Chapter Thirteen
As we raced through the woods, I heard the others depart from the house. I wouldn't get to see them for two whole weeks. The thought of it was saddening, but I knew Edward would keep me entertained for the next few weeks. I had no doubts about it. I was actually looking forward to it.
Rushing through the trees, we came to a clearing. A few moose were standing around, unwise to our presence. I didn't really care for the taste of moose. It was rather viscous and unsatisfying. Bear and deer were among my favorites, as well as the occasional mountain lion. I quickly decided that I would pass on the moose. I wanted something more appetizing.
"What is it?" Edward asked as I turned away from watching the moose.
"I'd rather have something else."
"What?" he asked, a rather shocked expression crossing his face.
"If it's ok with you, I'd rather find something more appetizing. You know, maybe a bear, or deer even?" I replied.
"Bella, do you know what this means?" he asked and, looking at me, an almost goofy, yet still sexy, grin crossed his face.
"That I'm hungry?"
"No, no. It means you have obtained some control over your thirst. You just chose not to launch yourself at those moose," he said proudly. I found myself smiling at his revelation. Usually my instincts got the best of me, and before I had gone through any type of thought process, I had already made my kill.
"Wow! I did didn't I?" I laughed.
"I really think you're ready for some human contact, at a distance of course," Edward said as he grabbed my hand and started to walk deeper into the woods. I followed behind him, trying to figure out what he was doing.
"Where are we going?" I asked after a few moments.
"You said you were up for some bear?"
"Yeah," I replied as the familiar smell hit my nose. The pungent musty smell called to my inner beast. I was thirsty. I hadn't fed in a few days and the fire was blazing in the back of my throat.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" he asked. I realized I had stopped. The smell was tantalizing and for a few moments I was lost in all its beauty.
"I'll beat you there," I laughed wickedly as I let go of his hand, rushing into the forest. I was fast, my new born strength and agility had given me an edge. But Edward was equally as fast, if not more so. Even though our feet barely made a sound on the ground, I could hear him approaching quickly. I dodged many trees and avoided jutting stones. I was about to reach the clearing where the bear waited unsuspected, when Edward grabbed me. I came to a stop and turned to look at him.
"Gotcha," he whispered in my ear. He let go of my arm and we edged to the clearing where the bears where waiting. My animalistic senses began to overtake me. My nose was aflame with the musty rich scent of the bear. My muscles constricted as I neared my unsuspecting prey. I was aware that Edward was stalking the other bear, but it was of little importance at the moment. All thoughts were directed solely to my soon to be meal.
The fire raging in the back of my throat pushed me onward. Every sound I made was inaudible. The bear had no idea of my presence until it was too late. With one quick movement, I launched myself on the bears back and broke its neck. It fell to the ground with a loud thud. I fell with it, sinking my teeth into its neck in the process.
The thick superb liquid filled my mouth, putting out the horrid fire. Drinking the bear dry, I stood up and surveyed the damage I had done. My animalistic senses were now at bay and my human one's were left to the horror left behind. It was always at this moment, I hated what I was. I detested that I took life to remain alive.
Edward pulled me to him. Without speaking, we both understood how horrible the other felt. It was unfair to have to take life in such a manner. But we both grasped that I was better this way than taking the life of humans. As un-human as were where, we liked to think of ourselves closely tied to humanity. If we lost our ties to humanity, we were little more than sadistic creatures.
Quickly, we cleaned up our mess, tossing the carcasses close to a pack of wolves that would rid the forest of our evidence. Hand in hand, we raced out of the forest, back to our home.
"I have to leave in a few hours," Edward said as we started up the stairs.
"Have we really been gone that long?" I sighed. Half the day was gone.
"Yes," he replied as he opened the door to our room. I walked in behind him and went instantly to the closet. After hunting, the need for showering was great.
"I'm going to take a shower," I told him as I shuffled through my clothes, trying to find a comfortable outfit. It was becoming hard to do with Alice doing all my shopping.
