Bella

We didn't talk about it. The night ended on a soft note of sweet words that lead me unsuspectingly into sleep. I think the absolute high I was riding wound up sneaking up on me, because one minute I was texting my unattainable lady loves, and the next it was late morning and I was groaning under the weight of the sun's rays peeking in between my curtains.

My phone vibrated from my side and I grumbled as I pulled it blearily up to my half-open gaze. It was a text from Angela, reminding me of our trip to La Push and that she would be there to pick me up at noon. Groaning, I flipped over onto my back, scrubbing my weary face with my hand. Gods, I didn't realize how tired I was yesterday, cause I felt like I'd slept like a log.

It took me only a second of coherent thought to switch to my other texts, smiling at the ones I'd been sent by the Cullen ladies.

Eris: 'Good morning, ma belle!'

Satan: 'Sleep well, and may night keep you and ferry you swiftly to my arms upon the morrow.'

'Good morning, sleepyhead.'

Oh dear heavens, I seriously needed to figure out which gods I had pleased so I could start worshiping at their altars. My first text was to Alice since hers was much easier to address. 'Good morning, Tiny Goddess! How is your weekend retreat going?'

My next text was to Rosalie, a warm smile tilting my lips. 'The night keeps me, and upon your smile I now see the dawn.'

I was half-tempted to play Michael Jackson's 'Smooth Criminal' while taking a shower, but decided against it. I didn't want to jinx myself, and knowing my luck I was overdo for some backlash from the outright decadence I was being showered with from my ladies.

A warning text from Angela let me know she was on her way. I was just finishing up getting dressed and rolling my eyes at the horn that blew a few minutes later. I was not looking forward to this trip but I knew I needed to at least attempt to socialize with someone other than the Cullen herd. At least I knew I would have plenty of texts from my ladies to answer throughout the trip, so it wasn't an entire bust.

Rosalie

The sound of sniffling was the first thing I noticed as I returned from the garage. I'd decided to tune up all of the vehicles for the cold months that were to come, and by the time I was finished it was late into the afternoon. My instincts sent me straight to my shared room with Alice, finding the girl practically balling her eyes out over her pillow. Her watery eyes looked up the moment I entered the room and I was at her side in an instance.

"What's wrong, Ali?" I murmured, stroking the girl's hair as I took in her pathetic state. She looked completely devastated and I knew it had to have been some kind of vision since she hadn't left the house for the day.

The girl sniffled at my side, handing her phone to me in lieu of an explanation. What I saw was a mess of texts from her to Bella since earlier in the afternoon.

'Hey, how's your day going?'

'Bella? Answer me, please!'

'Tell me you're okay, please tell me you're okay!'

'Ma belle, je suis désolé! Please, just let me know you're safe!'

I could practically feel my sister's desperation the more time passed between each texts, until finally Bella had sent a response.

Ma Belle: 'Hey, sorry! I was down in La Push with some kids from school and I lost signal! I'm okay, but this whole trip was weird and I miss you both so much!'

Knowing what must have happened, I quickly checked her call log only to find at least a dozen attempts to reach Bella. Tossing the phone aside, I lowered myself to the bed, pulling Alice's trembling figure securely into my lap. "Tell me what you saw, Ali." I knew she had to have seen something that sent her spiraling like this and I needed to get to the bottom of it quickly.

A mighty sniffle precluded Alice's shaky voice. "I was texting Bella good morning, and then sometime around noon her future went dark! It was like she was gone completely and I couldn't see her anymore!"

Growling, I finally knew what had happened. "Those fucking mutts!" Bella had gone to the one place our family wasn't allowed, and had obviously interacted with one the wolves. Alice's visions went blank around the Quileute wolf shifters, which meant that Alice had thought that my darling Bella had somehow died. "It's okay, Alice, Bella's okay."

"I thought we'd lost her!" Alice cried, her body shaking with renewed sobs and I felt my heart shatter beneath her anguish. The burden of her 'sight' was a heavy one, I always knew, but to hear the outright terror in her voice was more than even I could handle. I could feel my own eyes welling with tears that couldn't fall, pulling the smaller girl closer against me for both comfort and reassurance.

"Bella is safe, we both read her text. It was just the wolves messing with your sight." Even as I spoke the words, I felt a deadly fury welling up within me. How dare those fucking mutts talk to my mate! My Bella was unsullied and pure, a sweet and precious soul. Those wolves were nothing but animals, no better than their base desires and I refused to allow my little darling to associate with them!

