Disclaimer: I do not own anything having to do with the Twilight series. It's all Stephanie Meyer's.
WARNING: It's rated M for a reason people!
A/N: Can't tell you enough how I appreciate all the wonderful reviews!
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Edward had not gone home when he left Jacob alone with Bella. He hadn't even left the Swan's front yard. He sat on the ground under Bella's bedroom window and listened to everything that was going on in Jacob's head. Even though there were no sounds coming from the bedroom (well, that a normal human could hear), he could see everything that Jacob saw. Bella's perfect body, the way she looked straddling his hips and then when he mounted her. The way she felt when Jacob entered her. Her orgasm. His. Edward closed his eyes and clenched his jaw. He knew this would be the last time Bella would be with Jake, but he still couldn't help feeling in pain. Like Jacob WAS taking a piece of her with him.
When Jacob had silently jumped from the bedroom window, he didn't look at all surprised to see Edward sitting there. He quickly pulled his jeans on and tank before addressing the vampire staring steadily at him.
"She's yours, man. She always was," Jacob finally said, feeling better now that he was dressed. Edward rose slowly to his feet and took a step towards Jacob.
"And you promise that you'll let her go?"
"I have to. This whole deal wasn't right," Jacob replied. His mind flashed to the night before, and he flushed. I won't lie and say it wasn't the best night of my life.
"Neither can I," Edward whispered.
"Take care of her 'cause I'll be watching. I'll always be there for her." Jacob said, a somewhat challenging tone to his voice.
"I'll never forgive myself for the hell I put her through last year. No wonder she fell in love with you. You loved her when she thought I didn't."
Jacob didn't answer. He gave Edward one last look and sprinted away into the night. Edward looked up at the open window and decided it was time to show Bella just how much he truly loved her.
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Bella's heart gave a startled leap when she entered her room and saw Edward stretched out once again on her bed. She had been thinking about Jacob and had almost forgotten that Edward had promised he would return. She was drying her hair with a towel; her terry robe wrapped securely around her. She smiled though upon seeing him. "You never cease to dazzle me."
He gave a smirk, his arms folded behind his head. He watched her continue to dry her hair and asked, "So, how did things go with Jacob? What did he want?"
Bella rolled her eyes. "Don't play dumb, Edward. You know exactly what he said and what we did."
He frowned slightly. Yes, unfortunately he did. His stomach tightened at the thought of Jacob and Bella together. Bella noticed his discomfort and went to lie next to him. She shivered slightly at his cool body and whispered, "I'm sorry Edward. I didn't mean to sound so flippant. I know this has been hard for you too. I was really stupid to think that the two of you would be OK with me loving and being with you both. But know this – I love you more than anything. Jacob knew this, and I was completely selfish to his feelings. I still love Jacob, but I will never love another man the way I love you. NEVER."
Edward remained silent, but folded her into his arms and held her as tight as he dared without hurting her. He kissed the top of her wet head and drank in the smell of her strawberry shampoo. His cold lips brushed back and forth across her silky skin, and he could feel her pulse at her temple. She was so full of life. This was the way he wanted her to stay. He loved the way her blood felt as it pumped through her veins; her heartbeat; the whoosh of her lungs. But he also knew what she wanted. To be like him. To be young with him for eternity. He remembered what Jane had said. It being Bella's choice and not his.
"Edward? Are you mad at me?" Bella asked when he never did respond.
"No, love. I'm not mad," he replied, "I was just thinking about something . . . Jane said to me . . . when we were at the beach house."
Bella rose up to look at Edward. "Jane?"
"Yes . . . it seems she thought you . . . worthy . . . to become one of us."
Her eyebrow went up, and she said, "Really?"
Edward absently stroked Bella's upper arm and nodded, "She also said it was your choice. Not mine."
Bella only stared at him, not sure where he was going. Was he going to say that he would change her if that's what she wanted? Or was he going to say it was none of Jane's damn business, and he still wasn't going to do it? Finally, Bella said, "That's interesting." Edward didn't add anymore; he just continued to rub her arm. She wasn't going to push the issue – not after everything that had transpired over the last 24 hours, and also she had already broached the subject that morning, which hadn't pleased Edward. She laid her head back on his stone shoulder and was getting ready to doze off when she heard his voice again.
"Will you marry me?" he whispered in her ear. He had asked her before, and she had been adamant that she wasn't going to be one of those teen marriage statistics. But now, hearing his proposal, it seemed different. Plus, really, what was the big deal? She had already decided she wanted to spend eternity with him. Would being Mrs. Edward Cullen at this age be all that bad?
She peered up at him and grinned slightly. His amber eyes gazed down at her. "What's in it for me?" she asked, meaning it to be playful. But he wasn't being playful. He was being dead serious. "Your immortality."
She bolted upright at those words, fully awake now. "What are you saying?"
"I want us to be married before your conversion. That way it won't be suspicious when we disappear for maybe a month while you go through . . . the process."
She couldn't argue with that. It made complete sense. The other way would be if she "went off to college." And she knew right then, she had no desire to pretend to be college bound. She looked in his eyes, trying to see if he was going to take it back, but he continued to gaze at her with those amber eyes, never wavering from her stare.
"Edward. Are you sure about this?" she was almost afraid to ask the question, knowing he could change his mind.
"Yes. It's your choice. I've been trying to deny your passion about . . . wanting to be with me in every sense of the word. I only wanted what was best for you, but . . ." his voice wavered, but he continued, "I think you probably know what's best for yourself. Plus, you've already seduced me sufficiently . . ." He gave a wicked grin at that last comment, and she pounced on him. "That I did, Mr. Cullen, and I'm up for more seducing."
"Oh, I don't doubt that. I've never met a hornier spider monkey," he laughed. She stuck her tongue out at him and replied saucily, "Well, if you hadn't kept me FRUSTRATED for over a year, I may have acted more like a lady than a sex starved maniac." She paused and thought for a moment and shook her head, "No, I think with you, I'll always act like a sex starved maniac."
"Don't let Emmett hear you say that."
Bella groaned, "Ugh. You would have to bring that up. I swear I don't know how I will be able to face him again."
"You did today," Edward pointed out.
"Yes, but that's only because I'd forgotten half of what had happened since last night!" she retorted, falling back on the pillow and covering her face with her arm.
"So, you never answered my question. Will you marry me?"
She took her arm away from her face and gazed into his amber depths. "Yes. I'll marry you." His face broke into a smile, and he leaned down to kiss her. She put her fingers on his lips and continued, "But know this. I'm marrying you because I'm deeply and irrevocably in love with you. NOT because you have agreed to make me like you. Capiche?"
"Completely," he smiled and kissed her. "I love you Bella. I love you. I love you." He buried his face in her neck, and she wrapped her arms around him. She didn't care if his body was that of a Popsicle. She felt so complete. All she cared about was he was here next to her, and they had the rest of eternity together.
Now. How to tell Charlie and Renee their little girl was getting married?
THE END – but not completely . . .
--Stay tuned for the continuation of Bella and Edward's saga in the upcoming story "Graduation Day"--
A/N: I'm really glad you all have enjoyed this story. I'm going to try and continue on with this series. I have a quite a few ideas and directions I want to take with the characters. So, we'll see how it goes. I have plans for Jacob too.