Hello everyone! Thank you for the support thus far in the story. I appreciate the adds and the reviews. This is a particularly long chapter in Edwards' POV. I considered turning it into two separate chapters, but I thought it just flowed better this way. In this chapter is my first ever attempt at a lemon! Hooray! Enjoy it, and tell me what you think.
(Edward's POV)
I looked over briefly to Bella, to check her face for any signs of discomfort, there were none. I smiled a her. She was focused. I don't think she'd realized yet that running for us was second nature, and she didn't have to work so hard at it. I laughed a bit at her expression, and she turned to me, pouting.
"What's so funny?" I tightened my grip on her hand and smiled again.
"Sorry to disturb your concentration." She looked at me, confused. "You know, you really don't have to pay much attention to what you're doing. Your body does all the work. Your mind is free to wander." Understanding lit her face, and I swore I could still see her blush somewhere on her pale cheeks. Confrontation
"Well…I don't think I want to let my mind wander too much right now anyway…" I frowned at her.
"Why's that? What's on your mind?" She turned away from me. Now I was curious.
"It's nothing. I'm just thinking about all the people I left behind. With no goodbyes." I knew she would regret this. I slowed our pace just a little and looked back at her.
"I'm sorry Bella…I should have taken your feelings into more consideration. I knew you wouldn't want to do this so suddenly…not be able to leave Charlie, Renee and your friends with an explanation. I looked down, not able to meet her eyes anymore.
"No. Edward, if you hadn't done this…I would be dead. At least this way…in a few more years, maybe I can go back and see Charlie, explain things to him then. I don't regret this, Edward. I'm happy. I want to be with you. Please believe me." I sighed and nodded. We had already covered a few hundred miles. It was then that I caught a scent in the air. It was human…but something else too. Something animal. Hunters, maybe? But that smell was not appetizing at all. It didn't matter, I grabbed Bella in my arms and stopped dead, trying to assess the situation. She hadn't caught the scent yet, thankfully.
What was that smell? There was only one source of the scent. Something both human and animal. But it couldn't be. Not him. Not now. It was too late though, and Bella looked up at me, fear coloring her expression.
"What is that smell?" She looked at me, then inhaled again, her nose crinkling up in response. "It's horrible…"
"It's werewolf." I corrected her. I watched her make the connection in an instant. I remembered what I had said earlier. About the dog taking off after his attack on Bella. About him heading north. Could we have really crossed paths? The wilderness was so expansive, couldn't he find some other part to sulk in. This would surely be hard on Bella. She tugged on my sweater collar.
"He's coming this way. I think he smells us too." She whispered to me, but I could already tell. I tired again in vain to see into Bella's mind. Her expression was stern, maybe even angry. Rightfully so, I thought to myself. Then I heard a rustling in bushes about a hundred yards to the east of where we stood. Bella's grip on my hand tightened as he made his way to us, arms crossed against his chest, face as stern as Bella's, clad in only a pair of cut off shorts. He stopped ten feet away from us, lifted his nose to the air, and recoiled almost as quickly. I saw his eyes sweep over Bella quickly, taking in her new appearance. He would know what it meant. The pale skin, red irises, inhuman beauty, could only mean one thing: Vampire. He glared at me menacingly, then turned back to Bella and spoke.
"God…Bella…What did he do to you!" Was he angry at her? This was unacceptable. I heard Bella hiss under her breathe and I growled a response.
"What didI do? You have got to be kidding, dog." He growled back at me.
"Was I talking to you, you filthy leech? At least I didn't turn her into a monster!" He shouted again. Could this mongrel not speak in a civil tone? I wondered.
"At least he didn't kill me!" I heard Bella retort, just a hint above yell. She was defending me.
"You'd be better off dead!" As soon as the words left his mouth I heard his internal monologue begin. Oh, shit! I shouldn't have said it like that…she'll take it the wrong way…If it wasn't for that bloodsucker, none of this would have ever happened. This is all his fault. But he could not take back the words that had exited his mouth uncensored and they echoed through the trees, seeming to be amplified by them. Bella cringed. He seemed to also. I let out a low growl, stepping forward.
"I-I didn't mean it like that Bella." He took a step towards her, I pushed her slightly behind me.
"Oh, really? Well it sure as hell sounded like it. Too bad you're never going to get your wish." She spoke again and slipped one arm around my back, pulling herself closer. I smirked.