"We'll have to make sure we keep a better eye on her," I murmured, still rocking the now-still girl. "I don't want her being around those despicable mongrels if I can help it."

Alice nodded, finally pulling away with one last sniffle. "We'll keep her safe," she whispered fervently. "Whatever it takes."

Nodding, I could only silently agree. Whatever it takes.

Bella

My day was, admittedly, weird. Not because I was awkward around the gathered kids from school (although, that was almost painfully obvious). No, it was the tales Jacob had left me with. Tales of the Cold Ones. Tales of blood drinkers. Things that, while could easily have been dismissed as folk lore, hit far too many check marks for me to simply ignore.

And so, without much thought to it, I was off the next day with Angela and Jessica for a day of shopping in Port Angeles. It was an excuse, at best, since my purpose had nothing to do with shopping for new outfits, and everything to do with research.

The Quileute legends, on the surface wouldn't be anything more than the name suggest, legends. But the more I was able to pull up on the internet, the more I found myself intrigued for reasons that had everything to do with the Cullens. Key words kept popping out at me: Cold skin, blood drinkers, strong and fast...

Vampires.

I knew that I was being irrational, that there was no way things like undead blood drinkers could possibly exist, even if they only fed on animals, according to the legends. But I also couldn't get the thought of both Alice and Rosalie's ice-cold skin and solid bodies out of my mind. Those girls were impossibly strong and just undeniably beautiful-inhumanly so, if I was entirely honest with myself, but then again I was kind of biased since these two particular women were the epitome of gorgeous. I mean, you can't have the likeness of a goddess flirt with you and not think something about them seemed a bit...otherworldly.

Still, as I purchased the book from the local shop I had lucked out on, I couldn't help but wonder. Was I just being paranoid, or was there something there?

Unfortunately, I was also a moron and forgot that while my potential girlfriends might be some mythical undead creatures, I was in fact very mortal. Perhaps that was why I suddenly found myself surrounded by drunk assholes who didn't know the meaning of 'personal boundaries.'

"Come on, baby," one of the guys slurred, his breath reeking of alcohol and unchecked gingivitis. "We'll show you a good time if you show us a good time."

While that statement made absolutely no sense, I knew I was kind of in a very fucked up situation. I started going over all of the self-defense lessons my mom had had the foresight to instill in me over the years. Palm to the nose, break and incapacitate. Knee to the groin. Grab the groin and squeeze if necessary. Slam both palms down as hard as possible on both sides of the head, to the ears.

Luckily, I was saved from having to sully my admittedly weak hands by the arrival of an oh-so-familiar canary-yellow Porsche. A vehicle that pulled right up to me, sending the men scattering around and away from me. Before I could even begin to move, both doors opened, my own personal savior Goddesses unfolding from its depths like glorious, deadly, blooms. And I say deadly with the utmost seriousness, because I had no doubt in my mind that the black-eyed gazes being leveled at the men that surrounded me was anything less than willingness to commit.

"Get in the car," Rosalie growled-growled, as in a feral sound rumbling from the depths of her throat that had me snapping into action immediately as I lunged for the open door. I was also distractedly aroused but that could wait for another day because holy shit what even is my life anymore?!

I could hear their words like distant murmurs, but the message was clear. The men, gathering the remainder of their courage I suppose, decided to try and move in on the two women. Big mistake, I thought, as Rosalie quickly lashed out at the man who had been verbally accosting me before. And when I say quickly, I mean, I blinked and the man was hurtling across the parking lot by several feet, a cry of surprise and more than likely pain echoing into the night.

Needless to say, the other men were already hightailing it out of there, leaving their injured buddy to attempt to regain his feet, one hand clutching at his chest, which more than likely featured more than one broken rib, judging by his glorious tears. Hey, I never said I wasn't a vindictive person. Bastards deserve that and worse!

Both women were seated in the vehicle in an instant, Rosalie at the wheel for once as the car spun a quick reverse, speeding off down the road before I could even take a breath.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" Rosalie snarled, her voice rough with an edge I had never before or even contemplated the blonde being capable of. A glance into the rear-view mirror showed pitch-black eyes staring back at me, waiting for me to answer.

"I, um, I just," I swallowed around the lump in my throat, suddenly unsure in the face of a pissed off Rosalie Hale. Oh, she was absolutely beautiful in her fury, but it was difficult to appreciate with all that anger aimed in my direction.

"Calm down," came Alice's voice, and I had to blink at the similarly rough sound coming from the pint-size woman. "This won't help."

