Title: You Found Me
Full Summary: Edward Masen has lived the life of a nomadic vampire, travelling with James and Victoria since he awoke as an immortal. His ability to read minds has had the unusual side effect of making him a vampire with a conscience. Despite the ridicule from his coven mates, he's confident he's making the best of his existence and doing what's morally right... until he stumbles upon a brown-eyed girl reading in a meadow in Forks. As he attempts to befriend her and learns more about the sleepy town of Forks, Edward finds there's a lot more to being a vampire than he ever thought possible.
Pairings: Canon
Rating: M, for language and sexing. This time the latter is actually well and truly applicable, so if that offends you, now would be a good time to bounce.
Chapter: Thirty-two; Ecstasy
POV: Edward
AN: I suppose this chapter has been a long time coming. I won't say much more except that I hope it lives up to expectations. This is my first time writing a lemon for a multi-chapter story, and I'm quite nervous about it. I would love to hear what you think, constructive criticism and all :)
Thanks to both Jana and Karene who played a role in getting this final product to you :) And also, thank you to all of you who have brought this story over 500 reviews, that's so unbelievably awesome :)
xx
Bella thought we were ready to make love.
The raw certainty in her eyes told me she wasn't rushing into it just because she could. This was something she wanted. Something we both wanted. Terror and elation warred somewhere on the edge of my consciousness. Elation edged out the terror just enough.
Soft lips traveled up my neck and across my chin, settling against my ear. She bit lightly, wet hair trailing over my skin, a deliciously cool contrast to the heat of her mouth. I shivered, a shot of something akin to adrenaline making its way down my spine.
Bella took my hums as permission, which I supposed they were; I didn't have the willpower to stop her now. My instinct to say no was buried under a half ton of desire. Somehow, I didn't think I would mourn the loss.
I returned her affections hungrily, letting her dictate. With Bella at the reins, I could give her what she wanted without the risk of hurting her. I trusted her judgment explicitly. She might be reckless at times but she would tell me if we were pushing beyond her comfort zone.
She seemed to be in no hurry to stop. She ground her centre against me, sensual sounds that only increased my willingness to submit to her pouring from her lips. I settled my hands on her waist, caressing whatever naked skin I could reach. It was achingly soft… delicate.
"I'm ready," she told me, her voice thick. "Are you?"
Cautiously, as if I was the one in danger of being injured, she took my hand, guiding it between her legs. I followed her direction, letting her lower my hand to the fiery wetness of her most intimate parts. She need not have demonstrated her readiness. Her scent permeated the air all around us. If there was a scent that had the power to inebriate a vampire, it would be Bella's when she was like this.
She was absolutely breathtaking. Her perfect skin was brushed petal pink, flushed with happiness, her need for me – me – written all over her angelic face. Droplets of water from the shower lingered, daring me to lick each and every one off of her.
"I want to be," I whispered, focusing on the beads of water with every ounce of mental strength I possessed. The distraction was the only thing stopping me from giving in and ravaging her on the spot. No matter how strongly I desired her, the voice that demanded Bella's needs came first would not be ignored.
She kissed my forehead tenderly. "Don't be afraid."
I skimmed my hands down the smooth velvet of thighs, reminding myself that this was Bella, the girl I loved. She deserved the best. I desperately wanted to abolish the fear that my best wouldn't be good enough but I couldn't, not completely.
"If I hurt you…" I didn't dare finish the sentence, not wanting to consider the possibilities.
"You won't. If you could guarantee that I would be safe, what would you want?"
"To make love to you," I admitted. The answer came easily but it was a revelation, even to me. I had known that I wanted her in every way she would have me but I had never let myself say the words aloud. I realized wanted to feel what it was like to make love to her more than anything.
"I want that so, so much," she echoed the sentiment, stroking my hair. "I want it all with you. If you won't trust yourself, then trust me. Please. I need to know what it's like to feel you inside of me."
What little willpower had stubbornly stuck with me vanished without further notice.
"Oh god, Bella, yes. Please."
I prided myself on being rather eloquent. That had flown out the window. Desperation for her raged in the pit of my stomach. With a few words she had captured my longing for her, twisting what had once been simple desire into a frantic need. She had me in the palm of her hand. No matter what happened from here on out, I was hers to do with as she wished. Whatever she desired, if it was mine to give, it was hers.
"I know, baby, I know." She smiled at me beatifically, her pleasure at my incoherent response written all over her face.
She squirmed, grinding herself against me. I raised my hands above my head to grip a pillow as irresistible tingles began to spread outward. I could feel my instinct to take more beginning to spiral out. If I kept my hands away from her I couldn't hurt her. My eyes squeezed shut as I focused on keeping my control chained.
"I want to see your eyes." Bella's fingers were soft on my cheek but it was a command not a request.
Shakily I nodded, not trusting myself not to speak. Slowly, I dragged my eyes to hers. My reward was a soft kiss that quickly grew less delicate.
Pulling away, she waited until she was satisfied that I wasn't going to break our gaze before she lifted her hips and began to lower herself onto me. Inch by searing inch, heat began to spread.
