Flight of the Phoenix

Chapter Fifteen – Instinct


I swept her off her feet and slowly carried her toward her bedroom. Our eyes remained locked as I quietly tried to become accustomed to the feel of her warm body pressed so intimately against mine.

I wanted more. I wanted to be closer. I was running on instinct and self-preservation. I needed Bella to survive. If she left this earth, I wouldn't hesitate to find a way to follow her. My thoughts all ran together, starting to blend and blur.

My lips lightly kissed hers, pulling her bottom lip into my mouth, sucking lightly. Bella moaned softly and closed her eyes. The cold tip of my tongue slipped inside her warm mouth. A growl started to build up in my chest.

She tastes so sweet.

Bella moaned again, as I laid her on the bed and pressed my body over hers. I felt every curve of her soft body against the hard planes of my own. Her hands stroked the back of my head softly, and then her nails dragged against my scalp. I tensed slightly, enjoying the alarming sensation of her nails against my stone flesh.

Sensing my change, Bella backed off slowly. "Bella, it's fine... it just felt so good," I gasped, pulling away from her lips. I kissed along her jawline and descended further, licking and nipping gently against her neck.

"Edward," Bella gasped, pulling at my shirt. I quickly discarded my shirt and in doing so, I was once again given a full view of her naked body.

I took a deep breath while Bella's cheeks flushed, and her hands went to cover her chest. I shook my head and gently pulled her arms away and leaned down, kissing her lips.

"You're beautiful," I whispered, peppering her face with small kisses. Bella's hands clutched onto my back, bringing me closer.

I hissed slightly as I felt her warm chest against my cold body. I groaned and thrust my tongue in her mouth again.

I couldn't take it anymore, my control was wavering. I felt everything, her body, her blood rushing in her veins, her beating heart, all under my fingertips.

All mine.

My hands wandered down her arms to her warm chest. I grazed my thumb over her pebbled peak, catching her moan in my mouth. Bella bucked her hips against mine. I grunted deeply.

I noticed that I still had too much clothes on. Bella's hands slid from my back to my chest. Her warm, delicate touch explored every dip and curve of my torso. Her hands dipped further, exploring the soft hair just under my navel. A tiny finger circled my navel, causing another growl to rip through my body.

I pulled away from her mouth and fanned my cool breath against her soft pink nipple. I watched with deep fascination as the skin puckered and her chest became covered in tiny raised bumps.

I chuckled at the effect I was having on her body.

"What's so funny?" she asked her hands still on my abdomen.

"Nothing really, I just love that I can affect you like this," I said just before taking her nipple in my mouth.

Bella mewled, arching her back closer to me. The fingernails of her exploring hands scratched from my navel all the way down to the waistband of my jeans. I groaned, loving the sensation. I bucked my hips against her naked center, causing another shiver to tremble through our bodies.

"Oh God… Edward," Bella gasped. Her fingers quickly flicked open the top button of my jeans.

My breathing hitched when I felt her warm hand touch me over the fabric of my jeans.

I growled, trying to control myself. "Wait," I said against the skin of her right breast. The instinct to take what I wanted was so powerful. It was overwhelming me. She pulled away and stilled. Her chest heaved with every labored breath she took.

"Let me do that," I said. I pulled away completely, giving the moment I needed to control myself. I stood up from the bed, closing my eyes. I slowly removed my jeans, tossing them aside.

I heard her gasp and her heart rate pick up. She could see me. She was watching me. I heard her move and shift on the bed. My eyes fluttered open, and I met with her warm eyes looking at my face.

"You're beautiful," she whispered, taking my face in her hands. Kneeling on the edge of the bed, she pressed her lips against my own.

I allowed myself to get lost in the warmth and pure bliss of her kiss. The burning in my throat was just a whisper in my thoughts. I needed to concentrate on her. Not on my thirst. Just her…

My hands slid down her arms, the sides of her body and came to rest on the flare of her hips. I pulled away from her mouth, kissing her lightly. "Bella, you need to tell me if I hurt you. I need to know if I'm holding you too hard, or if..."

"Do you want me to just put my shield down?" she asked sweetly. Her gaze rested on my face before placing a kiss on my jaw. She continued placing small kisses on my facr, descending further, to my neck.

"Yes, I'd love to know what you're thinking." I groaned, tightening my grip on her hips.

I could feel her cheeks flush. I pulled away, watching her face flush further. "What?" I asked, kissing her warm cheek.

"Um… I'm not sure you want to know what I'm thinking."

"Why?"

