AN: I have finished editing this chapter. The ending was changed to reflect the original concept I had of Bella's hesitance being caused by her feelings of inadequacy rather than her being nervous or unsure about intimacy with her mates. This doesn't really change the plot, it just opens up the following chapters to potential intimate situations unhindered by the typical "let's take it slow," or "our first time has to be perfect". I dislike the idea of love having restrictions and I feel that the person that I've developed Bella into wouldn't care so long as they were all able to express their love for each other. That being said, I don't honestly know when they will have their first time but now I can forgo the whole "let's go on a couple of dates first" trope that I usually encounter in these types of fics (not to say our ladies aren't going to go on some hella romantic adventures lol).

Alice

"She knoooows!" I sang happily as soon as we got home. I was spinning across the living room, giggling as Rosalie followed at a more sedate pace. Still, her answering grin was beautiful and I quickly grabbed her and pushed her into the vacant seat on the couch, falling into her lap that was quickly becoming my new favorite seat.

"I'm going to take your ecstatic statement to mean your mate knows we are vampires," Carlisle explained calmly, his gentle smile as fathering as ever.

I nodded, squeezing Rosalie's neck as I squealed again. "Yes, and she figured it all out mostly on her own!" I was so proud of our little mate. She was so smart and so perfect!

"Me running across a parking lot at breakneck speeds to save her from a careening van heading right for her frail human body might have also tipped her off." Rosalie's voice somehow managed to portray sarcasm and pride. She was happy that she had been able to protect our mate, and it only made me love her more for it.

No doubt the rest of our siblings had informed Esme of the events of the day, but she still gasped at the thought of what could have happened to our mate. I think she was already in the process of adopting Bella. Our mate was going to be the favorite child soon enough, and that thought made me giggle like mad.

"What's going on in that devious little mind of yours?" Rosalie asked, her arms tightening reflexively.

"Nothing!" I sang, smiling at Esme as I curled up under Rosalie's chin. "Oh, Bella's coming over to visit tomorrow around noon!"

Esme's smile could rival the sun in that moment. It was like instant 'mommy mode: activated', and I watched as she leaped to her feet, rushing into the kitchen to check on the food stores she'd been stocking. "I'll have to figure out what to make her! Do you know what her favorite foods are?!"

"She's an absolute glutton for breakfast foods," I called out with a smile.

"Meat," Rosalie added. "Any kind of meat you can think of, that girl will eat." I nodded, smiling at the purr that rumbled from the blonde's chest as she no doubt thought about our mate.

"Sooo," Emmett drawled, his voice taking on that boyish playfulness I'd come to recognize when he was about to say something inappropriate, "I'm guessing by your late arrival tonight that you visited with your mate?" I glared at him but nodded from my seat, his eyes looking absolutely delighted. "Is that why you two smell like sex?"

"Emmett McCarty!" Esme yelled, his childish giggle floating around the living room as Rosalie and I glared at him. I mean, he was probably right, we did get ourselves pretty excited earlier but dammit, he just had to point out our severe lack of action like that?

"That," Rosalie growled, her voice as sharp as ever despite the smirk on her face, "Is absolutely none of your business anymore, man-child."

"Aww," Emmett cried, his voice turning petulant. "Come on! I'm all alone in that little old room now, I have to live vicariously through your gayness!" He dodged the throw pillow I tossed his way, his grin and laughter infectious as I began giggling against Rosalie's rumbling chest.

"Get your thrills elsewhere, mountain man," I teased, drawing back to meet Rosalie's suddenly curious gaze. "Our mate is ours alone." The warmth that seemed to radiate from the blonde's smile was something glorious to behold, and again I reaffirmed my promise to always do everything in my power to keep that smile there.

Rosalie

I still couldn't quite believe all of it was real. I had gone from stewing alone in my misery for so long, despite Emmett's best efforts to break through the façade of my anger, to truly living and all because of one girl. Not one single person had ever been able to reach past the surface and touch my ice-cold heart. Not until Bella Swan had stumbled her klutzy way into our lives. Now I couldn't seem to even remember what life was like before she existed.

I still had to smile at Alice's reaction to finding out I knew we shared Bella as our mate. I'd been slowly putting two and two together, but our plan to seduce the girl and get her back for that teasing kiss had been when I really began to question things. I had begun to see how Alice acted, not only around Bella and myself, but overall, since meeting Bella. She was happier, but more focused than I'd ever seen her, and since I never saw or heard her interacting with her own mate, it didn't take much to realize.

When she was detailing her plan for our seduction, it kind of all started coming together. Not because of any one event, but because her description of what we should do didn't set off a single red flag. I was willing to let my mate be touched and seduced by another vampire with full knowledge of what we were doing. That just doesn't happen in our world. Mates are precious things, jealously guarded and viciously fought for.

It was a curious sensation, but watching Alice fawn over Bella, teasing the girl and practically mounting her half the time...it filled me with warmth and a strange kind of happiness. I wasn't lying when I said I couldn't imagine a day where Bella's smile didn't also come from Alice. It didn't feel like a competition, as one would think when there were more than two people involved in a relationship. It felt equal in a way that, despite us being very different women, just felt perfectly balanced.

Relationship. We were in a relationship with Bella. I'd thought the idea of Bella being polyamorous would be a source of contention between us at some point. But knowing Bella like I do now, and seeing how happy and filled with love she is for both myself and Alice...it was wonderful.