"So, this is what you want then? To be a bloodsucking monster with him?" His voice dripped with disgust.
"Yes. It is. It's better than being six feet under." I wondered to myself bitterly if that was the truth.
But if this was what she wanted, then how could I deny her? I was too selfish.
"I'm sorry Bella…" His face fell. "I'm sorry I lost control with you. Sorry this had to happen."
"It's too late for apologies now, Jacob. What's done is done. I'm leaving now. You should go home…" Her voice had grown softer. He tensed up again, trying to regain his defensive façade before he spoke.
"Whatever, I'll go home when I'm ready….enjoy your life with the bloodsucker." "Oh, she will." I couldn't help but answer back, smugly. I lifted her face up to mine and kissed her without restraint.
"You don't deserve her, leech…" Jacobs voice rang out in my head like my own conscience. I knew I didn't deserve her, no…but she wanted me.
"She was mine. I loved her…I loved her and you stole her from me. I won't forget this. You're a monster, and I'll find a way to save her.
His mental vow worried me, but not enough to distract me from the woman I held in my arms. She smiled, unable to hear the words he had unknowingly spoken to me and turned back but Jacob was already heading into the trees, in another second, he had exploded into a mess of fur and was gone.
"That went well…" She said sarcastically. I hugged her to me, suddenly needing her to be closer.
"Don't worry about it. He had no right to speak to you that way. If he does it again, I'll rip out his vocal cords…" She slapped my arm lightly.
"Don't do that…you're better than that, Edward. Besides, I don't have any intention of ever speaking to him again." That thought calmed me and I lifted her easily into my arms before taking off through the woods again.
"We'll be in Denali in a few more hours."
"Okay…if you insist on carrying me, I guess I'll just rest." I looked down at her.
"Bella…you know you can't sleep."
"I know…that doesn't mean I can't close my eyes and pretend." I smiled at her, but it was empty. Sleep. One more thing I had stolen from her. She nestled herself into my neck and was silent.
We ran non-stop for hours. The trip through Canada was easy, hardly a soul within a fifty mile radius around us the whole way. My senses were more keen than hers still, so she hadn't noticed any human scent, mercifully. She had remained completely still for almost the entire trip. I was desperately curious to know what she was thinking. I couldn't really tell when we had passed through Canada into Alaska, but I knew we were still headed in the right direction. I caught the scent of the others and shook Bella gently, though it wasn't necessary. She could smell them too.
"We're almost there, love." She shifted in my arms and looked back at me.
"Oh…okay, umm…do I look okay?" I chuckled at her.
"Yes, Bella, you're beautiful as always." I slowed down to a jog. "Why do you ask?" I already knew the answer. Alice couldn't keep her discussion with Bella about the Denali sisters out of her mind before we had left.
"Well…Alice said…that one of the women there…." She was struggling, and though it was adorable, I relieved her of the words."You're worried Tanya won't think of you as threat. That she'll keep trying to 'seduce' me." I chuckled again. Her insecurities were unfounded. She nodded sheepishly.
"Bella…will you ever see yourself clearly? Even if Tanya was the most beautiful vampire in the world, it wouldn't matter to me. I love you." I pulled her in, kissing her with more passion than I'd allowed myself while she was human. She seemed to notice the difference, wrapping an arm around my neck, and tangling the other hand into my hair, pulling me closer. I wanted to continue, but I broke away. Her expression when I stopped made me want to pull her back and continue to assault her lips, But I sighed and resisted, choosing to instead set her on her feet beside me.
"Bella…they can smell us too…if we don't get there soon, they might think something happened to us. I laughed again and she smiled.
"Okay fine…we'll continue this later." We hurried up to the Denali sister's property.
It was rather expansive, like our home in Forks. Permanent. The acreage around the cabins was also meant to keep out curious outsiders. I heard Bella gasp next to me.
"It's gorgeous." Was all she could say as we made out way up to the main cabin.. It was two stories, large, by human standards. The three of them were standing out on their front porch, waiting for us. I smiled at them and waved, pulling Bella a bit closer to me. Tanya was the first to come forward, arms open in welcome. She hugged me first and I felt Bella tense up. She quickly released me and hugged Bella as well. Her eyes widened.