"Ugh... um... Oh God." Bella huffed. "Fine. I'll let you in. Don't say I didn't warn you."

I chuckled. "I always want to know what you're thinking." I pushed her gently back onto the bed, hovering over her body. Our legs were intertwined together, our chest leveled with each other and our hips pressed together. My erection was pressed against her warm thigh.

I groaned softly, laying my head in the center of her chest. "Oh Bella, you're so warm."

"Kiss me, Edward." Her thoughts came into my mind, soft and whimpering.

I looked up at her, her eyes lidded with desire, love and trust.

"I trust you, Edward. We belong together," she thought. I nodded and pressed my lips against hers. Our hands started to explore each other slowly.

I cupped one of her breasts in one of my palms. They were so soft and warm, the weight pleasant.

"Your cold body feels amazing against my burning skin," Bella moaned softly in her thoughts.

Interesting, she liked the frigid temperature of my body. Testing a theory, I blew a breath of cool air from my lips down the valley of her breasts. I watched with rapt attention the small goose bumps that rose all the way down past her navel.

I smiled, chuckling slightly. I swirled my tongue slowly under her breast until I reached her nipple.

"Stupid good-at-everything vampire," Bella's thoughts grumbled.

I chuckled further. "I must admit, love. Your open mind is actually making this –" I brushed my fingers over her navel to the soft curls of her sex "– easier." I groaned, feeling the evidence of her arousal.

Bella huffed and then retaliated by digging her fingernails down the expanse of my back. I growled and hissed deeply. I glared at her, causing her to smirk.

"Be careful, love," I hissed before crashing my lips on hers. She should be careful. She was playing with fire. A fire that threatened to consume me with the burning need to claim her, to be inside her. My fingers continued their exploration until I was met with her soft folds. I caressed them gently, circling her clit slowly.

Her thoughts were concentrated on how I was making her feel. She loved it and kept craving more. Her hips started to buck against my exploring fingers. I slowly inserted one finger inside her warm. I pulled away from her mouth, groaning deeply. She was so wet, warm and tight. I held still, not only to allow her to grow accustomed to the intrusion but also to allow myself a chance to control myself.

Bella's emotions, lust, desire and overwhelming love was radiating out from her mind and body. Calling me… beckoning me to continue.

I pulled my finger out slightly and then slipped it back in, deeper. I inserted another finger, causing Bella to moan my name, chant-like.

"More," she cried out. I quickened my pace, always aware of her thoughts and feelings. Sometimes I would compensate whenever I felt a whisper of pain.

Pain.

She would bleed when I took her. Would I be able to continue without killing her?

"I won't bleed. Oh... God... um surgery and examination, broke... ugh... hymen."

I looked up at her my eyes meeting hers, stilling my ministrations. "I'm sorry it happened that way, love." Despite the fact I was thankful that she wouldn't bleed, it wasn't far for her to have gone through that with a complete stranger.

Bella nodded and then closed her eyes as I continued. "Can I touch you?" she asked softly in her thoughts. I gulped, swallowing the venom that had pooled in my mouth. I groaned softly and nodded.

Her hands traveled slowly down my back, following the natural curve to the small of my back. Her fingers splayed and descended further over my backside.

I groaned and bucked my hips against her. My erection nestled between our bodies, twitched. I needed to get inside her. My unoccupied hand roamed over her supple breasts as I kissed her deeply. Bella's body started to tighten as the walls of her core clenched around my fingers. I curved my fingers inside her, tapping her walls, searching for that spot.

Bella gasped suddenly, and I knew I had found it. Her mind continued chanting my name as I quickened and deepened my pace, always aware of touching that spot, while my thumb pressed hard against her clit.

Suddenly, Bella's body stilled and her entire upper body arched violently as she came. Her face was flushed, her eyes closed and her mouth parted as she inhaled a deep breath before exhaling deeply.

So damn beautiful, she was.

Evidence of her release flowed from her body onto my hand. I slowly removed my fingers, curious... I needed a taste. Bella's eyes fluttered open, no doubt aware of my intentions, her thoughts still open to me. She remained still, watching me. I slowly took my fingers and brought them to my lips. I inhaled deeply and groaned, sucking on them slowly.

Fuck.

Bella tensed. She heard me curse, something I had never done before in her presence. Then her arousal permeated the air. She liked it. She smiled and nodded, blushing.

"Love, you taste delicious," I moaned, licking my fingers.

Bella bit her lip and blushed, rolling her eyes. Her hands pulled me back to her body. She caressed my backside, and then traveled forward. I moaned, stilling my body as I allowed her access, pulling away from her body slightly. Her hands glided forward, touching my erection tentatively. At first, it was just a fingertip against the tip. I growled, a shiver running down my back.