It just felt so damn natural, too. Hanging on to the girl, seducing her, kissing her. It all felt so absolutely delicious, and yet the same feeling persisted when it was Alice expressing her desires onto Bella's admittedly gorgeous body.

I wasn't attracted to Alice. At least, not in the traditional sense of wanting her. But there was a certain comfort I found just from being in her presence. It was especially potent when we had to be away from Bella, drawing comfort and solidarity from my mate's other mate. Maybe it was due to the shared mate bond, but my relationship with Alice had shifted subtly, changing in small ways to accommodate our beautiful little mate.

Then I thought about making out with Alice in the locker rooms and I was happy vampires couldn't blush. The action itself was fun, but it was Bella's reaction to the scene that truly turned the experience pleasurable.

"Why do you think that is?" I eventually wound up asking Alice later while we lounged together in our room, reiterating my thoughts when she stared at me in confusion.

"Hmm," she'd pursed her lips in concentration, looking adorable. "I think it's exactly because it excited Bella. I think you and I would be willing to do anything for that girl, and I do mean anything. Making out with my beautiful blonde bombshell of a sister is just one of those things." She sent me a wink for good measure, which drew another one of those freely given laughs from me that were becoming more and more common.

I'd never been one to laugh before Bella came along. I'd never found anything worth smiling or laughing for in this curse of a life. After what my fiancé had done to me, the circumstances of my being turned, I'd been left a cold and distant shell of a person. I think it was that unmatched disgust I felt for just about every living thing that helped me refrain from ever taking a human's blood.

Now, even I could see the changes in my character. I smiled often and laughed openly without restraint. Things were funny now. Things were appealing. Whereas before I had always felt detached from the world, now I was distinctly involved. Bella had shattered the ice from around my heart and brought the sun back into my world where before there was only bleak darkness.

I hummed as a thought came to me, a small smile lifting my lips. "I think we should take Bella up into the mountains, show her our world in its entirety. If she's going to be with us, she deserves to see us as we are."

Alice's eyes seemed to glaze over for a moment before they cleared, a grin splitting her lips. "Oooh, I can't wait for you to see her reaction!"

"That's just not fair," I murmured, pouting for effect. "I thought you couldn't see her?"

She nodded, her smile falling a bit. "Yes, the visions are blurry for the most part, but when you or I make a decision, sometimes I get glimpses of her reactions. It's fascinating, really."

Smirking, I flicked her nose playfully. "You're just mad that she can fool your visions."

Her nose twitched back and forth as her eyes crossed temporarily. "Hey! I'm not used to being unable to see anyone other than the wolves! This is hard for me, especially as it concerns our mate."

I nodded, realizing how anxious it must make her being unable to plot our mate's future accurately. "Welcome to being just like the rest of us immortals, pipsqueak." I stuck out my tongue, hoping to wipe away the girl's sour mood.

It worked. "Ooooh!" She growled as she pounced, her fingers trying to go for my abdomen, but I was expecting it. I got a hold of her wrists and twisted bodily, pinning her beneath me against the loveseat with my signature cocky smirk in place.

"Didn't see that coming, did you?" I taunted, holding her arms above her head. Her gaze went from upset to playful in a matter of seconds and I just knew she was about to do something devious.

So imagine my surprise when she leaned up and kissed me. It was unlike the chaste peck she'd given me earlier in the night, the contact holding for several seconds before she tilted her head, pressing more firmly against me. And I couldn't help but respond to the kiss, pressing back until I'd bodily pinned the smaller girl beneath me. It was another one of those strange changes to our dynamic, where her challenge was met with equal abandon from my domineering movements.

We were both breathing slightly heavy when I pulled back, despite the lack of needed oxygen. It wasn't quite sexual, but there was definitely tension there that had never been there before. "This is weird, isn't it?" I asked, because I couldn't seem to reconcile the feeling of having my mate's mate pinned beneath me in such a compromising position.

Alice's smile was oddly shy yet playful as she tilted her head in consideration. "I don't think it is. I mean, we're the only known vampires to share a mate, so we kind of get to set the standard." She giggled suddenly, her body rising up until she was pressing back against me, our bodies shifting together with a warm sort of friction. "If it helps, think of what Bella would say if she saw us like this. Or think of how fast her heart would be racing, how the smell of her desire would fill this room with its delicious taste."

I groaned, my body clenching as I abandoned pretense and forced my lips back to Alice's for another searing kiss. It wasn't long before our tongues were battling for dominance, a fight I easily won as I pictured our sexy little mate having to sit and watch. We wouldn't let her touch, not right away. We'd have to really get her worked up, to see how far we could push her before she could no longer resist.

"Fuck," I growled, my voice ragged with need when I forced myself to pull away until I was once again sitting back on the loveseat. "I wish she was here with us now."

Alice looked thoroughly kissed and it brought a pleased smile to my lips even as she struggled into a more comfortable position on the loveseat. "She'll be here this afternoon, don't worry. We'll have all the time in the world to play then." She winked for good measure, adding, "You're a really good kisser, so I don't mind practicing with you until she gets here."

I laughed at that, her Cheshire grin proving too much for me. "Gods, you're adorable. I love you, sis."

Alice moved until she was once again sitting in my lap, nuzzling into my neck as she got comfortable. "I love you too, Rose. I may not be able to see much of it, but I look forward to our future with Bella."

