Sorry for the delay. My brain was just not cooperating with the subject!

Not beta'ed.

Chapter-11

Alice helps me take off the various layers of clothes and put on my nightgown. I brush my teeth and wash my hands and face.

She dabs a few drops of lavender oil on my wrists and neck. This is usually a part of my after-bath ritual in the morning, not something to be done before I go to bed. When I look at her in surprise, she just smiles.

Perhaps I smell a little like Rosalie at close quarters because of the riding I did? This will definitely help disguise that!

Finally she loosens my hair and brushes it with practised, gentle strokes while I sit on a padded stool in front of the full-length mirror.

"Should I braid it, my lady?" she asks. It is the usual practice, but sometimes I just like to leave it open. Even though it results in tangles the next morning.

"No, let it remain as it is for now," says Edward from the door.

I jump a bit, and so does Alice. None of us had noticed him entering the room.

He strides in, sure and graceful. When he is standing behind me, he holds out his hand to Alice. She looks at him in confusion.

"The brush, Alice." There is a hint of smile on his face, but Alice still become flustered and apologises. I ask her to leave us for the night, and she bows and wishes us a good night.

When the door shuts softly after her, Edward goes and bolts it. Hopefully nobody will come knocking and disturbing us tonight.

I stand, but he asks me to sit again. Then he begins to brush my hair a little hesitantly. I meet his eyes in the mirror and smile.

"Edward?"

"You have such long, beautiful hair, Bella. I have always wanted to stroke it." His fingers lift my hair and let it fall, again and again. "It feels like silk slipping through my fingers."

"Your fingers too feel good in my hair," I tell him shyly and sigh with content. "It is very soothing."

He keeps the brush aside and begins to massage my shoulders lightly. "Did you ever dream of me, Bella, while we were apart?"

I remember how he had confessed to dreaming of me every night while he was away. I don't have to think before I answer.

"No."

His hands become stiff on my shoulders. "So…you just forgot about me? Or did I never mean anything to you? What happened between us—was it nothing?"

His tone remains even, but I can detect the hurt hiding behind it. I stand up quickly and turn to face him. The stool skitters sideways with my jerky movement.

"No, no, that is not what I meant!" My hands are on his chest while his fall limply at his sides. I fist his shirt as I try to explain. "My dreams…they never had anybody—well, except Lizzy, sometimes—any person in them. There was only mist and darkness, even though I knew there was sun shining somewhere close by. There were no sounds either, and my feet—they seemed not to touch the ground." I shudder as I remember the strange, unnerving sensation. "It was as if I was moving in a place where there was nothing, as if I belonged nowhere, as if I wasn't going anywhere…"

My voice break as tears blind me. The next moment I am pulled close to him as his arms go around me, hugging me tightly. It is wonderful to be in his embrace, to feel his solid warmth against me, to know that he cares. Some part of me that had been frozen for years begins to thaw, like the spring sun melts the ice over a stream.

"I am so, so sorry, sweetheart," he murmurs into my hair while he rocks me, comforts me. "I never wanted this pain for you; I had never imagined it would come to this. This is my fault, I shouldn't have…Anthony—" His voice chokes on the last word, and he takes a deep breath.

I shake my head as I look up to him. "I don't want to delve in the past, Edward. Let us not talk about it. Let us rather build a beautiful future, all right?"

"But I want to—"

I place a finger on his lips. "You have already apologised, and I…I forgive you. Unlike you, I can't proclaim my love for you yet, but I think letting the past go is a step forward in the right direction. Isn't it?"

The frown on his forehead disappears. "Yes, it is. You are so wise, my darling."

I shake my head and look down, embarrassed. He gives me too much credit. My feelings are still mixed up, but my practical side says we have to do what is necessary. How can we live in the present if we have one foot in the past?

His hands settle on my shoulders. "May I kiss you?"

I don't hesitate. "Yes."