Rosalie's growl sounded both deep and painful as her grip on the steering wheel tightened to the point that the metal within groaned. "Do you know what would have happened if we hadn't gotten here in time?!" Oh yeah, she was pissed.

I had to clear my throat several times before I could respond. "I didn't think I would encounter a bunch of drunk assholes, that's for sure."

"You didn't think, clearly," was Rosalie's caustic response, and I couldn't help the wide-eyed look I sent her. I had never heard Rosalie speak to me in that tone, never once seen the woman anything other than tender and sweet. And after our texts the other night, I was sure we had made some kind of emotional headway into relationship territory.

I sat back, feeling my heart ache as I crossed my arms over my chest. "If that's what you really think of me, then why even bother showing up?"

The car lurched to a stop so suddenly I was barely able to catch myself on the headrests before I wound up through the windshield. We had come to a stop on the side of the road near some closed businesses, the only source of light coming from the city streetlamps. So, it was with quite a shock that I was met with the watery gaze of both women staring back at me with such fierce horror on their faces.

"I...I..." I didn't know what to say, the looks I was getting were giving me no clue as to the girl's thoughts. "I didn't mean to worry you," I eventually whispered, staring down into my lap.

There was a shuffling noise and suddenly a pair of slim cold arms were wrapping me in a tight hug. How Alice had managed to cross the seat rest between the seats without so much as an awkward fumble was beyond me, but in that moment I didn't care. The terror of the events that had just transpired decided that was the opportune moment to catch up with me, a gasp leaving my chest as I felt tears well up in my eyes.

Fuck, I could have been killed. Raped and left for dead, at best. Why the hell was I giving these two women shit over my own horrible mistakes? I should be bowing and scraping on my knees, thanking them!

Instead, all I could do is curl into the physically cold shoulder offered to me and cry, because fuck everything about my life. These two beautiful creatures were my life and my salvation, and I had nothing to offer in return except my own awkward stupidity.

A shaky breath from the girl sitting flush against me pulled me up short, my tears slowly tapering off. "I'm so sorry!" I wailed, my fingers crushing the probably-expensive fabric of Alice's top. "Gods, if you hadn't been there, if you hadn't shown up, I don't-"

"Shh," came a whispered hush from my other side, and it slowly dawned on me that Rosalie had come in through the side door to pull me into her solid frame. Her arms around my waist, while Alice held me around my shoulders, was more than I could take and I just bawled.

It was rather pathetic, if I do say so myself, but hell if I could bring myself to care. The selfless nature of these two loving, giving women was more than I could bare, more than I deserved. But still they kept offering me more and more without a single hint of asking anything in return.

"Why?!" I couldn't help but choke out between sobs, "Why are you two so perfect?! What could you possibly see in me that you continue to seek me out?!" I didn't understand, I didn't understand!

"Bella," came Rosalie's firm voice, nearly instantly cutting into my quickly devolving sanity. "Bella, breathe with me, okay? Just breathe." And I did, the feeling of the blonde's chest rising and falling against me lulling me into its steady rhythm until my tears slowly stymied and my breathing began to normalize. "That's good, that's perfect, baby." My heart gave one of those desperate lurches at the term of endearment, but I couldn't help the way my body relaxed.

Surrounded by the scent of these two perfect women, the sound of their slow breathing, I felt safe and secure for the first time since those men had chased me down. "Thank you," I whispered, knowing they could hear me. "I seriously don't deserve you two."

"Tough," Alice cut in, "You're stuck with us." And just...yes, I wanted that more than anything else in the world.

"She's right," Rosalie added, her voice taking on that playful coyness I was just starting to get used to in her texts, "You're stuck with us and we're not going to let anything happen to you."

Yeah, I thought with a slowly fading smile, I could get used to this.

And then my world went black.

Alice

"Faster!" Rosalie yelled. My vision of Bella had warned me of the incoming danger, but when I had specified the source to Rosalie, I couldn't move fast enough to the car. "I will not let those monsters have her!"

I didn't blame her. I knew well what Rosalie's Change had involved, what her ex-fiancé Royce and his friends had done to my beautiful, broken sister. So without hesitation we were speeding on our way to Port Angeles, my visions keeping us clear of any law enforcement that might impede our way. I'm just glad Rosalie knew how to push my car to its limits.

I can't say I felt sorry for the man Rosalie had sent flying. He would need to go to the emergency room for care, but I highly doubted he would say anything about how he received his injury. The fact that two women had not only sent him and his goons running but also interrupted their intended-rape of our mate was not something likely to leave their lips.