"Me too," I whispered, resting my chin on top of Alice's head. "Me too."

Bella

I don't know what I expected for my first meeting with the rest of the Cullen family, but I know I didn't have 'Susie Homemaker Vampire Mom' on my girlfriends Bingo Card. I was greeted at the door by my mates (Gods I love that word!), who led me into the living area where their parents were waiting.

Esme was the mom everyone wants and no one deserves. The first thing she did when she saw me was pull me into a warm hug-weird for a creature that was almost freezing cold to the touch, I know. "Welcome to our home, Bella! I'm Esme. Oh, I'm just so happy you decided to visit!"

"It's nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Cullen," I murmured awkwardly, unsure of myself in the face of this decidedly sweet woman.

"Esme, please," she reiterated, and I smiled and nodded in acknowledgement. "Lunch will be ready in a few minutes!"

Almost as soon as her words were finish, she was gone in a blur, not even bothering to hide her vampiric speed as she rushed off to what I could only assume was the kitchen judging by the smells. That was when Dr. Cullen stepped up, taking my hand in his for a gentle shake. "You can call me Carlisle as well. You've given us an excuse to use the kitchen for once, so my dear Esme is going to take full advantage of your visit. I hope you're hungry, Bella."

I couldn't help but smile at the kind man in front of me. "It smells delicious, but you all didn't have to go to such lengths for me."

"Nonsense," came the matronly reply as Esme once again appeared in front of us. "I've been stocking this kitchen from the moment I heard my little darlings had found a human mate." I felt myself blushing, a shy smile tilting my lips as I glanced back and forth between Alice and Rosalie, who had thus far been quiet during the introductions. "Oh, none of that, come have a seat and we'll get you fed."

Clearing my throat nervously, I felt my shoulders rising up to meet my ears as I moved quietly into the kitchen where a long island had been set up with a single place setting. I took my seat on one of the tall bar stool chairs, followed closely by my mates on either side while Esme began to pile on pancakes, sausage, and bacon in heaps. I was definitely not against having a second breakfast, regardless of what time of day it was but holy crap this was a lot of food.

"Don't worry if you can't eat it all," Alice chimed in from my left side, either having correctly interpreted my slack-jawed look, or having seen it in one of her visions. I still wasn't 100% sure how her visions actually worked, so it could be either at this point.

I hesitantly began digging in, finding the food was actually delicious. I mean, seriously, who would have thought vampires knew how to cook so well! The syrup was real maple! Who just has real maple syrup?!

But then again, judging by the massive house (see also: Mansion), the luxurious vehicles I'd seen them drive, and their designer clothing, I was beginning to realize that my girlfriends and their family were loaded. I felt so out of place with my tacky Wal-Mart brand blue sweater and jeans and off-brand Converses. Not to mention, my truck was an eyesore sitting parked out front. I was beginning to feel very outclassed in every single way and I hated that sense of failure.

"Ma belle," came Alice's whisper from my side, and it was only then that I realized I'd been sniffling. Shit, I couldn't control my emotions around these two! "What's wrong, love?"

I shook my head, rubbing my eyes across my good arm as I gave a watery laugh. "I'm just being stupid, don't worry about it."

"What did we say about calling yourself stupid?" Rosalie grumbled, sliding closer until she was pressed up against my back, her chin resting on my shoulder from my position on the tall stool.

"No," I murmured, "I mean, I know. It's just that..." what could I say, really? "You're both so gorgeous, so perfect, and you're vampires on top of it. And you're rich. Not that that matters to me, money has never appealed to me, but..." I closed my eyes, my fingers picking at the edge of my sweater. "What could you possibly see in me? I'm this bumbling mess who can barely walk across a flat surface without tripping over her own feet, I find myself in dangerous situations almost as often as I make dinner for Charlie, and I just don't have anything to offer you two or your family. But you want to be with me; I don't get it."

The entire kitchen was silent by the time I finished and I couldn't bring myself to look up from my lap as I aired the entirety of my seriously lacking self-esteem. I know I'd been over parts of this before and that these two women truly cared about me for who I am, but it didn't help when I was faced with the literal perfection that was their family. I hadn't been in the house for even an hour and I had been treated more lovingly than either of my parents ever had before. I'd been accepted for dating their daughters and even for knowing the secret of their vampirism, and yet they still hadn't asked anything of me in return.

It was abnormal.

"Oh dear," Esme crooned, coming around the counter at a more human speed, spinning me around in my seat until she could wrap me up another one of those tender, warm-cold hugs. "You sweet little thing, there is absolutely nothing wrong with who you are. I've heard so much about you over these last few weeks and I can honestly say you are a perfect match for our little doves."

I didn't realize I was crying until I felt the tears leaving cold tracks down my cheeks. I tried to pull away with a sniffle but Esme just wasn't having any of that, holding me pressed into her with a strength that her delicate frame belied. So I gave up and wrapped my arms around the Cullen Matriarch and crushed her to me in a desperate hug that I hadn't felt in so long. My mother was an eclectic mess of a woman who sometimes forgot that I was her daughter and not just some friend she could chatter with, so emotional touches like this were so few and far between.

I felt two other pairs of arms surround me and slowly all the tension from before began to flow out of my body like melting ice, which was funny considering the cold bodies around me. A calming smell, like winter pine and spring flowers mixed with a warm musky scent I couldn't identify filled my lungs and I just kinda went limp.