"So, this is your mate, Edward? Why she's absolutely lovely." She stepped back a bit and looked to me. I heard her thoughts ring out. No, really Edward, I mean it…she's beautiful. I thought I could hear regret tinge her thoughts. I smiled at her still. Tanya was so caring and genuine.
Her sisters approached soon after, each hugging me, but not quite so bold as Tanya to embrace a newborn. Kate looked from us to the guest cabin on the west side of the property.
"Would you like us to show you your accommodations? She laughed brightly. "I'm not sure it will be big enough once the others arrive, but it should be more than enough room for the two of you." I saw Bella smile and nod awkwardly.
"Yes, Kate…we've had a long run, that would be wonderful." Tanya and Kate began to walk to the cabin, I noticed Irina head back to the main house silently. When we had almost arrived, I turned to Tanya.
"What's wrong with Irina? She's acting differently…." Tanya answered me quietly, as if her sister would hear, which she probably could.
"Well…you knew Laurent?" I nodded. I preferred not to think of him or his ties to James, the monster who had almost succeeded in turning Bella over a year ago. I cringed at the similarities we now shared. "Well…Irina and him connected when he arrived here. They really bonded and I thought he would stay for good, but he just…left suddenly…almost a week ago. Irina was devastated. She hasn't said much since he left. I think it hurt her to see how close you and Bella are, so soon after…well, you know…" She smiled at me weakly and I nodded, understanding. Kate piped up.
"Well, here it is. I know it's not as big as your house in Forks, but it should do for now." She smiled and unlocked the front door for us.
"No, really, Kate…Tanya, it's perfect…thank you so much for the hospitality." I took my backpack from Bella's shoulder and walked up the steps with her.
"We're going to go hunting tomorrow morning, if you'd like to join us?" Tanya said as they were leaving.
"Okay, we'll see if Bella is up to it tomorrow." They nodded and left back to their own house. I picked her up with one arm and carried her over the threshold. She broke her silence then.
"You didn't have to make me sound so fragile…." I looked at her, confused, she continued. "we'll see if Bella is up to it tomorrow…" She mocked me and I chuckled at her.
"Well…you're still so new at hunting. I didn't know if you'd want to go with them."
"Well…I…maybe you're right…" She sighed and I hugged her closer.
"It's perfectly fine, Love…you'll get the hang of it soon enough."
She smiled and kissed me as I set down the backpacks. I took her in both my arms then, deepening the kiss, pulling her as close as I could, feeling her soft body mold to mine. The feeling was exquisite. Suddenly, my mind was flooded with memories from earlier. The encounter with Jacob floated to the front. I had the sudden urge to claim her. To make her mine. She lifted herself up onto my body, wrapping her long legs around my waist. I groaned into her mouth. She took it as encouragement. Could she sense my desire? She paused for a moment, pulling a fraction of an inch away from my mouth. She whispered to me, her tone seductive, whether intentional or not.
"Now, Edward. I need you right now." I nodded. That was the only decent action I could manage. I got a more firm grasp on her, placing my hands under her rear, and proceeded to the back of the cabin, where the master bedroom was.
There was a bed in the room, for looks if nothing else. It was a prop, of course, but a very appreciated one at the moment, though I would have had my way with her in a tree right now if I had no other choice. I flopped her down on the soft, goose feather comforter and pressed myself into her. She let out a soft moan, increasing my arousal ten-fold. She pushed her nimble body back up to meet mine. Clothing suddenly became a barrier I couldn't deal with. I pulled her sweaters from her body, tossing them to the side and slid jeans to the floor. She had already taken care of her boots before I had noticed. I stood for a moment, staring at her. Reveling in the beauty of her whole body. Had Alice foreseen this? These undergarments didn't seem like Bella's usual taste. I didn't care.
"Bella…God, Bella…you're so beautiful…" I breathed, barely a whisper, but I knew she heard me. She smiled at me, lust filled her eyes. I leaned in and kissed her again. The feeling of her lips against mine was like a drug. I ran my hand up he side, stopping short of her breast. She cried out, arching her back towards me.
"May I…?" I moved to unclasp her bra.
"You'd better." The menace in her tone was purely playful, at least I thought so, but if I stopped now, who knew what she might do to me. I slowly pulled her bra away, tossing it down with her other cloths. I lightly rubbed my thumb over the most sensitive spot and she gasped in pleasure. She lifted her hips up eagerly to meet mine. I pressed down in return and drew out another lovely noise from her.
