Edward's POV
Hunting is a brutal sport, but in my case and for those like me, a necessary one. Sarah has wrongly turned her back on it. That shouldn't be. She went through the harshness of her change unaided and there was no one to instruct her on the skills and art of the hunt. It was a part of her now and she needed to accept it.
I hardly knew Sarah when she agreed to help me in my own desperate situation. We overcame obstacles one at a time and I felt I could help her do the same with her aversion to the chase. Besides, I was damn good at it. I decided an assortment of different hunting styles might be useful to her and phoned Alice. She and Jasper had backtracked to Cannon Beach and were staying in a lodge by the ocean suitably called, The Ocean Lodge. Neither had hunted in days and they agreed to come to our little college town of Eugene.
Now if I could just talk Sarah into going along.
I had the opposite difficulty when it came to Bella. She wanted to come along when I told her of my preparation, and I refused to permit it. "Absolutely not." I told her foolishly expecting that would put an end to the conversation. I was wrong. She bombarded me with lame reasons several more times in the next hour petitioning for her involvement. "No, no, no." What part of NO does she not understand? I decided our excursion would take place during Bella's class schedule so she wouldn't have much time on her hands in which to mope.
The arrival of Alice and Jasper improved her disposition significantly. It was wonderful seeing the girls together again. Once Alice stepped foot into the house, Bella all but dragged her out into the backyard obviously to divulge confidential information from the previous day. I wasn't sure how I felt about that, but as I'd already stepped over that line myself I couldn't say a thing.
Jasper and I went next door to fetch Sarah. We were met with a high pitched "Come on in!" She was struggling with several black cords sticking out from all directions from the newly acquired entertainment system. The most prevalent thing I noticed though were the Styrofoam peanuts sticking to her hair. "It's going to take me years to figure this out." She pouted, but her eyes lit up the second she spotted Jasper.
"Can't Mike help you with that?" I asked sarcastically chiding her about the Circuit City employee.
"Oh, don't get me started Sugar; he was a bona fide dud." She turned to my brother, "How about you Honey, I'll bet you could push all the right buttons…" She fluttered her eyes. Enough of this.
Jasper, oblivious to the innuendos coming his way answered, "I could try, but Emmett always assembles everything electronic." He shrugged in apology.
An idea seemed to strike her. "And when do I get to meet Emmett?" She asked me eagerly.
"He's married." I kidded her. She was so easy to rile, a sitting target.
She squinted her eyes at me attempting to look dangerous. "I know that!!" Jasper looked at me wondering what he did wrong. Clueless.
I had to laugh. "Come on Sarah we want to take you next door to meet Alice." Her mouth dropped open. I just smiled. The three of us walked in and saw Alice and Bella now on the couch speaking in whispers. My love was grinning from ear the ear and my sister began raising her perfectly sculpted black eyebrows at me. Some things should be left in the bedroom.
Alice stood and came over to us and grasped Sarah's hand. "I'm very happy to meet you Sarah and glad you're going to be joining the family. You'll find things much easier this way, you'll see." Sarah looked like she'd just been admonished. Alice was no fool. I'd informed her of a possible rivalry and she was handling it exactly right.
"Well, thank you….Alice." Poor Sarah looked completely defeated. Any thoughts in the back of her scheming little head pertaining to Jasper were now gone. That was a relief. The niceties were wearing thin and I began to explain the reason for calling them all together, so to speak. I always did like Agatha Christie.
Sarah's POV
"No freaking way." I crossed my arms sternly. They all wanted to go hunting, to force me to go hunting…I hated hunting. Why are they all ganging up on me? The cute little pixie and dreamy Jasper stood near the kitchen with thoughtful looks on their faces. Why doesn't anyone understand? "Look, it's mainly the gross out factor, okay, so I don't want to break Bambi's neck." The little black haired sprite giggled. Bella just looked worried. Things really were easier when I lived alone.
Ed put his two cents in; make that two gazillion cents in. "Did you ever consider using your…power during the hunt? You may never even have to lay a hand on your prey, besides the actual drinking." Well, no, I never had and I shook my head to admit the fact.