Slowly, holding me steady, Esme pulled away, my body winding up being pressed back into Rosalie's taller frame. I didn't mind, my brain felt like mush and I just wanted to curl up into the comfort of my mates' arms. "Why don't you girls take your mate up to your room and let her rest. I think she's a bit overwhelmed by our pheromones and a nap might be just what she needs."

I couldn't understand why they were whispering even as I was lifted bridal-style into Rosalie's arms. Faster than I could track, we were moving, cresting the stairs until we were suddenly inside of what I could only assume was a bedroom. I couldn't even begin to complain when Rosalie slowly settled me down onto a fluffy, warm cloud-or that's what it felt like at least. I swear, I could practically feel the impossibly high thread count as I was suddenly surrounded by the wonderful scents of my mates.

I didn't even know my eyes were closed until I felt myself drifting off, the bed dipping on one side of me letting me know that my ladies were there with me. I knew they would always keep me safe. They were my heart and my breath.

Rosalie's lovingly whispered words followed me into sleep, "So close, that your hand on my chest is my hand. So close, that your eyes close as I fall asleep."

Alice

The sight of our mate resting comfortably in our bed was one I honestly hadn't expected to see this soon in our relationship. Regardless of expectations, the simple visual alone was enough to fill my heart with so much joy I could do nothing more than turn to my sister and pull her into a tight hug.

"She's so beautiful," I heard Rosalie murmur, her gaze finally turning away from our mate to fully embrace me. "I cannot see the day, nor night, nor blessed dawn in which her smile, nor thine, should come not from the other, but braced beautifully in one shining image of love."

I found myself sniffling, tightening my grip on the other woman as her sweet words warmed my still heart. "That's beautiful, who wrote it?"

Her soft laughter rumbled in my ear, her chest pressing gently against my own. "Me. Her love inspires me to prose the likes of which long-dead poets have yet to breathe life to." She giggled, the sound echoing of surprise and love. "Gods, I can't seem to turn it off!"

I couldn't help the little giggle that left me as I slowly pulled away, turning my gaze back to our resting mate. "You always were a closet romantic," I murmured quietly, reaching out to smooth my fingers down Bella's cheek when the urge became too much to resist. "I'm happy to see you've finally come out of the closet."

Rosalie's laughter shook the bed even as she fought to suppress the sound. "Gods, you're almost as bad as Emmett."

I grinned toothily over at Rosalie. "No, sister, I'm better than Emmett, I assure you," I returned with a wink. It was a curious feeling, but being so close to Bella always seemed to shift our dynamic a bit more left of center, to the point where I didn't mind flirting with Rosalie like this. I wondered idly if sharing a mate skewed the lines between the sharing vampires, or if this was just a natural shift that was occurring the closer we got to fully bonding with our mate. I mean, I made out with my sister in front of Bella and it was...hot.

"Now what's going through that mind of yours," Rosalie asked, her smile tilting up at the ends.

"I'm just...curious, I guess, about how sharing a mate will continue to affect you and I. There's never been a dual-mate bond like ours as far as I've been able to find out and I'm fascinated by it." I reached out and let a finger caress down Rosalie's cheek, feeling the softness of her skin in a new way I've never experienced before. It wasn't like touching Bella, but it wasn't unpleasant either.

Rosalie's smile slipped a bit, her gaze turning curious as she furrowed her brows. "I don't know," she whispered, her voice taking on a vibrating cadence that I had noticed could turn Bella into a shuddering puddle. To me, it sounded warm and loving, but was there more?

"I think I'm overthinking," I giggled, smiling and turning back to our mate. "So long as she's happy, that's all that matters."

I could see Rosalie's frown out of the corner of my eye before she, too, returned her gaze to the sleeping human. "Yes, whatever makes her happy."

Bella

Warmth. Soothing warmth like I've never felt before. Then a sound like the tinkling of bells and I slowly began to shift as I naturally sought the sound, even in my groggy state. "Bella." I groaned softly, shifting the opposite direction as a new sound penetrated my sleep-addled thoughts, a beautiful, taunting sound that called to me. "Bella." I had to get to her, to respond, to touch the heavens and exist amongst the angels that were singing to me, only to me.

The cold touch of velvet-soft lips to my cheek had me jerking awake, a gasp leaving my lips as I sat up quickly in-yep, that's not my bed. I blinked my heavy lids, looking around the room blearily, the light pouring in from the heavy drapes covering the window temporarily blinding me.

"Come on, little darling," there was that angel again, and I took a deep breath of the smell of roses and jasmine and warm honey before meeting the loving smile of my blonde mate. "There you are. Good morning, my love."

I smiled brightly, reaching for her even as I heard the tinkling laughter from my other side. "Good morning, Aphrodite," I murmured sleepily, pulling her in for a slow, gentle kiss. When we eventually parted, I sighed happily before my gaze sought out my other goddess. Upon seeing Alice sitting leaning towards me on the other side of the bed, I gave her an equally soft smile and crooked my finger.

She leaned in quickly and brought her lips to mine, a happy squeal pouring out of her as she met my slowly warming enthusiasm in a sweet kiss. "Bonsoir, mon amour!" I smiled, delighted at the way her voice rolled beautifully over the French words.

