella raised her eyebrow at me and it was then I realized my verbal slip. "Human, huh," she replied like she was thinking it over. "After seeing your testosterone demonstration on the walk out here, I bet you would have no problem climbing over those rocks." Bella looked at me expectantly, hoping for an answer. I looked casually over to the ragged rocks and shrugged. Bella huffed out a breath before returning her gaze to the ocean.
"Would you like something to eat?" I asked. After the 'human' comment, I was curious to see how she handled me not eating or drinking.
Bella shook the sand out of her toes and sat cross-legged on the blanket. "Actually, I'm starving. So yeah!" She answered.
I pulled out a container from the basket and opened it. Inside was her first course of grapes and some assorted cheeses. After I placed it down, Bella snatched some of each while I pulled out a bottle of water for her. I leaned back and marveled at the sight of Bella eating. I watched intently as she placed each of the morsels into her mouth. Every so often, her tongue would peak out to clean the tip of her finger. It was at that moment that I almost used my wish, which would have been a request to allow me feed her, but I resisted.
After she finished about half of the starter course, she pushed it towards me. "Here, you finish up the rest." She said before taking a sip of water.
I sucked in a needless breath, partly to prepare for what I needed to say, but also because the image of Bella's pouty little lips wrapped around the opening of the water bottle nearly short-circuited my vampire brain.
"Actually," I replied while placing the lid back on the container. "I won't be eating or drinking anything today." I turned to pull Bella sandwich from the basket when she grabbed my arm.
"Wait a minute." She said in a huff. "You're not eating anything? I thought all teenage boys ate constantly."
"Well, we have already established that I'm not normal," I answered with a teasing smile that I hoped would diffuse the situation a bit. "To be honest, there is a special diet I need to adhere to. Unfortunately, what we packed in the basket today is not on that menu."
However, the person sitting on the blanket across from me is on that menu.
Bella crossed her arms and sat back away from me. "And since you didn't tell me with your well worded, yet very vague answer, I guess I am not to know what that diet consists of." She countered in an annoyed tone.
I sighed and shook my head. "Not at this time, no. I am not trying to annoy you, although I see that I am." I paused while Bella nodded her head in acknowledgment of my statement. "It's just that I'm not ready to get into that part of the my life right now. I promise, one day you will know all, but not today."
Bella looked tersely at me for a long moment. It was clear she hated deception and being lied to. I wanted to confess everything, but I wanted to be surer of her affections before I told her about my existence as a vampire.
Bella took a deep breath before reaching out for my hand. As we touched, I knew she could feel how cool I felt. Given that a vampire's core temperature is the same as the air around them, I guess I should be glad it wasn't winter. Her brow squeezed together as her fingers tried to make an impression on my stony skin. I almost pulled away, but Bella stopped her investigation and wove her fingers with mine.
"You know, Dad warned me that I might notice some peculiar quirks about you. He told me he was fully aware of your condition and that I should try my best to ignore any oddities that I see…and I've been trying to do that." Bella paused while she used her other hand to gently rub my check and neck. "Listen, I can understand that you might be hesitant to open up to me. We are both feeling something for one another, which can make us insecure about our own flaws. I just want you know I am willing to listen and I will try to understand. My Dad always says that I'm good with weird, and I suspect that might be a good thing when it comes to your story. Plus, I'm sure whatever it is, if my Dad knows and understands, then it can't be that bad."
To know that Bella was only upset with the deception, and not the vampire traits she had been obviously cataloging and thinking over, meant the world to me. However, knowing I am different…different enough to be considered weird…was nothing compared knowing the truth. Knowledge meant a death sentence should the Volturi find out. In this case, despite my weakening resolve to keep my true self from Bella, the prudent course would be to discuss this with my family and Charlie. He was aware of the consequences the knowledge of my vampire existence came with. I couldn't subject Bella to the very real threat of knowing without speaking to him first.