They got off easy, my vampire side growled, and I agreed wholeheartedly. I had wanted to rip them limb from limb, right alongside Rosalie and her glorious fury. I had seen what they were going to do to our mate and I wanted them to suffer. Only the fact of our mate being there, within clear view of the events, had stilled our hands. Still, it was a struggle not to make Rosalie turn the car around and let me go rip off their genitals and feed it to them. As small of a meal as it would have been.

Think of something else, I thought, my mind going through several scenarios that in no way helped calm my intense rage. I had the curse of my foresight to show me not only what those men had intended to do, but what I could have done to them in return. Oh, how easy it would be to slip from the car while Rosalie saw to our mate's safety.

Hearing Rosalie's harsh words and Bella's rebuttal was enough to snap me from my thoughts, literally lunging for the girl when we came to a stop. Now that the rage was coming to a simmer, I was left with the terror of what could have happened to our mate. Gods, I couldn't lose her, it would kill me, and no doubt shatter what remained of Rosalie.

The human girl's tears broke my long-still heart, my own eyes welling up with liquid that would never fall. I soon felt Rosalie on Bella's other side and slowly but surely we managed to calm both the girl and ourselves. I don't think Bella really understood just how close it had been. Hell, I could barely contemplate it and I had had front row seats to it in my head.

As soon as Bella passed out in our arms, I gasped out a quiet sob, trying not to crush the girl in my desperate grasp. "It was so close, Rose!"

Rosalie's sigh was heavy as she leaned away slightly, drawing Bella's unconscious form into a more relaxed position against the seat. "I know, but we got there in time." She looked up to meet my gaze, the outright vulnerability there was unlike anything I had ever seen on her face before. "Thanks to you." She took one of my hands that was resting against Bella's front in hers and squeezed it. "Thank you, Ali, thank you so much!"

We both had a good solid minute of emotional release in the form of sobs, holding one another over the resting form of our mate. Once we finally had control of ourselves, we decided it would be best to return to Forks. I took Bella's phone from her pocket and texted her friends to let them know she was grabbing a ride from us before returning the device to her side. An unintentional look at the texts she'd shared with Rosalie bringing an adoring smile to my face.

Rosalie

I gently brushed the hair out of Bella's face, my fingers lingering on her cheek. Alice and I had brought Bella to our house first to let Carlisle examine the girl while we explained the events that had occurred. I thought about glancing over my attack on the man but my pride wouldn't allow me to hide the fact that I had protected my mate.

"It looks like she's just exhausted," Carlisle pronounced after a few minutes of inspection. "After the events you've described to me, she will no doubt need plenty of rest. Will you wish to keep her here?"

It was nearly nine o'clock and I had no doubt Bella's father would be calling on her soon if she didn't return. Still, every part of my instincts were urging me to keep my mate there with me, to never let her out of my sight again.

"We'll have to take her home," Alice said, her voice as somber as I felt. "Charlie won't want her staying over at someone else's place on a school night, even if it is the town doctor." She smiled at Carlisle and nodded to him. "Thank you, we'll take it from here."

The eldest vampire smiled in response, nodding before slowly backing out of our room. The only time either of us had left Bella's side was for Alice to run and get Carlisle. As gently as possible, I lifted the sleeping human into my arms and once again loaded her into the car. I let Alice take the wheel while I sat in the back seat, cradling Bella in my lap as if she might simply blow away on the breeze.

I knew how precious life could be, and how cruel the world could be to those who lived in it. Since becoming a vampire, I had not had to worry about the world, but now that I had found my very human mate, I once again felt the cold chill of fear. Fear for my mate's safety, fear for her rejection should she ever find out what we are. Fear of losing her.

"We won't lose her," Alice murmured from the front seat, and I couldn't tell if she was answering my wayward thoughts or making it a vow of her own, but either way I let her words calm my mind. Alice would be able to help me watch out for things unseen, and for everything else, I would be there standing between it and my mate.

Bella

I groaned as the rays of the morning sun came glaring through the slit in the curtains. Gods, I felt like shit. My body was heavy and sluggish, but more than anything I felt over-rested. How long had I been asleep?

Then I was blinking hard as I sat up abruptly, my gaze traveling around my room. I didn't remember going to bed last night, but the book I found sitting on my bedside table was enough to bring back the events of last night.