Alice chimed out, "Edward would make an excellent teacher, and he really is most experienced." I had to snort at the mixed meaning floating around in my dirty little mind. Like the queen of England, Ed was not amused…again. He rolled his eyes. Bella turned red and meticulously inspected the couch pillow.
"I'm not exactly practiced in my…ability." Then I remembered the other night bowling with Mike. "Oh, except I did let Mike bowl a 300 believing it might make him feel all commanding…for later on." I thought back at how Mike would roll the bowling ball at the pins and every time I'd push the extra ones he'd missed over with my thoughts. "It didn't work very well though...like I said…a total washout." The room erupted in laughter at my little anecdote. I had to smile; I guess it was pretty silly. These people were my family now; I suppose I should put some trust into them. I agreed to go, but made no promises.
Edward's POV
Later that evening
I should learn to paint, I contemplated. It can't be that difficult and it would fill the twilight hours.
Bella slept deeply as I ran my cold fingers through her silky tresses, spreading them over her pillow in a decorative fashion. I knew I wouldn't wake her. Bella's new "exercise" as she covertly refers to it makes her absurdly relaxed. It's wonderful that she can fall into such a deep untroubled sleep, but…the sleep talking has stopped. Her rest is of course more important than my entertainment, but I missed it more than I liked to admit. She was out like a light and I was, if possible, more alert than ever. Our new closeness seemed to heighten my awareness, and had done the opposite for her.
To make things worse, or better, depending on how you looked at it, Bella had begun sleeping in the nude. Just this evening after we had carefully made love (well, one of us was trying to be careful), she "blissed out" and refused to put her nightclothes back on. It was too much trouble apparently and she didn't want to "ruin her buzz". She was coming up with an entire new vocabulary lately.
Because of her exposed state, I told myself it was not my fault, I was being driven to distraction and no one could possibly blame me for the outcome. After only two nights of being deprived of Bella's subconscious thoughts I started in on a little experiment for my own personal benefit.
I should be locked up.
My research involved stroking her in a way…and in a place that had already been proven very effective in pleasing her. I followed that with whispering in her ear in different languages. That's where the experimentation part comes in, it's all very scientific. I find I can say things to her this way that would never pass my lips otherwise. I suppose both because she's asleep and she wouldn't comprehend if she were awake. Ridiculous, I know. Perhaps in a few hundred years I'll overcome my introversion of speaking these things aloud to her…except then she'll know what a perverted maniac I am, but back to the experiment.
Bella likes Italian.
I caressed her naked form as I whispered, "Tu profumi di sesso, amore mio." (You smell like sex, love.)
She stretched her arms up over her head and mewled like a young feline. If I'd had a notebook handy to record my results that one would surely merit five stars. I tried again, this time making small circles and adding more pressure, my lips just brushing her earlobe. "Co'mo se siente eso, Bella?" (How does that feel, Bella?)
Spanish was raising her temperature to a dangerous level and she started to hum. I could write a medical thesis on this and enjoy every second of it.
I switched to German, "Ich muss Sie wieder schmecken." (I need to taste you again.) It seems I've given up one addiction for another. Well, the alcohol was more of a tool really, but this…definitely an obsession. In the same way Bella portrays sex as "exercise" I refer to her sweet juices as "desert". Her breath came faster and she spoke my name.
Excellent. Next, the language of love. "Venez pour moi." (Come for me.) This caused her to turn away from me and roll onto her side into a ball. Hmmm…not good, Bella doesn't like French; I don't much care for them myself. I think I was getting giddy.
I slipped my arm about her waist and pulled her across the mattress back to me. Her head lolled to one side and I cupped her bare breast in my hand. Her little pink nipples fascinated me; so soft yet firm. I spoke again, my breath against the back of her neck, "Eu quero fayer a amor a voce mue querido." (I want to make love to you my darling.)
Bella giggled and I froze. "I'm sleeping…Eduardo."