"Can you just tell me this?" Bella asked in a timid voice with worry etched on her face. "Is your condition life threatening?"
I squeezed her hand gently and shook my head. "Not for me, no." I answered.
Bella frowned. "Are you saying that for others, or even me, it could be?" She asked.
"Yes, it could be," I answered with a sad smile.
Bella rubbed small circles across the back of my hand. "My Dad would be upset if I knew, wouldn't he?" She asked.
"That is one of my concerns." I replied.
"Is another concern that I wouldn't want to be with you once I know?" Bella looked up at me waiting for my reply.
I took a deep breath and simply nodded my head.
Bella turned over my hand and placed her fingers over my nonexistent pulse point. She waited a while before looking at me with a strange expression.
"I have one more question, and then I will drop this…for now." She said while still feeling for my pulse. "Actually, you know what, I'm not. For right now, it doesn't matter."
Bella pulled on my hand and then stood. "Come on, let's take a walk on the beach."
"I like that idea," I replied. I had to let go of Bella's hand to take off my shoes and socks. I rolled up the legs on my khakis until it they were nearly at my knees. I then stood and took Bella's hand back into mine. She smiled and led us down towards the water.
As we got close to the incoming waves we slowed and meandered around. A strong wave came into shore causing the water to reach our feet. Suddenly Bella squealed and pulled us away form the water. "Holy shit!" She yelled. "That's so cold! It's August for God's sake shouldn't the ocean be warm!"
I laughed at Bella shooting daggers at the ocean. My mind drifted to Isle Esme, which is where Alice and Jasper were headed. The water was always warm around Carlisle and Esme's private island. So was the air. My body temperature would be almost normal there. In fact, Bella would be required to forgo her normal clothes and opt for some type of bathing suit, a bikini…or nothing at all. That thought alone made me extremely jealous of Alice and Jasper at that moment. One day I would take Bella down to Isle Esme and I knew I would relish every second of our time there. I could just imagine taking a midnight swim with her as the moon and stars reflected off the water. I would love to see Bella's luminous skin being lapped by the waves and bathed in the indigo light the night often afforded.
"What has you smiling so?" Bella asked. I turned towards her before looking away quickly. I was glad vampires could not blush. "Oh no! You've got to tell me now. You're not getting away with not telling what has you looking so sheepish."
I turned back towards Bella before pulling her down to sit on the sand. "I was just thinking of an island I know of that has the warmest water and most beautiful night sky." I told her.
"Oooh, I like the sound of that. But, you have to tell me more, because that is hardly something to be embarrassed about." She cooed.
"Well…I was imagining you and I there, and how the moonlight would…" I trailed off, not knowing how much I should say.
"How the moonlight would what, Edward?" She pressed.
"I was thinking about how the moonlight would look on your glorious skin as we took an evening swim." I said a bit too quickly.
Bella opened her mouth and made the shape of an "O" as she took in my meaning. This time Bella blushed. "Are you saying you were picturing us skinny dipping in the moonlight?" She teased.
"I was. Does that make me a cad?" I asked, worried that she would be offended by my fantasy.
"A cad?" Bella giggled and bumped my shoulder with hers. "I'm not sure if anyone our age has used that word in fifty years, but no it doesn't make you a cad." Bella giggled some more at my archaic word selection. "However, the thought does have some appeal." She said in suddenly husky voice. "I bet you would look quite good yourself." Bella allowed her eyes to roam down my neck to where my shirt was open, before she looked away.
We sat there for a while. I hoped she was thinking about the two of us at a tropical paradise like I was. For a fantasy like that to come true, I would need several things to happen. The one issue that came to my mind at that moment was Charlie. I was sure when he asked me to spend the day with Bella, he was not anticipating that she would be the love of my existence. Nor would he have expected us to have danced and kissed like we did earlier. The reality is he would probably be angry enough to further test my ability to deflect the bullets. I also realized that I did not know much about Bella and Charlie's relationship. I picked up bits and pieces from his thoughts, but I really wanted to know Bella's version.