Ironically, it wasn't the attempted assault that drew my focus. That was easily secondary to the arrival the Cullen sisters. They were both so beautiful and glorious in their fury as they stood down those pathetic men. I wound up playing Rosalie's attack over and over again in my head, trying to make it seem real. There was just no way her toned yet delicate arms should have had the strength to hit that man so hard he flew through the air.

Then I remembered their shared black-eyed gazes, and if things weren't complicated enough, I could feel my arousal spiking. There was so much power in those onyx-hued eyes, so much intent. I could only hope that I never wound up on the wrong end of one of those gazes. Or maybe I did want that, gods I can't think straight with those girls.

Think straight, I laughed. I'd been lucky to be capable of proper brain function since the moment I'd met them. Focus! I berated myself. I had even more questions now as far as my research goes, and I didn't know if those two would be honest with me if I outright asked them.

That's when another thought occurred to me, blinking down at my oversize sleep shirt and lace shorts.

Someone had changed my clothes.

I couldn't hold back the squeal that left my lips, turning the sound into the pillow so I didn't wake Charlie up. Oh dear gods, not only had they come to my rescue just in the nick of time, but one or both of them had changed me into my sleepwear. Just kill me now! If there truly is a merciful god or goddess out there then just strike me down!

Of course, no such luck. My face was stuck in a perpetual flush as I searched for and found my phone, snatching it off the charger before I ripped it from the wall. As I thought, there were texts waiting from both women.

Eris:'Bonjour, mon amour!'

'Don't worry, it's nothing I haven't seen already.'

'Although those frilly pink panties looked adorable.'

Satan: 'Good morning, Bella-mou. Hope you don't mind that we helped you change. You were pretty out of it last night.'

'You're so impossibly gorgeous...'

I wanted to die. Like, I actually contemplated if the distance from my window would be high enough to do the trick. Briefly, fleetingly, because holy shit if my clumsiness doesn't end me at some point then it's obvious that these girls will. Still, I wasn't going to back down, not this late in the game, so I again responded to the girls in order.

'That's twice you've seen me naked-or close to it. And yet I haven't had the privilege of your beautiful body. You must see how unfair this all is. Just saying.'

I had to swallow hard, hesitating only a moment before I sent the text. That wound up being far more forward than I thought it would be, but if these girls were serious about their pursuit then I was going to stay the course. Now to address Rosalie's text, because I literally needed the preparation of texting Alice first just to be able to handle replying to the blonde goddess.

'I suppose after my mishap with Alice in the locker rooms, it was only fair that you got a peek, too. That being said, I'm literally dying of embarrassment over here! You're a virtual goddess and you're trying to call me gorgeous?! Have you looked in a mirror lately?! I cannot compare to Aphrodite herself!'

A glance at the time had me groaning for a different reason. I only had thirty minutes to get ready for school, which for a brief moment I had forgotten was a thing. Seriously, everything seemed to fade to the background when I interacted with those two.

A quick rinse in the shower and a thrown together outfit of a white long-sleeve and black leggings with a pair of jean shorts over them and I was out the door, remembering to grab my coat at the last moment. I was still getting used to the colder temps in Forks compared to living in Phoenix. I was loathe to think about what the winter months were going to be like.

I arrived just as everyone else seemed to be getting there, which means I had just enough time to swing by the cafeteria to grab a quick bite before I had to get my books for my first classes. Of course, that plan was quickly derailed by the arrival of none other than the the Cullen clan. The men were all tucked into a large Jeep with Emmett hanging out the top like the buffoon he was, but my gaze was easily drawn to the familiar Porsche that pulled in beside my truck.

Alice jumped out of the driver's side, and for a moment I wondered if she'd even had time to throw the vehicle into Park, before she was practically wrapping herself around me in a cheery hug. "Good morning, Bella!" I couldn't help the grin that stretched my cheeks. I barely caught sight of her likewise stockinged legs, the short blue skirt almost matching my own shorts perfectly, the delicate crème-colored blouse leaving her arms bare despite the bite of the chilly air.

Rosalie, the more stoic and regal of the two, unfolded herself from the car as if she were presenting for a red carpet event. She was wearing another pair of gloriously fitting blue jeans, with a maroon blouse, a black suede jacket stretched across her toned arms. "Good morning, darling," she purred, her voice sending a shiver up my spine even as Alice played with the curls falling loose around my neck.

"G-Good morning, my beauties." Fuck, even speaking was smoother than normal when it came to these girls. Clearing my throat, I turned so I was facing both girls, Alice refusing to relinquish her hold entirely. "I...um...I wanted to thank you both again for last night. I have no idea how I can ever make it up to you."