"Wait," I blinked, looking around in confusion. "'Bonsoir?' It's evening already? Wait, did I fall asleep?!" Noooo! I'd lost half a day with my beautiful mates!

Rosalie's quiet chuckle was almost drowned out by Alice's giggle. "You're so cute!" I felt Alice's arms wrap around my neck, pulling me back against her as I frowned despondently at Rosalie. "We didn't quite count on how your body would react to being flooded with so many different vampire pheromones. You kind of passed out, but its okay, darling. You only slept for about four hours."

"Four hours?!" I yelped, quickly rubbing at my eyes. "But I'm supposed to be home by 8! We've lost half of our time together!" I whined, seriously debating if I wanted to cry at the injustice of it all.

They were both laughing at my misery and I forced a pout, my arms crossing over my chest for maximum effect. "Hey, some of us are mortal here! I don't want to miss a single minute of my time spent with you both."

"Aww," Alice cooed, her voice purring into my ear, causing a tremor to vibrate down my spine for a second. "We will have all the time in the world together, mon coeur. I promise you that."

"Besides," Rosalie added, and I hadn't even noticed her move before she was suddenly very close, her gaze heated as she stared down at me. "We're here together now, aren't we?"

I swallowed, not sure if I wanted to lean forward into Rosalie or curl further into Alice's arms as her hands moved down to my waist, her cold fingers teasing the exposed skin where my sweater had ridden up. "Kiss me," I whispered, desperation filling my voice.

Rosalie hadn't quite finished groaning before her lips were suddenly on mine, and damn did I miss this feeling since last night. My whole body felt electrified, my skin tingling everywhere their bodies made contact with mine. Then Rosalie's tongue was licking across my bottom lip, asking for entry that I quickly gave as my lips parted. Now I was the one groaning, the sound coming out eager as I tasted the blonde vampire.

Alice wasn't just sitting idle, either, her hands sliding ice-cold heat across my abdomen as she explored more of the skin there. I could feel her lips leaving feather-light kisses across my neck and I swear I was so insanely aroused I wouldn't be surprised if the whole house smelled it.

That thought made me pull back with a gasp, my breathing heavy. "What about your family?"

Rosalie's onyx-hued gaze flashed and I swear I felt my heart skip a beat as her voice rumbled from her chest. "If they know what's good for them, they've already left the vicinity and are well on their way to another country for all I care."

I whimpered as I felt Alice's lips ghosting across my exposed shoulder where my sweater hung loose. "I can guarantee you we won't be disturbed by our family, my love. I'm a seer, you know?" Her tinkling giggle brought a smile to my face, which was almost instantly replaced with a gasp as her fingers slid teasingly along the waistband of my pants.

Oh gods! We were alone. We were guaranteed to remain alone for as long as we wanted, according to my mates. Was this really happening, right here and now? I couldn't think of anything I wanted more than to belong to the both of them in all ways, but was this really going to happen right now?!

My phone ringing was almost a blessing in disguise as I felt my panic mounting. I searched my pockets as it began vibrating, the obnoxious default ringtone chiming a stupid melody that irritated me just enough to make me rush in answer it. "Hello?"

"Hey, Bella, it's Charlie," his voice sounded far away, like he was yelling down a tunnel. "Bella, can you hear me?"

"Yeah," I replied, raising my voice so he could hopefully hear me better. "What's wrong?" After all, he knew where I was spending my time, I doubt he would interrupt that without good reason. Considering where we were just heading, I think my dad just saved my virtue. The thought almost made me laugh out loud.

"I just wanted to let you know that I have to go out of town for a few days." Static filled the air for a moment before Charlie's voice sounded closer to the phone. "I'm already on the road. There's been more animal attacks and the park rangers are tracking them heading towards Forks so me and some of my deputies have volunteered to come out and help them hopefully intercept the beasts before they get any closer."

"Are you sure that's safe?" I asked, my voice shaking with emotion as I thought of all the things that could go wrong. We may not have been reunited for long but I loved my dad and I don't know what I would do with myself if something happened to him.

"We'll be fine, Bells." The sound of his usual confident voice was soothing as he continued, "But I don't know when I'll be back in town, so I was wondering if Dr. and Mrs. Cullen wouldn't mind watching after you for the rest of the weekend."

I had to pull the phone back and stare at it for a moment before I got control of my thoughts enough to continue the conversation. "You...want me to stay with the Cullens while you're out of town?"

"I mean," he went on, clearly uncomfortable with the subject, "You're a big girl, you're already eighteen, but I didn't want to leave you home alone like that without giving you the option. And you know I trust Dr. Cullen. I'm sure between him and his wife, and those girls you're dating, they can keep you out of trouble for a few days."

I couldn't help but smirk, looking back and forth between said girlfriends who were still intimidatingly close. If he hadn't called, I'm more than certain they would be taking very good care of me at this very moment. Just the thought was enough to send a jolt of desire through me, drawing twin inhales from my mates, telling me more than anything that I'd just be found out.

With a sheepish smile to the girls, I pulled the phone back pointedly. "Do you think your parents will mind me staying over for a few days?" Like I didn't already know the answer.

"Oh, I can guarantee it," Rosalie rumbled, her voice having lost none of its aroused husk from earlier.

Alice nodded from her place at my back. "I can specifically guarantee it," she giggled with a smile, nuzzling into the side of my neck.