"How's Charlie doing?" I asked.
Bella sighed. "He's being stubborn as usual," she said in huff. "I know he's hurting, but he refuses to allow me to help him. He knows I'm worried about him so he acts like nothing is bothering him. But then when he thinks I'm not looking I see him wince and favor his chest. I mean even today. He should be home resting, but no. He has to go into the station and cover not one, but two shifts." Bella picks up a rock from the sand and throws it out into the water to quell her frustration. "What he needs is someone around to keep him in check."
"It seems that you and Charlie get along well, despite you living in Phoenix with your mother." I said, hoping she would expand on my comment.
"We do. And I'm glad for it. I remember when I was a kid, I barely saw him. In fact he was like a stranger to me."
"What happened to change things?" I asked.
"Well, when I was in elementary school, in third grade, my school had a father-daughter dance. My mom promised to call Dad to see if he could come down for it. Even though I barely knew him, I was excited that he would be able to take me. My friends were going with their dads and stepdads, and I was just glad not to be left out. I even gloated a bit at school about him coming. As the dance got closer, I went dress shopping with my best friend's parents and I picked out this beautiful light blue gown with lots of lace and fake pearls sewn into it. And before you ask, if you knew my mother and her strange fashion sense, you would know why I went with my friend's parents and not her." Bell chuckled and shook her head. "Anyway, the day of the dance came, which was a Saturday, and I asked Mom when Dad was flying in. My mom blanched white before telling me she forgot to call him and ask if he could come. I cried. Actually that's not true, I was downright hysterical. My mom tried to apologize, but I wouldn't listen. I refused to speak to my mom and I locked myself in my room."
Bella paused. I could tell she was reliving that sad moment in her life. I hated that she had to endure any kind of misery. I wanted to go back in time and make it all go away for her.
"So what happened?" I asked, when she didn't continue.
"Oh, sorry. I was lost in thought. Anyway, I was in my room crying and sulking. I could hear my mom trying to reach my dad on the phone, but he was not at home. I was just about ready to take a pair of scissors to my beautiful blue dress, when the doorbell rang. It was my dad. My mom and I both cried when we saw him. Apparently, the week before the dance, he had received a packet in the mail from a local charitable foundation in Phoenix. In it was information about the dance, and a donated plane ticket. He was given strict instructions that he was to surprise me the morning of the dance. And boy did he!" Bella paused briefly before continuing. The smile on her face was electric.
"That night we went to the dance. He looked so amazing in this formal dress uniform. I spent the whole night with him, shunning most of my friends, but I didn't care. I remember he twirled me around the dance floor during the fast dances and during the slow ones he allowed me to stand on his shoes while he led me around. I felt like a princess. After that night, everything just seemed to click between the two of us…mainly, because I demanded from my mom that I get to spend more time with him. Next thing I knew I was visiting a couple times a year. He came to Phoenix too, to see my dance recitals and other school events. Last summer, I won a scholarship to attend a literature and poetry camp in California. He came down and we spent the week together touring northern California afterwards. That was a lot of fun. We also talk a couple times a week on the phone too. In fact, he told me all about you, including how he threatened to show up unannounced to keep an eye on you." Bella looked up at me with a teasing smile.
"I'm glad you have great relationship with your dad. He's a good man, and I know he thinks about you a lot." I told her. I was sure it was my family that intervened to bring the two of them together. I was glad that they did.
"And he did show up unannounced, but only once." I continued. "After that, I started helping out at the station. He could then keep an eye on me there."
"That sounds like him." Bella answered.
The rest of the afternoon passed in a similar fashion. Every so often we would wander around the beach, enjoying the soothing sounds of the waves. We talked over a lot of fun and insightful topics. Besides going to Isle Esme, I needed to take Bella on a tour of Europe someday. Eventually we settled back on the blanket, where Bella finally finished her picnic lunch. She was a little embarrassed to have to run off into the tree line to relieve herself, but human needs like that could not be helped.