"Mind if I join?" he whispered my ear as he wrapped his arms around me.
"Not at all. I'm all for water conservation," I giggled.
"Then by all means, I believe we should take all our showers together," he chuckled.
"I believe we should," I laughed as I picked out his clothes and handed them to him. Grinning widely, we walked to the bathroom together.
Slowly, I pulled off my clothing. I was starting to pull down my jeans when Edward pulled me to him.
"Do you like torturing me?" he whispered in my ear before planting a kiss just under my ear lobe. He was already fully undressed and ready for the shower.
"Why would you say that?" I inquired teasingly. I knew what I was doing to him, and I had to admit, I was enjoying it.
"I wonder," he smirked as he carefully lifted my hair, placing it behind my shoulder. He started to slowly place kisses along my collar bone. The sensations were wonderful, I felt myself melting into him, all resolve, which was very little to begin with, demolished.
"Edward," I moaned, the sensations overtaking me.
"Yes love?" he asked as he pulled away. I could see now that he was going to be equally as torturous, if not more so.
"Let's get in the shower," I suggested as I tugged his arm towards the tub.
"I believe you're a little overdressed," he chuckled, pointing down to my unbuttoned jeans and bra.
"Care to me help me?" I questioned him. I looked up at him, meeting his now smoldering gaze.
"Of course," he replied, his gaze locked into mine. Carefully, he freed me from the denim. Stepping out of my jeans, he then unclasped my bra and tossed it aside. He momentarily looked down, taking in my now almost nude form. All that separated us was the thin fabric of my lacy black panties.
"Beautiful," he sighed seductively as he slowly slid the panties off me. His eyes once again met mine as he pulled me to him. His lips met mine eagerly. Lifting me off the ground, I wrapped my legs around him and he carried me into the shower. He carefully sat me down on my feet when we were in the shower to turn on the water.
The hot water, which would have scalded a human, was wondrous on our cold skin. A small groan escaped me as the liquid pelted down my back. Edward's hands slipped to the small of my back and he pulled me to him, assaulting my neck with kisses. The sensation that his lips brought put that of the water to shame. Words couldn't express how he made me feel.
"Edward," I moaned as his hand slid down my thigh.
"Bella," he whispered in my ear as he nibbled at my earlobe. A shiver ran down my spine as he slowly rubbed his hand up and down my exposed thigh.
I couldn't help myself, my hands wound carefully into messy bronze mane, willing him to meet my lips. He happily obliged, meeting them with passion and lust. Our lips battled for dominance. Opening my mouth to take in his taste, his tongue met mine. His taste and scent consumed me, wounding me in a wonderful haze.
Carefully, he pushed me against the tile in the shower. Picking me up, I wrapped my arms and legs around him. I felt him grin against my lips as he continued to kiss me. In a swift motion that made me gasp, I felt him thrust into me. I was overwhelmed with pleasure as he continued to thrust.
"Bella," he groaned. The tidal waves of pleasure were about to crash down upon me. Coherent thoughts and speech were out of grasp. My eyes rolled back in my head as I felt him tense inside me, my own pleasure taking over me.
A few moments later, I reluctantly released the grasp I had of him and he carefully placed me on my feet.
"I love you," he whispered in my ear as he placed a few quick kisses on my jaw.
"I love you too," I sighed. Moments like this made me realize the true extent of how much I cared for Edward. I simply could not live, well, exist, without him.
"I have some plans for us tomorrow," he said as he grabbed the bath sponge and soaped it up.
"Oh, what type of plans?" I asked him, arching my eyebrow.
"You'll just have to wait and see," he smirked as he started to rub the soaped up sponge along my arm.
"Oh, but Edward," I whined.
"Trust me, please?" he said, unleashing his gaze upon me.
"I do trust you. I'd just like to know what I'm getting myself into."
"Don't worry, you'll see," he laughed as he continued to wash me.