I had to bite my lip to stifle the groan that wanted to escape my lips, pulling the phone back to my ear. "Yeah, dad, they won't have a problem with me staying."

There was a pause from the other end of the line before Charlie continued the awkward conversation. "I'm not going to tell you to behave. I was a teenager once myself, but, well...I guess I don't need to tell you to be safe, either, do I?"

I choked on my next breath as Alice fought to suppress a cackle of delight, Rosalie's smirk turning damn near feral as she obviously thought of all the ways she'd like to keep me safe. I imagine restraints and lots of nudity were involved. "Dad!" I eventually yelped into the phone, Charlie's laughter making me blush even harder. "You're hilarious, Charlie! I'm hanging up now!"

His laughter followed me even as I pressed the End Call button, throwing my phone to the side as I crossed my arms over my chest with a huff. Alice was giggling her adorable little head off while Rosalie rumbled with her signature chuckle. "You're both going in the dog house if you don't stop laughing."

"We don't have a dog house, Isabella," and yep, the way she drawls out the sound of my full name was still stupid effective.

"You know what I mean!" I argued, pouting through the shaking coming from Alice's delightful laughter. "You're both being mean."

Finally, it seemed Alice was getting control of her laughter again, her hands wrapping around my waist and pulling me flush against her again. "Oh, ma belle, you're so damn cute when you're embarrassed." And, predictably, there goes my face flushing with even more heat.

"Well," I sniffed, lifting my chin as I stared at the far wall, "Seeing as my father ruined the mood," I was glaring now just thinking of lost opportunities and the mostly silent echoing thought of holy shit, am I ready? "My girlfriends should find a better way to entertain me than to continue attempting to embarrass me."

I don't think I was fooling either of them, but the quieting of their laughter and the sudden hug I was pulled into by Alice calmed my nerves at least to some degree. "Don't worry, ma belle," she assured, her voice playful yet direct. "While we may have devious designs for that sinful little body of yours-" Rosalie, of course, chose that moment to chuckle deep enough to send heat shooting through me "-we also have chaste desires as well. We were, in fact, talking about taking you up into the mountains with us so you can get used to our vampiric abilities that we normally have to hide."

My brows quirked up curiously as I looked back and forth between Rosalie who was still sitting in front of me, and Alice who was looking around me from where she was braced at my back. "Really? So, you basically wanna show off to the poor little human?"

Alice's Cheshire grin was answer enough for me. "Alright," I nodded, patting Rosalie's legs so she'd move to let me up. Only, instead of getting up out of my way, she turned and sat with her back facing me.

"Climb on," she said, her mesmerizing voice enticing me to move even before I realized what she was asking.

"You want me to...climb on your back?" I questioned, feeling skeptical despite my knowledge of their indomitable strength.

"Yep!" she popped the p hard, her gaze turning challenging. "Unless you're afraid."

"Pshh!" I laughed aloud for good measure, puffing up my false bravado while simultaneously freaking out a bit. "Fine, but just so you know, chaos follows me. It is on your head if we wind up running through a tree or something."

I shifted forward until I had my legs resting on either side of her waist, my hands wrapping around her neck. Before I knew it, she was standing up, grabbing and interlocking my ankles, a surprised yelp slipping from me as I clung desperately to her. As expected, she didn't seem fazed by my weight, which really shouldn't have surprised me at this point.

I expected us to leave through the front door. I was learning that these two women will and probably always would exceed my expectations at every single opportunity. When Alice moved towards the floor-to-ceiling window and slid it open, Rosalie followed her out onto their balcony.

"Um, girls, I don't know what you're thinking of doing but I think weeeeeee-" before I could even take a breath, we were sailing through the air out into the clearing around the house. We landed with a slight jolt, more probably to do with my weight than any actual lack of grace on their part. Still...

"What the fuck were you thinking?!" I shouted, my voice screeching right into Rosalie's ear, causing the girl to flinch. "Human passenger here, human passenger!"

"Calm yourself, little darling," Rosalie rumbled in a voice I'd only ever heard on occasions where she was either excited or angry. When she turned her head to look at me over her shoulder, I decided on excitement as her reason for sounding that way when her black-eyed gaze met mine, that sexy little smirk of hers setting fire to my body.

"We're going to be moving fast now, Bella," Alice was explaining, and I tried my hardest to focus on her voice rather than the heat pulsing through me while trying to keep my groin from riding Rosalie's backside where my thighs were braced. "If you feel dizzy or nauseous, let us know and we'll take breaks. It might help if you close your eyes. We've never done this with a human before."

I took a deep, fortifying breath before I tightened my hold around Rosalie's neck. "Alright, ladies, I expect to shocked and awed! Show me what you've got!" I'm going to die.

Rosalie's widening grin pretty much confirmed my last thought. "Hang on tight, little darling." And before I could even draw enough breath to reply, we were moving through the woods at speeds I'd never even contemplated.

Trees whipped by so dizzyingly fast that I eventually did have to close my eyes if only to save myself from throwing up all over my beautiful girlfriend, who seemed to have made it her personal goal in life to push my human body to its limits. Now all I could hear was the rushing of wind as my ladies ran through the forests, their footfalls surprisingly quiet even amongst the damp underbrush. It only went on this way for minutes but I knew that we had already covered more ground than any ATV ever could have in the same time. A shift in my orientation caused me to open my eyes only to see that we were already beginning to ascend the beginnings of the nearby mountains.