Her hand wrapped around my length tightly. I moaned, pressing my head against her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered in her thoughts. I shook my head. She shouldn't be sorry for making me feel so good.

Hearing her thoughts, feeling everything she was feeling. Her gifts were making this more exciting and harder at the same time.

It was taking every morsel of control to not just plunge into her. Deep and hard.

Bella gasped, and her thoughts told me just how she felt about my urges. "Do it," she gasped, pumping me, sliding the head of my cock against her warm core.

"Fuck," I groaned. "You're playing with fire," I reminded her, growling lowly.

"I don't care. I need you," she gasped, bucking her hips against me. I growled again, cradling her head in my hand and crushing my mouth on hers. I bucked my hips, showing her that I wanted it.

Showing her, I needed her.

I bucked again and her hands left my cock, whimpering when I positioned myself between her bent legs. Bella moaned softly, her hands now running through my hair. I looked up at her, looking deeply in her eyes. This was it. She had to be sure. "Are you sure, Bella?" I would stop if she asked me to, but it would likely kill me to do so.

Bella nodded. "I love you."

I smiled, kissing her lips softly. "I love you, too."

I slowly pushed into her. Groaning, I felt an overwhelming urge to thrust forward, hard and fast. I held it back, aware of Bella's need to become accustomed to me. She whimpered, swirling her hips a bit. I moaned and slid a little further in.

Oh God. So warm…

"So cold inside me, it's like ice touching fire."

I growled, looking at her. "More," she whispered, her eyes locked with mine. She licked my bottom lip, causing me to moan. I parted my lips further, licking her lip before exploring her warm mouth. I slowly thrust forward until I was completely inside her body.

Bella tensed, biting her lower lip, gasping. "Just give me a moment."

I nodded against her neck, fighting the urge to move. I licked and kissed a sensitive spot under her ear. Bella moaned before moving her hips slightly. I gasped, stilling her hips with my hands.

"I'm fine. You can move." Bella's thoughts filled my head. I didn't sense any pain in her mind, so I pulled out, enjoying the friction. I thrust back in, gasping, always keeping Bella's thoughts, changes to her heart rate in my mind to help gauge her reactions. Cautious of possible pain I could cause her.

"You think too much," Bella gasped, arching her back and meeting my hips, taking me in deeper. I groaned, this time thrusting in harder and faster.

"Yes," she cried out. Her fingers dug into my shoulders as our hips continued moving together in harmony. The scent of her arousal, her blood and sweat was overpowering my sense of smell. I stopped breathing to see if it would out stomp the urge to bite something. My eyes locked onto her pulse point on her neck. I could see through the thin veil of pale skin, her rushing blood causing her skin to lift up and down... Mmm...

Bella's hands tugged at my hair roughly. "Edward," she whispered, kissing my lips gently. Oh God, I closed my eyes and kissed her lips feverishly.

We both knew where that line of thought could've led.

Bella's touches turned more gentle and loving. I did the same, our eyes locked as I concentrated on slowing my strokes but deepening them. My hands left her hips, scared that I might bruise her. My arms went over her head, clutching the top edge of the mattress.

Bella moaned deeply, a thin sheen of sweat covering her body. I felt her tighten around me deliciously. I clenched my fingers, digging into the mattress. I groaned and kissed her mouth hard. I continued sucking on her lips and tongue until I felt her start to tremble around me.

She gasped and screamed my name as she came. Her head pressed into the pillow, her eyes closed in ecstasy. Then I felt it.

I felt it all. In my mind, she was screaming my name. Then I felt the immense sense of love, desire and pleasure coming off her. Then I felt the amazing sensation of her climax with me still deep inside was too much. I groaned deeply and thrust one more time before I spilled inside her. The sensation was fucking amazing, sending my senses into overload.

I wasn't sure how or why, but she came again. She clutched her shoulders, her nails attempting to dig into my skin.

"Oh... damn," Bella gasped. Suddenly, all around the room, everything came crashing down. I looked around, confused. Books, her TV, stereo and several other items lay on the floor, broken. I looked back at Bella, who was blushing and biting her lip. I looked at her in question.

"Um... apparently when... um…that happens, my powers kind of have a mind of their own."

I chuckled, I couldn't help myself. She slapped my chest in mock anger. "It could've been worse. It could've been us."

I laughed harder. "If that's the case, it wouldn't be safe to do that again in the house."