"Fine," I muttered. I grabbed the shampoo as he continued his torturous washing of my body. Squeezing out some of the strawberry scented goo, I set in on washing my hair. He finished washing my body, and I stepped under the down pour to rid myself of the suds.
"You really do know how to torture me," he groaned as I stepped out from under the shower head towards him.
"Me? You were doing a fine job of torturing me," I laughed.
"Yes you, you don't realize how amazingly breathtaking you are right now," he replied, giving my body a once over. If I were able to blush, I would definitely be doing so.
"Sure," I laughed as I took the sponge away from him and gave him a taste of his own medicine.
"Torturous isn't it?" I giggled once I was finished.
"Very," he sighed as he stepped under the water. I had to sympathize with him though. I envied the water that was now running down his body. The dripping water made him even more appealing, if that was possible.
He turned off the water once he was finished and opened the glass door of the shower. Grabbing a towel, he handed it to me and I commenced into drying myself off. He picked up a towel of his own and dried off as well. Stepping out of the shower, we dressed quickly and returned to our room.
"I wish I could stay with you longer," he said as he pulled me to him.
"Are you leaving already?" I groaned.
"In about thirty minutes," he sighed.
"I wish I could go."
"You will get to go soon. Jasper and Emmett have agreed to help when they get back and we will start exposing you to some humans."
"I'm scared," I admitted, remembering how hard it was to resist the male Irina had brought in the house.
"Don't be. I would never let you do anything you would regret, and Emmett and Jasper will be there as well," he comforted.
"I know. It's just, I worry that I will somehow get away," I muttered as buried my head against his chest.
"I would never let you get away. Bella, trust me, you will do fine."
"I do trust you," I sighed.
"If you wish, we can do a few more practice trials tomorrow before my plans," he proposed, pulling me at arms length to survey my reaction.
"Yes, I think that would be a good idea," I smiled weakly.
"You said you had a paper due?" he changed the subject.
"Yes, an analytical paper," I said.
"Are you sure you'll be ok while I'm gone?" he questioned as he led me to the bed.
"Yes, if I get lonely I'll go downstairs and talk to Esme."
"Alright. I'm going to go ahead and leave so I can drop off the picture," he whispered in my ear.
"Ok, be careful," I sighed as he wrapped his arms around me for a quick hug.
"I will. You be careful," he chuckled, before giving me a chaste kiss.
"I'll be writing an English paper, there's very few ways I could get into trouble," I laughed.
"True, but it is you we are talking about," he laughed.
"I resent that," I giggled.
"No you don't," he said as he stood up from the bed, leaving me behind.
"Ok, maybe not."
"I love you, I'll be back soon," he said as he walked backward.
"I love you too," I replied. With that, he walked out of the door and hurriedly out of the house. I listened as he opened the door of the Volvo, closed it, started the engine, and pulled out of the driveway. I listened as long as he could be heard, and once he was out of hearing range, I fell back against the bed, sighing loudly. I missed him so much already.
When he was away, it was like a piece of me was missing. Without Alice and the rest of the family here to distract me, my thoughts were plagued with worry and longing for Edward. Giving another deep sigh, I sat up and got my computer. Hopefully the English paper would distract me.
After two and half long hours, I was finished with my paper. It was extremely hard to write with my thoughts being directed elsewhere. Putting the final touches on it, I emailed it to my professor and shut down my laptop. Edward would be home any moment now, thankfully. I would go insane if I had to wait much longer for his return.
Once I was finished with my computer, I put it back at the desk and took a look around the room. It was a bit untidy and so to busy myself I decided to clean it a bit. I picked up a few disregarded clothing items and tossed them in our almost full hamper. That would need to be taken down stairs later for the wash. I then noticed the bed was a little messy and walked over to fix it.