How fucking fast are they moving?! It was like nothing I'd ever felt before. I'd never ridden a roller coaster, but I imagined it wouldn't even come close to comparing to the elation of literally ghosting across the forest floor. It was like we were flying, they were moving so fast, their feet so agile that I barely felt connected to the ground. I swear, if Rosalie hadn't had such a tight hold on my legs that were wrapped around her waist, I might have floated away.

"This way," I heard Alice call over the sounds of rushing wind, and the two vampires seemed to turn as one, racing straight towards an imposing cliff face. We were coming up on it fast and I had to close my eyes at the last second when it looked like we were going to smash right into it, only for the ground to fall away from me as Rosalie's arms left my legs.

I chanced a look through my slitted eyes only to have them widen in amazement. The two women were scaling the cliff bare-fucking-handed! Their hands scrabbling at the seemingly flat surface sounded more like tiny echoes of thunder, small scratching sounds following as their fingers literally ripped handholds out of the stone face as if it were mud.

We reached the top of the cliff within seconds, soaring upwards a ways over the ledge until they both landed evenly to reveal a large outcropping of flat area. "I saw this spot in a vision," Alice explained, turning to smile happily at me.

I don't know what she saw in my face but her happy grin crumbled as she rushed over to Rosalie's side. "Oh darling, it's okay," she cajoled, reaching for my hands that were caught together in a death grip around Rosalie's neck. I swear, if she hadn't been a vampire, I'd have snapped her head off by now.

I still just might try it! My whole body was tense, frozen in place even though we were at a standstill now. I might have snapped at the both of them but my teeth were clenched so hard that I couldn't open my mouth if I wanted to.

Alice's cold fingers began prying at mine, slowly working them loose. As soon as I released that hold, I was gripping onto Rosalie's shoulders, practically shredding her blouse. "Come on, Bella, you can let go now."

No, Alice, I really can't.

Alice stopped for a moment, staring at me with a considering look on her face before she grinned deviously at me. Before I could ask, she moved into my space and pulled me into a searing kiss that was simultaneously cold and fiery hot, her tongue delving between the seam of my lips and drawing a moan from somewhere in my chest. The action had the desired effect of making me release my hold on Rosalie, but now I was gripping the sides of Alice's face and devouring her delectable mouth as if it could be my last.

If they pull another stunt like that, it may just be my last because my heart is going to give out! Still, I was not going to look a gift Alice in the mouth, at least not while it was preoccupied with my own. Slowly, I felt my legs loosening until I was sliding down from my perch atop Rosalie's back. My legs decided that was enough, though, since the next thing I knew I was sinking to the ground. My only saving grace was that Alice's grip quickly shifted to cradle me to her while Rosalie turned, her hands joining Alice's to hold me up while I felt like jelly.

"Did we overdo it?" I heard whispering, and I'm pretty sure it was Alice, but I couldn't quite get my brain to focus enough to comprehend it.

"Maybe a little," was Rosalie's murmured answer, and I finally took in a deep, gasping breath, my eyes widening in alarm as I looked around to take in my surroundings.

"Maybe a little?!" I screeched, only to pause at the majestic view around us. We were near the top of one of the nearby mountains and I could see the forest below go on for miles. I'd only ever seen something like this in nature magazines and documentaries and I have to say it was breathtaking. Except for the fact that my breath had been taken by the absolute terror of riding my girlfriend's back up a bloody mountain!

"Aww," Alice pouted, her voice taking on that sexy little tone that could do dangerous things to my willpower, "But if we hadn't hurried up here, then you might have missed this." Without further explanation, the two women slowly slipped their arms from around me and took a few steps away.

I was seconds away from demanding an answer to her cryptic words when the clouds began to shift aside. This high up, the sunlight filtered through easily, casting a peel of its rays across the entire cliff face. And I swear by all that is holy, unholy, and everything in between, I about fainted at what I saw before me.

They were glowing! Well, not glowing, per say. But every single inch of skin that the sun touched of their beautiful bodies shined like so many stars and moons and starbursts, things no mere mortal should behold yet here I was, basking in the infinite beauty of my own personal goddesses.

"Magnifique..." I hadn't even realized the sound came from me until Alice's giggle broke the spell I was under. "Gods, you're so...there aren't words enough in any language to adequately describe just how beautiful you both are." I know my mouth was hanging open, that I was staring like a besotted idiot, but what the hell else can you expect from me? Higher brain functions were simply a non-issue at this point.

"This is why we can't be seen when the sun is out," Rosalie explained, unnecessarily I might add.

"Yeah," I whispered, afraid to speak any louder for fear of shattering this wondrous event. "I get it. Can't have the humans having heart attacks left and right because their poor mortal eyes cannot comprehend the magnificence of your beauty. On an unrelated note, how's my heart sound right now?"

"Perfect," Alice answered, her voice taking on a more bashful tone, her grin just as shy as she rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet. "You're so perfect."

"Indeed," came Rosalie's agreement, her voice reverent as they peered back at me with just as much wonder, and for a moment I was mystified by what they could possibly see that could bring those looks to their eyes. "You're so beautiful. So absolutely perfect. Our Bella."

"Our Bella," whispered Alice, and slowly as if afraid I might blow away on the wind they reached for me. I went to them willingly, happily, devastatingly blinded by the sheer love I felt in that moment.