Rosalie's smile was soft and warm as she reached up with one hand, drawing the backs of her cold knuckles down my flushed cheek. "You have nothing to thank us for, little darling. I'm just so happy we were able to be there for you."

Alice nodded emphatically, bouncing so hard at my side that I felt myself being pulled nearly off my feet. "Yeah! Besides," here her smile morphed into a cheeky grin, "Getting to tuck you in last night more than made up for it, in my opinion."

Predictably, my cheeks warmed even more than they already had been, and I wondered idly if these two had set some kind of goal to make me blush as often as possible. I think they honestly had bets going at this point. "Oh, come on, like I could ever compare to you two."

This time it was Rosalie whose smirk caused my heart to stutter. "Oh, well you'll have to tell us what you think about that when you check your inbox." And with that, both she and Alice turned to leave me standing there just as the first warning bell began to ring. I had to blink several times, wondering just what those two were up to before I realized I still hadn't gotten my books for the day. Fuck!

I was rushing to my locker and had just reached my first period before the bell rang, sighing heavily as I grinned weakly at the teacher before taking my seat. I was frustrated, mostly because I didn't have any classes with the beauties during the first half of the day, but also because I hadn't had a chance to check my phone since this morning.

It wasn't until the end of fourth period that I finally got the chance, so I quickly drew out my phone. The strange thing was I had an incoming text from both women requesting permission to download a file. Shrugging, I knew the girls wouldn't send me anything harmful for my phone, so I quickly allowed permission.

Knowing my dinosaur of a phone would take a while to download the files, I pocketed the device and finished packing up before heading off towards my locker to change out my books for the second half of the day. A ping from my phone alerted me that the files had finished downloading so I shifted out of the way of the other students before opening the files.

Alice

I was practically vibrating in my seat, waiting for the vision I'd had to come true. And no sooner did I take my next unnecessary breath than in walked Bella, a tissue held to her nose that still held hints of blood on it. I'd already had the foresight to send Jasper out of the room, knowing the struggle he had with being around humans, much less ones that were bleeding.

Bella's cheeks were the reddest I had ever had the pleasure of seeing them, and I gave her a wide, toothy grin when she briefly looked up from her examination of the floor to peer our way. I could see her jaw clenching even from my seat, the girl nearly stumbling on her way to the lunch line as she averted her embarrassed gaze.

Rosalie had worried about us sending those pictures, wondering if we were being too cruel, but I had simply assured her that we simply had to garner as many of those beautiful little flushes from the girl while she was still human. We wouldn't be able to make her blush once she was turned and I absolutely needed to see her face reddened as often as possible before we took that away.

Speaking of Rosalie, her gaze on our mate was practically lecherous. We could both smell the effect our pictures had had on the girl and gods was that the sweetest of torture. Being able to scent her desire without being able to partake in it yet was both heaven and hell.

It was funny, because Rosalie and I had both helped take one another's pictures without issue. Neither of us were any kind of self-conscious about our looks, and with my visions I knew exactly what outfits would work best to pique our mate's interest. I had settled for a deep, royal-purple lingerie set with a padded bra that pushed my meager breasts to their maximum cleavage potential. The matching thong easily showed off my better ass-et, so to speak, and I made sure to bend over just enough in the picture to give her a look-see. I think my favorite picture had been of me bent over facing away from the camera, looking over my shoulder with a sultry look.

Rosalie, the glorious bombshell she was, was much easier to choose for. A blood-red lacy set, the bra she was wearing hardly had enough fabric to contain her well-endowed breasts, though that was kind of the point. Practically spilling out of the bra, she simply stood with her legs shoulder length apart, hands on her hips just over the matching red thong, showing off her fierce beauty as she gave a dominant glare at the camera.

Honestly, that had been the most fun I'd had in a long time playing dress-up. I wonder if Bella will model for us some time? I had no doubt that she would, but she would be embarrassed the whole time. I couldn't help but giggle at the images that flooded my mind as I looked into that particular future. Poor dear, we were going to give her a heart attack if we weren't careful.

Feeling particularly playful, I pulled out my phone to text Bella.

'Aww, did you hurt yourself, ma belle? You seem to have had a nose bleed.'

I awaited our mate's reaction with a grin as Bella sank into her seat beside her friends. She flinched just as I heard the ping of her phone alert, and I continued to watch as she frowned down at the device with a blush. A quick flick of her fingers and a moment later my own phone went off.