"This isn't even close to fair…" She managed to gasp out between kisses. "You still have all your cloths on…" I followed her eyes down to my fully clothed body. I smirked and went to remove my own sweater, she grabbed my hands and flipped me over. I couldn't help but notice the alluring way her breasts moved, now unrestrained. Her newborn strength allowed her to restrain me one handed with ease. She used the other to literally rip my wool sweater from my body. She growled in response to the plain white undershirt that greeted her beneath. I chuckled at her. The garment was in shreds before I could open my mouth to protest. "There now. That's a bit a better…but something still seems to be in the way…" She smirked and softly brushed my arousal through my jeans. I inhaled sharply and she giggled in response. Why did she have to be such a tease? She tugged at my belt gingerly, suddenly seeming to become shy again.
"Edward..I" She paused, leaning back off me onto her heels. I groaned at the loss of contact.
"I don't know what I'm doing…" She smiled at me tentatively and I returned it.
"And you think I do? We'll figure this out together Bella…there's no one else in the world I'd rather experience this with." She flashed another bright smile at me as her dainty hands flew back to my belt, quickly undoing it and pulling down both my pants and underwear in one fluid motion. She tossed them aside and they landed on the floor next to her bra.
Then I heard the inevitable gasp as she saw me…all of me…bare to the world. I leaned up on my elbows and smirked.
"Don't like what you see, Love?" I feigned disappointment.
"No…I-I mean…yes. I do. Your body…it's…magnificent." I smiled genuinely and pulled her body back onto mine. I lifted up her hair and whispered in her ear.
"Not nearly as magnificent as you are, my love." She sighed into my chest and I had decided that we had waited long enough. Taking control back, I flipped her onto her back and straddled her. She moaned at the careful contact I made.
"You have no idea how long I've been waiting to touch you this way Bella…to feel worthy to touch you." I stroked her sides gently up and down with my fingers as I spoke. She writhed underneath me. I continued to arouse her with my words. "I'm going to make you feel so much pleasure Bella…you won't even be able to remember your name." She moaned again and pressed her center up to meet my own heated arousal. I groaned.
"Then do it Edward." She bit her lip in the most seductive way and I lost it. One hand flew back up to her perfectly round breasts and the other gently slid between her legs, quickly doing away with her underwear. She cried out again. I stroked the lips, softly at first, then found the sensitive area at the front. I flicked at it, testing her reaction. She nearly screamed. This must have been what my brothers had talked about. The pleasure center of the female body. I played with it more, rubbing it between my fingers while still caressing her breasts.
"More, Edward…I need more…" I plunged two fingers into her heated core and again she screamed in pleasure. I had only a vague idea of what he was doing, but judging by her reaction I had to be doing something right. I had been most unfortunate in my decades of unnatural life to experience the lustful thoughts of almost everyone I spent any considerable amount of time near, but it had yielded one positive result: I had some slight idea of what to do to please Bella now. Using two fingers, I stroked her soft core. She was squirming underneath me, moaning over and over in pleasure. I was barely able to cling to my senses as she begged me to go faster. I obliged without hesitation, increasing the pace of my strokes, still coming back to rub her sensitive nerve, just enough to send her screaming to orgasm. My name fell from her lips like liquid gold. Dripping with lust, love, desire, need, and a few other emotions I couldn't quite place.
"Edward…oh god…that was…""Magnificent?" I finished her sentence. She regained her composure quickly and giggled, pushing slightly at my shoulder. "Oh, no…I'm not even close to done with you yet, love." She feigned fright and backed up from me, crawling towards the headboard. I growled softly and tackled her to the bed again. I planted soft kisses all over her body. Her skin was delectable.
I pressed my body against hers, molding every curve of mine to her own. She stifled another giggle and looked up at me.
"I think there's something you need to take care of Edward…" I smirked and she ground her hips against my erection. I let out another moan, encouraging her.
"Bella…do you want to…" I felt suddenly embarrassed by what I was asking, but she cut me off mercifully.
"Yes…god, yes…Edward…I have to feel you."
Ohhhhh…..I know, I know…you all hate me right now, but I promise the next chapter will be up ASAP, so don't fret. The more reviews you leave, the faster I will put up the next chapter…because I am evil.