As Emmett would say…busted.
"Bella…?" Great, I'd been caught fondling her in her sleep.
"Mmmhmm?" She wiggled her rear into me and put her head back into my neck.
"How long have you been awake?" I asked timidly.
"Long enough. What was that last one?" she asked.
"Uh…portugues," I stuttered.
"Nice," she commented on my linguistic skills. I tried to remove my hand from its guilty position. "Hold me tighter." She requested. Did this girl ever turn off?
Alice's POV
Jaz and I stumbled into Edward and Bella's house from a night of clubbing. It was around 3 or 4 in the morning and we were all to leave for the Three Sisters Wilderness Area in an hour or so. Jaz shushed me so as not to wake Bella and then spun me around; I guess he wasn't quite through dancing. Edward came out of the bedroom buttoning up a long sleeved shirt and would you believe a damned fedora? What is this, 1940?
"Is that for kindling?" I asked the top of his head snidely.
"If you so much as touch this hat…" He started in, but then changed the subject. "Are you two ready yet? We should arrive in cover of darkness." He went to fetch his car keys.
"We're ready, let's go." Jaz said. We were both dressed in club attire. Jaz was wearing a tee shirt with tight jeans, a velvet blazer and black, expensive shoes. I had thrown on a red halter dress and heels. "Someone go get the southern belle." Jaz added.
Sarah must've heard us because she walked in the front door that had been left open. She didn't look any more like a big game hunter than the rest of us in a sundress and white keds. She smirked at Edward. "You've been pirating my stash again."
Edward put up his hands in mock surrender. "It's the last time, I swear. I no longer require training wheels."
Jaz looked from me to Sarah and back again. "What are we talking about?"
Bella chose that moment to shuffle out of the bedroom wearing Edward's shirt, an engagement ring (finally) and a silly smile. Her eyes only half open with sleep she said groggily, "Edwaaard, come back to bed." She noticed her audience and blushed. Edward flew to her, told her we were leaving and we'd see her later in the afternoon. "Ookaayy." Bella uttered mid-yawn and almost collided with the door jam. Edward steered her into the room and patted her on the ass to get her moving. Then he froze.
Edward turned around slowly to see if anyone noticed his little faux pas. He spotted Jasper with his mouth hanging open. "You and Bella…you actually DID IT? I mean, that's great, but how…?" I slapped the back of his head before he could put his foot any further in his mouth.
"Oh great!" Sarah said sarcastically. "Now I'm the only one not getting any action."
We headed out to the Volvo.
Edward's POV
The Three Sisters Wilderness Area is about 60 miles East of Eugene. We managed to arrive at our stopping point without any more smart remarks from Alice. She and Jasper were busy in the backseat. We really needed to have a heart to heart about confidentiality. I parked off of Highway 242 at Proxy Falls near the north sister. We'd hike the rest of the way.
Sarah's mood seemed to improve on the hike. Jasper and I led the way while she and Alice sang marching songs. We were taking a slower pace than usual as Sarah, having lived amongst humans never truly learned how to lose all inhibitions and run flat out. Alice was giving her some tips while berating me. "Edward, why didn't you learn guitar instead of the piano, or any instrument that could be taken outdoors?" I didn't dignify that with a response.
"What sort of prey are we hunting for?" Sarah asked. "What lives out here?" A reasonable question, finally.
I recalled the information from my park guide. "Many different species…elk, big horned sheep, deer, even mountain lion, my personal favorite."
"So what do you do with the bodies of the poor creatures when you're done with them?" She grimaced.
"You can leave them where they fall. The scavengers have to eat too, but sometimes it can cause unforeseen trouble." Jasper looked over at me, I read his thoughts and we both cracked up.
"What?!" Sarah said exasperated the same time as Alice squeaked, "I HATE it when you do that!"
"Sorry." I said chuckling. "Jasper was just remembering the time he was in Mexico and went on a spree of a feast. Several of the carcasses were found by the locals. He may have started the entire Chupacabra legend single handed."