We now sat together on the blanket. I had my legs stretched out and spread wide enough for Bella to sit in between them, as she leaned back against my chest. My arms were wrapped around her and she spent her time drawing random figures on my forearms with fingertips.
"I wish I could spend everyday like this one," Bella said right after tracing a heart on my arm.
"Me too, but I'm sure your Dad would like to spend some more time with you on this trip."
"Yeah. Hey, isn't your family arriving soon as well?" She asked.
"My brother and sister, Emmett and Rosalie, are already here. They arrived right before you did. They went out on a hike this morning, which is why we missed them today out at the house. Carlisle and Esme, my parents, arrive tomorrow actually. My other brother and sister, Jasper and Alice, have decided to enroll in an exchange program for the fall semester, so they won't be here until after New Years."
"So you're probably spending all day with them tomorrow right?" She asked
"I guess, although they will be busy getting unpacked and situated I would imagine. Why do you ask?"
"Billy Black, and I would assume Jacob too, will be coming over tomorrow watch the Mariners play. I really don't want to be there for that testosterone fest. So instead, I thought maybe we could do something?" She turned her head and looked over her shoulder at me.
"I would love to do something with you." I answered like a giddy schoolboy. "What time is the game?"
"I think four o'clock. Billy should be over around three thirty."
"Well, then how about I pickup you up at three?"
"Terrific! Now I'm looking forward to tomorrow." She answered happily.
"So am I," I said.
We both smiled at each other. Bella turned in my arms so that she was almost facing me. I thought she was preparing to tell me something, but instead her lips met mine. The kiss started out slow as our lips explored each other. I let Bella take the lead and soon she had shifted herself so that she was sitting on my thighs with her hands in my hair. Unlike our kiss earlier, this was more needy and passionate. My hands roamed up and down her back, shoulders, and neck. Without any warning, Bella pulled herself closer to me so that she was sitting squarely on my lap and my now present erection. Part of me wanted to be embarrassed by my arousal, but when Bella let out a little moan as she pushed herself down on it, I couldn't find it in myself to care any more. I had to force myself to concentrate on my hands and the strength I was using. Even though this did little to distract me from Bella's lips and the slight grinding motion she was making on my lap, it was enough to keep me from hurting her.
After a couple of minutes, Bella pulled away just enough to rest her forehead on mine. Her breathing was labored and her heart was racing. The thin barrier of her shorts made the scent of her arousal more potent. As much as the beast within still wanted her blood, another part of me wanted to explore her body and taste this other lust inducing bouquet. But that would not be today.
"I'm sorry I attacked you," Bella panted. "But I've been wanted to do that ever since this morning."
"You will hear no complaints from me," I answered smugly.
Bella sighed and removed herself from my lap. She sat next to me with her head leaning on my shoulder. "That's good, because I may need to do that often." She quipped.
Oh, yes please!
As the sun started to get low in the sky, it became time for us to leave, so we bundled up our picnic supplies.
"I liked it here, can we come back? Not tomorrow, but maybe some other time?" Bella asked.
"Sure, anytime you like," I answered, before scooping Bella back up into my arms and heading towards the tree line.
Bella giggled, but quickly settled in close to my body. Once inside the trees the temperature was a bit colder than it was on our way out, so I stayed to the path. I went a bit faster than a human would, but after everything else Bella has witnessed, I hoped this would not be too disconcerting. Ten minutes later, we emerged at the SUV.
On the ride back up to Forks, Bella gave Charlie a call to let him know we heading back. Instead of heading back to Bella's house, it was decided we would go to the station instead. Charlie over exerted himself during the day and his chest was sore, so he would have to forgo the evening shift, unless and emergency came up. Once we got there, Bella would drive them both back to their house. I was a bit disappointed in this new arrangement, because it meant I would not get to kiss Bella goodnight, but there would be time for kissing tomorrow…I hoped.