I continued to tidy up the room until I ran out of things to do. Edward still hadn't returned, and I was beginning to worry. I looked at the clock and it was already nine. He got out of class at seven thirty. At his driving speed, and the fact that he had dropped off the picture before hand, he should have been back by now. Pacing the room back and forth, the worry started to overcome me. What could have possibly happened?
It was in that moment of panic that my cell phone rang. I dashed over to answer it, hoping that it was Edward.
"Hello," I answered it hurriedly.
"Bella?" a familiar voice replied.
"Jacob?" I questioned. I hadn't heard from him in a long time, not since our last phone call. I was sure that he had cut me out of his life forever.
"Yeah, it's me, how are you?" he questioned.
"I'm fine," I replied, still a little confused as to why he was calling.
"I'm sorry for everything Bella," he sighed. I could tell it had taken a lot out of him to tell me that.
"What are you sorry about Jake?" I asked.
"For everything. For wanting to kill you, for not understanding, for being stubborn…."
"Don't worry about it," I sighed. I looked over at the clock and saw it was now five minutes after nine.
"No, I was stupid. I didn't understand Bella, I didn't know," he rambled.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, thoroughly confused as to where he was taking this conversation.
"You told me when we last talked that I would understand one day why you did what you did. I understand Bella. I know what it means to love someone unconditionally," he responded.
"Jake, are you telling me what I think you're telling me?" I asked excitedly.
"Yes. I love her Bella, and I would do everything in my power to change what I am to be around her. Well, to be more safe," he responded.
"Jacob, don't worry. Everything will work out fine," I comforted him. I was completely happy at his news. I wanted him to be happy like me, to find love like I had, he deserved it.
"I hope you're right."
"I am," I sighed.
"I really see what you meant now," he laughed.
"It's just something you have to experience for yourself," I replied.
"Yes, so how's Edward?" he asked. I detected no malice in his voice, only curiosity.
"He's fine, he's at his night class right now. What about your girlfriend, tell me a bit about her," I responded, looking at the clock and wondering what was keeping Edward.
"She's my fiancé," he corrected me.
"Jake!" I exclaimed.
"She's wonderful. Her name is Heather. I met her in Seattle."
"I'm happy for you. I just wish I could meet her."
"Maybe we can get together soon?" he asked.
"I'm afraid not," I sighed in shame. I wouldn't want to meet his girlfriend and kill her all in the same day. I just wasn't able to have contact with humans.
"Why?" he questioned, hurt present in his tone.
"I'm not exactly safe to be around humans yet."
"Oh, well I understand."
"Maybe in a few years," I offered.
"Sounds like a plan."
"Well Bella, I'm going to have to get off here. It was nice talking to you. I hope I can talk to you again soon."
"Of course, call anytime."
"Bye Bella."
"Bye Jake," I replied as I hung up the phone. I felt a weird sense of calm knowing that he was happy. It was when I turned to face the clock that I was worried once again. It was now nine fifteen and he was no where in sight.
The phone in my hand, I was about to call him when I heard the Volvo pull into the driveway. A huge feeling of relief washed over my body knowing that he was home. I couldn't wait until he got upstairs. I found myself running out of the room and running down the stairs to meet him.
"It's nice to see you too," he smiled as he held his arms open for me.
"I missed you," I sighed as I wrapped my arms around him.
"I missed you too," he chuckled.
"What took you so long?" I asked as I looked up at him to meet his gaze.
"I'll tell you about it later," he sighed as he took my hand and started to lead me upstairs. Nodding my head, I followed him willingly. I was becoming increasingly more curious every step we took. I had a feeling he was up to something.
(A/N: Sorry this update was so long coming. Finals and writing block are getting to me. But, not to worry, I will officially be finished with finals this Tuesday! I can't wait! But anyways, I'd like to say thanks to all that have reviewed and voted. Thanks to my beta xedwardxloverx. So, what took Edward so long? Did Jacob really find love this time? How will he fit into the story, if at all? Review and let me know what you think. Oh, I also have a poll on my profile concerning my stories. Please take it if you have the time!)