Bella glared. "Shut up." She smiled at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. "I knew you could do it."

I kissed her lips softly. "I love you, my beautiful Bella."

She hummed, and then she moved her hips slightly. I hissed slightly, since I was still inside her. She moaned. "So quick," she gasped.

"I'm a vampire, love. So, yes, a quick recovery," I said a bit embarrassed at insatiable thirst of a vampires body.

"Well, then." Bella smirked. I shook my head.

"Love, you're going to be sore. I'm fine." I made to pull away, but Bella used her powers against me. She restrained me against her body.

"I'm fine." She winked, and then I felt... fuck... she was getting warmer.

Ugh, fucking hell – so good.

Bella giggled in my head. "I can heal, remember?"

I groaned, kissing her mouth and starting to move within her.

"At this rate... you'll never get some sleep tonight." I gasped. The warmth of her body and being inside her felt, so good.

"Oh God... Edward," Bella moaned, tugging at my hair, urging me to continue.

Bella succumbed to sleep a couple of hours later. As much as I wanted to lay there with her, I could hear Alice and Jasper waiting for me in the living room.

I covered Bella up with her comforter and quietly picked up all the things on the floor. I dressed quickly and went to meet Alice and Jasper.

Alice was sitting on the couch with a laptop. She smiled at me. "I'm already ordering replacements for the mattress, frames, TV and books she destroyed during –"

"Alice," I warned her.

A cool hand clasped on my shoulder. "Edward, I think you and I have to have a talk about..."

"Jasper!" I elbowed him.

He shook his head, laughing. "With Bella's powers, you had the whole neighborhood, hell, the town."

My eyes widened and he nodded, replaying the memories in his mind.

"When Alice and I arrived, we had no idea what the hell was going on. There were moans and from just about every house. I think she affected the animals too!"

I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Please don't tell her. She'll be mortified."

Alice looked over, rolling her eyes. "We won't, but you're lucky Emmett wasn't here to witness the effects you two had here."

"Oh God. He'd never let us hear the end of it," I grumbled, sitting by Alice on the couch. "When is everyone going to be here?" I asked, covering my eyes with my arm.

"They'll be here tomorrow afternoon," Alice replied, clicking away at Bella's laptop.

"Where is everyone staying?" I asked, hoping they'd get hotel rooms. There was no way Emmett would understand my need to watch Bella sleep. That I'd like to explore Bella every chance I got.

"Carlisle and Esme are staying at a hotel, and Rosalie and Emmett will be staying with Jasper and me at your house," Alice answered, checking out on a website to the grand total of $867.89.

I rolled my eyes at her. She shrugged her shoulders. "What she needs is to get new bedding. The two sets she has are just not enough."

"Fine, but you know she won't like it."

"So, what did you find out in Laden?"

Jasper sighed. "James and Victoria haven't been there yet. We searched the entire town and surrounding areas. Nothing. We found the alley. It's between an Italian restaurant and a book store.

"Did you have any visions like Bella's? About this Adam?"

Alice shook her head. "I'm sorry, Edward. I'm not sure what's going to happen to Bella. I got the vision where she dies because she falls and hits her head. But that's it."

I sighed. "She said that everything became unclear after two weeks once I decided..."

Alice smirked. "What's the matter, Edward? You can have sex, but you can't say the word?"

I glared at her, earning a chuckle from Jasper. "Alice, it's not just sex with Bella and me, so drop it. But she tried running through different possible decisions, and no matter what she decided, she still died. Then suddenly blank. Does it mean that she dies before the two weeks, or something else?"

Alice looked deep in thought, but in reality, she was searching our futures. And sure enough, when she tried to get past Bella's future and mine, it disappeared in the cover of dark clouds.

"Maybe the wolves are involved. We all know Alice can't see them," Jasper offered.

"Hmm... that's possible. Maybe one of them made a decision to come after talking to Carlisle," Alice said.

I checked the clock. Only a few minutes had passed. I was aching to go back to Bella. Alice touched my shoulder. "Go. Jasper and I are heading to your house."

I smiled and kissed her cheek. "Thank you, Alice."

Alice smiled mischievously. "Before you go, you need to watch this." She put the laptop on my lap and clicked on a button.

My eyes widened. "She... this! This is how she wants me to make it up to her!"

Jasper and Alice laughed as they got up to leave. "Don't forget, Emmett has been trying to get you into that red leather suit since 1982."

I watched in horror at the man dancing the screen, grabbing his crotch, and singing, 'Cause this is thriller!'

Damn it.


AN: Beta'd by lisa89, thank you. Erica