We came to a stream crossing. Even though Alice was wearing high heels she still managed to clear her jump the most graceful of us all. Sarah was ecstatic at her success. "You know what I miss?" Jasper asked thoughtfully. "Pecan pie…oh, and sweet tea!"
"I had that once, it was disgusting. The tea, not the pie." I tried to clarify.
Sarah didn't stay still for that. "Nonsense, it's an acquired taste, Sugar."
"You mean like spotted skunk?" I couldn't help myself.
"Just don't try to take down a seal on the beach." Alice said on the verge of a laughing fit. "With all that greasy blubber sticking to everything, Jasper looked like a worn out piece of sand paper!"
I stopped in my tracks. "What is that scent?" I asked perplexed. The others stopped and tested the air.
Jasper was the first to respond. "It almost smells like a burro. That couldn't be..could it?"
"It's awfully strong." Alice chimed in holding her nose. We all followed the powerful scent through an outcropping of trees. "Wait." Alice started, but it was too late. We came upon a pack mule in the distance and it was wearing a load of supplies. The park ranger it belonged to was about 10 feet to the right eating peaches from a tin can. The mule's overpowering scent had masked that of the human. He'd already seen us clear the trees. Great.
Sarah's POV
I peered over little Alice's head and saw the most gorgeous hunk of humanity. I whispered to Ed, "Pretty. Honey, buy me THAT." I know he rolled his eyes. I didn't see him, I just know he did. My future husband paused eating his lunch, reached over and placed a Smokey Bear hat on his head. A man in uniform! He was looking at us all curious like, rose and walked over to where we were all fidgeting, not sure what to do next.
Edward shot us a worried look. Our ranger probably thought we were a bunch of overdressed tourists. He was tall and lean with black hair just falling into his eyes and what looked like a week's worth of stubble on his face. "Morning." Ranger Honey greeted us. What a sweet voice. I should've worn my new dress. "Are you folks…" He eyed Alice's footwear. "…Lost?"
"No…we were just…um…" Edward stumbled the ball and looked to the rest of us for help.
That's when Alice spouted out, "Bird watching!" The exact same time as I said, "School project!" We seemed to be in stereo today.
Jasper looked to Edward to see if Ranger Honey was going for it. Apparently not since Edward slightly shook his head. "I see. Have you checked in with the ranger station yet?" No one wanted to answer. "When you come this far out its required." I wondered what he'd look like in a suit and tie.
"No sir…" Edward tried again. "We were actually just starting back down anyway. We've finished our…bird…project." He winced.
"Glenn. Glenn Corey. Perhaps I should take down your names and I can turn them into the station myself." I took my chance and sprang forward. Ed tried to grab my arm to hold me back, but I wiggled away from him.
"I'm Sarah…Ranger Honey." Look at those bright green eyes. A girl could get lost in eyes like that. He was about 25 years old. Just right.
"It's Glenn. Good to meet you Sarah, and your friends?" He pulled out a small pad of paper and pencil touching the lead for a moment to his tongue. Hmmmmm.
"Oh them? They're not important." I casually dismissed the others.
"Brad and Janet." Alice said quickly like she had been asked a question on a game show. Edward stared stupidly at her. Obviously she didn't want to give their true names, oh, and they had gone to the Rocky Horror Picture Show the other night.
Ranger Honey looked to me. "What about your boyfriend? He seems to have lost his voice."
"You mean Ed?" Ed swore under his breath. "I'm not with him Ranger Honey."
"Glenn." Whatever.
"Like they said, they were just leaving anyway. Do you think you could help me with my little old school project?" I took him by the hand and led him away. I looked over my shoulder and called out, "See you all later then." Alice and Jasper took the hint, turned and went the way we had come. Ed stayed put.
"I don't think we've…found what we were looking for." He said.
"Oh, I have."
Ed huffed, but finally left. "Perhaps you could take me on a little nature walk. It would be so instructive and I'd be sure to get an A on my paper." I encouraged my Adonis.
My Ranger smiled. "I'd be happy to, Sarah."