Ma Belle: 'Oh, no worries, just these absolutely CRAZY women sending me pictures this morning, nothing out of the ordinary. DID I MENTION THEY WERE PRACTICALLY NAKED?!'

I giggled as I showed my phone to Rosalie, who let out a hum of approval before I started typing again. 'Oh dear, that sounds simply awful. Do you need a hug? Maybe a kiss? ;) '

Again, I watched on as she paused with her sandwich halfway to her mouth to look at her phone. It was almost comical how easy it was to predict this girl's blush, but it was still beautiful to see her cheeks flush red as she sent back another reply.

Ma Belle: 'Hmm, a kiss, you say? I might just take you up on that.'

I blinked before a grin broke out on my lips just as the warning bell sounded, signaling the end of lunch. Grumbling, I stood with Rosalie and we both ditched our trays and were halfway out of the cafeteria before Bella made her way up to us with a suspicious smile.

"So," she said, voice hesitant even as she seemed to brace herself. "I believe you said something about a kiss." My smile grew even bigger as she took a step closer, feeling warmth spreading across my chest that was suddenly nearly flush with her own. Slowly, my smile fell in place of the sudden aching need that filled me, the human girl leaning forward at a slow pace, my breath catching in my throat as I awaited the inevitable.

Just as I expected her lips to press to mine, she shifted away, turning and lifting up onto her tiptoes and pressing a quick kiss to the corner of Rosalie's lips. Nearly as soon as it all began, I found myself blinking at Bella's retreating form for several minutes after the girl had left, a blank look on my face.

That...that...brat!

Rosalie

I admit, I was more than happy with the reaction we had gotten out of my mate with those pictures. The girl had practically dared us to show ourselves to her, and seeing the nearly permanent flush to her cheeks when she'd entered the cafeteria was well worth the several pictures we had gone through that morning.

Then the girl had to go and do that and now I was standing there with my lips tingling, my finger idly tracing the warm spot where her lips had just been. It had been both shocking in its potency and painful in its briefness. The fact that she had jipped my little sister of that kiss was of no consequence to me. Actually, nothing was of consequence to me in that moment. I was numb yet burning from the inside out. Need and want were warring inside of my body and I had to force myself to remain still as my mate left for class.

A heavy sigh eventually left me, breaking whatever spell the girl had put me under. With a smile, I turned a comforting glancing at my little sister. Alice hadn't moved a muscle from the moment Bella had approached her, save for the curling of her fists at her sides and little twitches around her lips. "You gonna make it, pipsqueak?"

She jumped, blinking several times before focusing on me with a vicious pout. "That was just...mean!" I swear, her eyes teared up and everything-I think she was actually going to cry. I pulled her into a hug so I could hide my smirk, knowing that she probably wouldn't appreciate it at the moment.

"Well," I eventually murmured against the smaller vampire's hair, "We knew she was a fiery one, but even I didn't think she had that in her." I squeezed her once before releasing her. "Let's get to class before we're late. I promise we'll figure out a way to get back at her."

Alice's face went from a sad frown to delight in the span of a second and I couldn't help but laugh at her antics. "Ooooh, she's going to pay for that! Just you wait!"

Poor Bella, I thought with a laugh, you've doomed yourself, I hope you know that.

Bella

Why did I do that?! What the hell were you thinking?! I continued to berate myself all the way through Trig and partway through History. I had no clue where the audacity had come from, but I'll be damned if I didn't suddenly feel a solid lump of panic sitting heavy in my chest. Had that been too forward? Would they be upset at me?! Luckily I found distraction in the form of the stupidity of religious idiocy.

"...and it was found that around the mid 1800s that polygamy was announced as doctrine for the Mormon Church of Latter Day Saints. It has been revealed that the religions founder, Joseph Smith, was an avid practitioner of polygamy, holding as many as thirty wives at one time."

I couldn't help but give a derisive snort. "Something you'd like to add, Ms. Swan?" came the teacher's irate response.

"Yeah," I sneered, "This whole subject is taught as if Mormons were the first people to participate in polygamy, while the concept of polygamy and polyamory were known ideals hundreds-maybe even thousands of years ago. It also misinforms us that polygamy is all about having multiple wives-a misogynistic view, if I might add."

The teacher was giving me this dumbfounded look, but I wasn't finished. "Polygamy is also practice among Muslims of certain middle-eastern countries, but in our country the first thing that everyone-including bloody Google-goes to is Mormons.