Her expression told me it wasn't comfortable for her but she persevered, refusing to let me withdraw. I kept my eyes tethered to the chocolate of hers, allowing them to ground me.
When she had lowered herself several inches, she froze, her body rigid and her thighs clamped tightly around my hips as she adjusted to my size. Her eyes closed in discomfort. I ignored the roaring need pulsing in my lower half. Bella needed me. She came first. She would always come first.
I had known from the start that causing her some pain would be inevitable. We had been lucky she hadn't bled. That was partly why I had dreaded this moment. With that obstacle out of the way, I felt marginally more confident. The intensity of being connected to her so intimately was still there but eliminating the dangerous pull of blood, I could concentrate well enough to make it an enjoyable experience for her.
"Love?" I touched her cheek gently, taking the utmost care to ensure my touch was as soft as I intended. She opened her eyes to mine willingly, uneasiness clear in her expression.
"You have to unclench… it will lessen the pain. Please, sweetheart. I hate seeing you like this," I pleaded, my thumb stroking her where we were joined. I hoped the added stimulation of her most sensitive skin would help her relax. Slowly she did; like a spring flower unfurling, the tension slipped from her body.
When she sunk down onto me even further, my name a whisper on my lips, I knew everything was going to be okay. Better than okay. My hips flexed to meet hers without consent, already greedy for more.
The moment I was fully sheathed in her, the certainty that this was somewhere I was meant to be was staggering. She was so perfectly fitted to me that I was positive we had been crafted to be together this way. All words were inadequate. I would be forever grateful that she had chosen me to share this with.
"Edward," she whimpered, shifting her hips against mine and rocking herself into my hand. "Yes, more. Just. Like. That."
"Anything you want, love," I encouraged, twisting my free hand into her still damp hair. "Tell me what you need."
"I want you to touch me." She disentangled my hand from her hair, placing it on her breast. I stroked the puckered skin, raising my head just enough to place a soft kiss on the opposite nipple. It too puckered, following the lead of its sister.
"Yes, more." Bella thrust her chest against my mouth. I was only too willing to submit. The sweet saltiness of her skin was nothing short of an indulgence. I sucked gently, flicking the pebbled skin with my tongue using as much force as I dared. The coil in my stomach tightened as she blossomed and purred beneath my lips.
"Bella," I hummed around her skin. Her heartbeat pounded frantically. In place of the thirst usually associated with the sound, there was only more desire.
"Oh, yes. God, oh. Feels. So. Good. Edward…" She circled her hips against mine impatiently.
I had feared that the sensations would be so intense that I would be lost to them and unable to focus on restraining myself from hurting her. It had been a wasted fear. If anything, I was more aware of her than ever before. Every tiny, insignificant movement she made was amplified; every single one of my heightened senses plugged directly into her. Her needs were as apparent to me as my own.
"Edward," she moaned, grinding against me again. I groaned, too, reminded of the mounting ache in my own body.
She didn't give any warning that she was going to move other than to flatten her palms against my chest. Her nails curled into my collar bone in an unintentionally seductive move. Tentatively, as if testing the waters, she lifted and then lowered herself just a fraction of an inch, her flesh scraping against mine deliciously. I felt every millimetre. All five of them.
Her name came out as a strangled whisper, my voice buried somewhere in the vicinity of my stomach.
Then she did it again. This time her stroke was deeper, more intense. My hand instinctively found her hip, holding her steady. She quickly graduated to faster strokes as she set an uneven pace for herself, her noises increasing in volume and pitch to match her movements.
I could do little more than meet her with carefully measured thrusts of my own as I wrangled with my desperate need for more. I let the pleasure overwhelm me briefly, concentrating on how incredible it felt to be within her. Vaguely I was aware of my own groans mingling with Bella's but they sounded distant compared to the sounds of her satisfaction.
I never would have pictured Bella to be the kind of girl who was particularly loud but for once I was pleased to be wrong. Her moans and babbled words of encouragement were nearly as gratifying as the act itself.
She slumped against my chest, leaning to press a hot kiss against my chin. I could tell she was growing tired by the frenzied pace she had set for herself. Her legs were growing wobbly, her chest rising and falling rapidly to match the tempo of her pounding heartbeat. I held her snugly against me; I had missed the feeling of her soft, warm curves pressed against my chest.
I stroked her damp hair from her forehead, kissing her sweaty skin while she rested. "How are you feeling?"
"Amazing," she breathed into my neck in between pants. "I feel absolutely amazing. I can't believe… Why the hell did we wait so long?"
I had no good answer to that question. Fear seemed like a distant memory.
My hands skimmed along the ridges of her spine, teasing, caressing bare skin. "You're getting tired." I cursed myself for not foreseeing this problem. I had been so worried about making sure she was safe and in charge that I had neglected to do my part to make this an enjoyable experience for her. I planned to rectify that immediately.
"A little," she admitted reluctantly, kissing my collarbone. "But if you think we're stopping now, you're out of your mind."