"I'm nervous," I murmured suddenly, and it was only up here in our own little space that I felt like I could say what had been on my mind. "Being with you both is something beautiful, something so very precious, that I still feel like I might wake up any minute now. This is like a dream-you're both a dream that I've been chasing for most of my life and now you're here and you're with me and...I don't know what to do! I don't know what I'm doing."

Gods, I hope they understood what I was saying, because I don't even think that made sense to me. Apparently, they did, judging by the loving, understanding smiles they gave me as I was pulled into them, their arms surrounding me in a soothing embrace. "Bella," Rosalie murmured, pulling away just enough so that I could meet her gaze, "We love you, little darling. Nothing in the world could change that, especially not the pace of our physical relationship. We're more than willing to go at your pace."

I winced, taking a deep breath before clinging tighter to them. "It's not that," I tried to explain, "I want you both, so much. But I've, um...I've never been intimate with anyone, nothing more than kissing and fumbling around over clothes. And you two are intimidatingly beautiful, and you're vampires who probably have far more experience than me - no offense- and I don't want to disappoint-"

"Shhh," Alice murmured, cutting off my slowly degrading jumble of words that could hardly be mistaken for speech. "We get it, ma belle. We understand." She pulled away, her cool fingers alighting on my chin and gently pulling me up to meet her loving gaze. "This is new for us as well, don't forget. I mean, we're not virgins by any stretch of the imagination, but we've never been with a woman before."

"How about this," Rosalie said, voice low but confident, "you tell us what you need, okay?"

I forced myself to take a couple of deep breaths, fighting back the instinctual panic that wanted to rise up. Part of me had expected them to be angry, to be upset with me for worrying about this aspect of our relationship, but here they were once again proving every misconception I had about love wrong. They were far too perfect for their own good!

"I love kissing you both," I replied simply, taking another slow breath. "I think I might actually die if I can't kiss you both. And I don't mind going farther, touching and exploring, but I don't...well, like I said, I've never gone farther than that and I..." I bit my lips before forcing out the rest of my sentence, "I want to be perfect for you both."

"Oh Bella," Alice crooned, a loving smile still lighting her beautiful features, "You already are perfect. No matter what, you have us forever and always. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect mate."

"Besides," Rosalie added, a smirk gracing those full lips that I longed to taste again, "we want nothing more than to worship every inch of that delectable body of yours. Anything more is just a bonus."

I couldn't help the way my body flushed with arousal, but I hoped being out in the open like we were might dissipate the smell before I could get any more embarrassed. To say that I wanted everything they could give me and more would be an understatement, but I also wanted to be able to love them just as passionately, and I feared my humanity might be a hindrance. "Is it...difficult...me being human?"

Both vampires' eyes widened as they pulled back a bit further to look at me fully. "Why would you think that?" Alice asked, voice filled with confusion, as if the very prospect was foreign.

I shrugged self-consciously, my eyes falling to the ground. "I guess I just feel like you have to hold back so much because I'm human, and I don't want to be a burden."

A cold finger under my chin had me lifting my gaze back up, only instead of the disappointment I thought I'd see there, they had the most attractive smirks gracing those beautiful lips. "Oh, Bella-mou," Rosalie's voice held a playful yet chiding note to it that had me cringing bashfully, "You severely underestimate just how pleasurable it is for us to simply touch you. Hell, kissing you is practically a religious experience, I imagine when we do get the chance to make love to you, heaven would pale in comparison."

I couldn't quite suppress my shudder of desire, nor the whimper that escaped my lips. "You see," I whined, my voice husky with repressed arousal, "You bring me pleasure with your words alone. How am I supposed to compete with that?"

Alice's chuckle was warm as she pulled my body flush with hers. "You say that as if you don't have the very same effect on us, ma belle. I've never been as aroused as I was last night with the taste of you on my lips and those delicious little noises you were making filling my senses."

Rosalie's answering groan was just this side of unhinged. "Oh the things we want to do to you, little one. Please, don't ever doubt how much we want you, or how much we enjoy every second we get to spend with you."

I could feel my entire body overheating even with Alice's cold body still pressed intimately close against me. Gods, if we didn't calm down I might just ask them to take me right there, so I did the only thing I could think of and decided to be completely honest. "I love you both so much." I turned and lovingly nuzzled Alice's cheek with my own, smiling at the adoring look Rosalie sent us. "You both make me feel so special, so loved. I can't imagine my life without you two."

The air was suddenly filled with a low rumbling sound, followed quickly by a second one, and I had to blink several times before my eyes eventually settling on the two women. "Are...are you two purring?"

"You just..." Rosalie Hale acting bashful was truly an adorable sight to behold. "You're just so absolutely perfect to us. You're so understanding, so loving, and just...we love you."

"We love you so much!" Alice crooned, her voice heavy with emotion as she pulled me tight against her. "Here you are, mated to two vampires and you've overcome every single obstacle that you meet. You talk about how you don't feel like you're enough for us, but it is we who don't feel worthy of you. You're just...so damn precious!"

Unable to stop myself - as if I ever would - I pulled back just enough to pull her face to mine in a desperate kiss that was filled with tears and grinning and laughter, and before I could even take a breath, I was being pulled to Rosalie to repeat the entire experience. I guess that was something I was going to have to get used to, experiencing life in twos.

I can definitely get used to that.