His head dips as mine lifts. One hand supports my head while the other goes to my back. Our lips touch, move back and touch again, this time more firmly. Edward sucks at my lower lip. I hesitate, then do the same to his upper. When his tongue exerts pressure, my mouth opens, and the sensations multiply. Finally he draws back, his eyes bright and his full lips redder than usual. Both of us are trying to catch our breath.

Without breaking the stare he unbuttons his shirt and shrugs it off. My eyes widen and my throat goes dry at the sight of his bare chest. Just like he had done before, he takes my hands and places them on his chest.

"I want you to want me, Bella. Don't think of me as a husband with marital rights, but a man who loves you and wishes to express his love through his body. Touch me."

Once again my hands move on his skin, but less tentatively. The warmth and the texture tempt my lips to join, so they do. Edward gasps, but remains still otherwise.

Encouraged by his gasp, I allow my hands to exert more pressure, then wander to his nipples and play with them, hoping for another groan. He does not disappoint me.

When I step closer so that my hands can explore his back, his arms come around me, his hands beginning their own exploration. It makes me press against him, every part of him. I feel his member poking me in the abdomen and try to draw back, but his hands move to my hips and press harder. When I look up, one hand goes behind my neck and holds me steady, while his lips capture mine in a long, leisurely kiss. I feel my nipples hardening, and there is a clenching in my stomach. Without thinking about it, I rise on my toes so that my hands can reach behind his head, where they tangle with his thick hair.

How long we press against each-other and kiss, I don't know. When we pull apart, our eyes stay connected.

"Can I take off your gown, Bella?" he whispers as his fingers stroke its neckline, his eyes so dark.

My eyes widen in answer. "All of it?" I squeak.

His lips twitch. "I did say I wanted to see you, didn't I? Yes, all of it."

When I hesitate, he leans closer so that our foreheads touch. "Bella, I want to kiss you all over your delectable body. How can I do that unless all your clothes are off?" His breath is warm on my face.

My limbs turn to jelly at his words. I have heard of seduction, but never experienced it. This, however, definitely qualifies as being seduced. What can I do but nod my yes?

Slowly he unbuttons the garment. When his hand enters the opening and squeezes my breast, I moan like a wanton woman. Then I remember that he wanted to hear my sounds—the sounds of my pleasure, he had remarked. It makes me feel better.

Slowly he slides the gown off my shoulders. Once my arms are free, he lets the gown go, and it pools at my feet. I am not wearing anything beneath it.

I had never imagined in my whole life that I could stand naked in front of a man, even if he was my husband. My first reaction is to hide myself from him, although it is a little difficult with only two hands!

But Edward doesn't allow me to feel diffident. One long finger below my chin lifts it so my eyes meet his. In them I find nothing but adoration, and his words confirm it.

"You are so exquisite, my darling," he murmurs. "Your beauty makes me think that you are descended from a goddess; surely a mere human cannot possess such a form. How was I fortunate enough to have you as my wife?"

I can't help smiling, "I assure you, it is only you who thinks so. Perhaps you are obsessed with me?"

"Of course I am," he says into my hair as he pulls me closer. He lifts me so that I am standing on his feet, then walks backward till we reach the bed. Alice has already turned the covers, so he sits on it with me straddling him. His hands on my back move up and down, settling on my hips. "I am obsessed with your face, your hair, your fragrance, the sound of your voice…but I am also obsessed with your heart." He starts dropping kisses everywhere, his words muffled on my skin. "One day, I hope to make it mine. But for now…"

His lips move to my breasts, kissing and sucking. When he takes my nipple into his mouth, I just have to move. The grinding action, encouraged by his hands directing my hips, makes me aware of a growing hardness in his pyjamas. I also feel a wetness between my legs.

After lavishing attention on my breasts, Edward comes back to my lips. Combined with the sensations running across my body, his kisses make me breathless. I feel almost faint, but also…more.

"Do you want me, Bella?" he pants in my ear.

"You are my husband—"

He cuts me off mid-sentence. "No, don't think of that. Not your duty, not my rights. Tell me, do you want me to go further? Or should I stop here?"

Stop? Is he joking? I feel as I am on fire. It makes me shameless.