"That's not even mentioning polyamory, or non-monogamous relationships, which have existed even longer. People nowadays use it as an excuse to cheat and sleep around, while the true practice is about love and trust. Love is Love," I finished, reaching into my shirt and pulling out my rainbow necklace I kept hidden there.

Not gonna lie, I have no idea what made me go off on that tirade, but by the stunned looks of the students around me, I had left at least some kind of impact. Then, of course, Lauren fucking Mallory had to open her fucking mouth. "So, like, what? Are you poly?"

There was another lull in sound while everyone just stared at me, even the teacher didn't seem to know what to do. Might as well get out in front of this one. "Yeah, I am. I believe love is infinite and formless, that there should be no limitations on how far or how deep we love others."

"So you're a slut," came Lauren's caustic reply, and even before the teacher crowed out in protest of the girl's language, I was ready with my reply.

"Oh shut it, Mallory. Just because I won't go out with you, doesn't mean you can call me names."

Dead. Fucking. Silent. No one made a peep, which was probably a good thing since Lauren was left sitting there gawping at me like a fish out of water. The only person I was curious about was Jasper, but even his arched-brow gaze wasn't enough to bypass my irritation. Just as Lauren appeared to get a hold of herself, I began loading up my stuff into my bag, the bell ringing just as I hit the door.

Alice

"So, I had an interesting class with your mate," Jasper said, our family lounging together in the living room for the evening. Esme and Carlisle were both seated together at one end of one of the long couches, with Edward seated in the middle. Emmett was sitting on the floor with his head stuck in some Xbox game he'd recently bought, while Jasper took up a seat in one of the lounge chairs.

I was once again cozied up in Rosalie's lap, feet kicked over the side of the lounge we were residing in. The blonde hadn't once protested my presence, simply shifting to adjust to my position while she shifted her magazine to her free hand, the other arm trapped behind my back. It was relaxing, being close to my mate's mate, I was coming to find. Being close to Rosalie, holding her like this, had a soothing effect on my nerves when I was forced to be away from Bella.

Judging by the soft sigh that left her when I all but dropped into her lap, I figure she felt the same, even if it was subconscious for her. So it was kind of hilarious that Jasper was speaking towards us both while talking about our mate, since his statement left it open to interpretation as to which of us he was speaking.

Rosalie, of course, thought he meant her, so she was the one to respond. "How so?" she murmured, her attention seemingly only half on the subject but I knew she was all-ears. She was quite adorable when she tried to hide her excitement.

"Well," he continued with a small smirk, "we were in History and the subject of Mormonism came up in regards to their polygamous practices. It turns out that your girl has some strong opinions on the topic of polyamory and free love."

"How so?" I repeated Rosalie's earlier words, curious as always about our mate.

"She's apparently a firm believer in the polyamory lifestyle. As she says it, 'there should be no limitations on how far or deep we love others.' It would seem your little Bella believes in freedom to love freely."

Rosalie's snort was almost comical if it weren't for her following words. "As if I'd share her with anyone."

I nearly cringed, catching glances from nearly everyone in the room, which told me that out of the entire Cullen family, Rosalie was the only one who didn't know she and I shared a mate. Emmett was probably out of the loop just because he was too far sucked into his video games, but even he wasn't dense enough to miss the cues.

"Don't worry," I murmured, shifting around a bit until my head was nestled in under her chin. "I have a feeling we won't have to share her with anyone else." Rosalie's happy hum was kind of cute, more so for the fact that she still seemed to have no clue, yet subconsciously she was accepting of my presence in her budding relationship with Bella. I mean, we both literally sent lingerie pics to the girl, with each others' help. If that wasn't a raging clue then I don't think she'll ever realize it until we're practically dating the girl.

Still, I was willing to stay the course with Rosalie at the helm. She needed this. She needed to pursue and be pursued by our mate. This whole thing was new to her, and while I wasn't exactly bisexual before meeting the girl, my visions gave me the upper hand on contending with the feelings this girl could inspire in us.

I felt my breath leave me as my eyes glazed over, the vision taking me away for several moments. When the vision cleared, I found myself the center of attention, only it was Rosalie's gaze I sought out with a rumbling chuckle. "Oh, I have the perfect revenge for that little stunt she pulled today. Rosalie, we're going to break that little girl tomorrow. Are you up for a little fun?"

She blinked several times before a smile swept up her lips, her gaze darkening a bit until my vision was filled with amber pools. "Oh yes, I think our little human needs to realize who she's dealing with."