"No, please don't stop," I say, my voice thick and strange to my own ears. "Please, I want you. I want you now."

He smiles, eyes glittering like a big cat's in the dark. The next moment I am lying on the bed and Edward is taking off his pyjamas. Before I can see much of him, he is on top of me, kissing me again while his thing slides between my legs.

"You're wet," he says as if he has just received an unexpected gift. "You're ready…for me."

"Yes." His skin against mine, his weight, his warm breath…I feel as if I am going insane with want. I have never felt so…I don't even know what it is.

His hips move in a thrust, and I feel him entering me. It is only a little way in, but it feels so good. This is what I am burning up for.

When he draws out, I whimper with need. Why is he teasing me?

"I don't want to…hurt you," he says, his voice rough and his breath uneven. "I should be slow…give you a chance to adjust…"

"You won't hurt me," I manage to stutter. "Please, Edward…"

He is still careful, even though his expression is strained. He enters and withdraws again and again, each time filling me a little more than before. It is heaven and hell at the same time. I press on his back, encouraging him. Finally, finally he is all the way in, completing me, filling the emptiness within me.

And then he stops.

"Edward…"

"Just give me…a minute…"

I don't understand why, but I nod. When his breath seems calmer, he begins to move again. But this time he withdraws only partially, then thrusts in fully. Slowly, his pace increases, his groans matching mine as I lift my hips in response. The fire inside me grows too, fed by the sensations coursing through my body, until it consumes me to the extent that there is nothing else in the world.

When I return from the state of blissful blankness, I find Edward smiling at me. It is a very satisfied smile, as if he is pleased with himself. I also notice that although he is supporting himself on his elbows, he hasn't…removed himself. There is a slight burning sensation where we are still joined. I stroke his face and feel the sweat on his forehead.

"Bella," he whispers, "how are you feeling?"

"Like I am floating on air," I whisper back. Then I touch my own forehead and cringe. "Ugh, I am sweaty."

"You look beautiful," he assures me. "It is a privilege to see you looking like this."

"Like what?"

"Glowing face, shining eyes, this satiated look…"

"And this pleases you?"

My question makes him smile. "You cannot imagine how much it pleases me, my love. I had never thought—"

I move my leg because it feels like it has gone to sleep, and Edward feels the movement. Suddenly he rolls away, apologising.

"I am so sorry, Bella. I didn't realise that—your poor legs! And here I was feeling proud of myself for making you feel good."

"It's all right, Edward," I interrupt him. "Even I did not realise that…um, until a few seconds ago. I feel cold now though…"

He pulls the eiderdown up so as to cover both of us and then pulls me close. With his arms around me and his heart beating slow and steady beneath me, I feel warm and safe.

However, there is something I must do before going to sleep.

"Edward, I should…I mean, we should wear something…"

I can't see his face, but I know he is smiling.

"Why? Are you still feeling cold?"

"No, but it feels strange not to wear anything while sleeping. I am not used to it."

He sighs. "If it really makes you uncomfortable, all right. As for me, it is the best feeling in the world to have your skin against mine."

I say nothing. He gets up and puts on his pyjamas, while I try not to stare. Now that he has asked me if I want to see him naked, I am curious. Then he picks up my gown and hands it to me. I slip it on rather awkwardly, clutching the duvet with one hand so that it does not slip down. Even though he has seen me in the candlelight, I am not ready to be as frank as him.

Also, I have to go to the privy and clean myself. So when he goes to his room for a couple of minutes, I am grateful.

Walking is a little uncomfortable. Still, I hurry with my ablutions. I don't want him to notice my gait and ask questions. He was as careful as possible, I am sure. It is the long period of abstinence that is to blame for the ache in my body.

When he is back and we are in bed again, and he has gone to sleep after whispering sweet words in my ear, I remember that he never answered my questions.

I will ask him tomorrow. It seems we will be spending most of our nights together.

A.N. So they finally consummated their marriage. Questions can wait, right? ;)

Thank you for the love you have shown to this story. I am very grateful!