I chuckled. We both halted, the vibrations causing tremors of pleasure in the places we were joined. "Not exactly what I had in mind."
"What did you have–"I reversed our position so that she lay beneath me before she could finish. "–in mind. Oh." She grinned, hooking her legs around my hips. "Carry on."
I kissed a nipple softly. "That's precisely what I intend to do." She groaned her appreciation and arched her back, her hips swiveling against mine.
In this position, all the control was mine. I would need to take added precautions to be sure I didn't hurt her. My senses were so attuned to her at the moment, I was optimistic I could handle it.
Resting my elbows on either side of her, I pushed into her gently, listening for changes in the sound of her breathing, the colour of her skin, the pattern of her heartbeat… any sign that would indicate discomfort. There were none. Instead, she matched my every movement, her hips eagerly lifting beneath mine, begging for friction.
I set a quick but gentle rhythm, pausing periodically to kiss whatever flesh I could reach. The bare curves of her breasts were particularly tantalizing in this position; they bounced and begged for my attention.
Her hips lifted to mine encouragingly but it rapidly became apparent that something was missing. Her sighs and moans had diminished to contented hums and purrs. I desperately wanted the irrepressible babbling back. I settled one hand between us, resuming stroking her soft, wet flesh. She met my hand eagerly, pressing against me, seeking more.
"Yes," she whimpered breathily, fisting my hair. "Oh, Edward. So good. Yes, yes."
I kissed her neck, pleased by the return of her vocalizations. "Yes, that's it, love. I love hearing you. Let me hear how good you feel," I breathed into her ear. The sound of her voice gave me something to concentrate on besides the overwhelming pleasure twisting low in my stomach.
"Edward, I think… I'm, oh… yes. Almost. Just, yes, a little, oh yes–" Her legs tightened around me. I could feel her toes curling against my back as her muscles coiled expectantly.
"Yes, I can feel you… so perfect, Bella. So perfect. Just for me." I sped my hips to meet the frantic gyrations of her hips. If that was what she needed from me to reach her climax, I would give it to her.
"Edward, Edward, Edward…"
She shattered beneath me, her back arching into where we were joined. Pride swelled in me as I watched her expressions communicate her euphoria. I desperately tried to ignore the tightness fluttering all around where we were intimately joined. Only once she relaxed did I allow my focus to return to the unbearable sensations building in my own body.
"So beautiful. Oh god, Bella, I…"
My hand slipped over the smooth wood of the headboard, unconsciously searching for something to take the brunt of the pressure straining to be released. I didn't care about the destruction that would be left behind as long as Bella was safe. She was my priority, always. I could kill Emmett later, if he made so much as an offhand remark.
Bella's hand on my chest stopped me before any damage could be done. The wood creaked under my grip but resisted snapping.
"Let go," she demanded, clutching my shoulders fiercely. "You can do this without a crutch. I know you can. I trust you. Let me give you this."
Because she asked me to, I let go. As my grip on the headboard loosened, so did my grip on my body's instinctive reactions. I could hold back the mounting pleasure no longer. It sprung forth, spreading a fire through me that had little to do with warmth and everything to do with the beautiful girl beneath me. Never before had I felt such an overwhelming combination of love and happiness and pure, unadulterated exhilaration.
I pulled her to me, tucking my face into the crook of her neck as the tremulous pleasure rolled through my body. There was no worry I might hurt her, no worry that I might lose control. Even in the throes of climax, my body seemed to know instinctively that Bella was to be treasured and protected.
"See I told you, you don't need to break stuff," Bella declared smugly as I laid on top of her, dazed but alert enough to keep the majority of my weight off of her. Her skin was deliciously hot and damp beneath mine. If I could have, I would have fallen asleep right there on her chest.
"Okay, fine. You were right," I admitted sheepishly, pausing to kiss the curve of a breast.
I moved to lift myself off of her but Bella held me tight. "Don't go. Not yet."
I raised my head to kiss her. "I'm not going anywhere. Just moving. It can't be comfortable for you to have me laying on top you. I'm not exactly weightless."
She shrugged, combing her fingers through my hair. "I like having your weight on me. And being close to you."
"I like being close to you too but I'm bigger and stronger so… I win." I laid on my back, pulling her to rest on top of me.
She snuggled into my embrace. "Hmm, I think I can live with this. Are you a cuddly sleeper, Edward?"
"You act like we don't sleep together every night," I teased back.
Her lips curled against my chest, forming her soft, genuinely happy smile. "Never quite like this. I think I could get used to it. Actually, I'm pretty sure I will."
Her bliss was catching. I mirrored her grin without thinking about it. If I'd had any residual doubts that sex would alter our relationship before, they were laid to rest. We were closer and more unified than ever.
"One day at a time. You might be sore." The words felt dishonest on my tongue. I was quite certain that reverting back to our formerly chaste relationship would be impossible.
"Maybe. I don't think I'll care."
"I'll care. I only want to bring you pleasure." I stroked her back soothingly.
"You do." Her sleep softened voice told me she was on the verge of drifting off. I remained silent, not wanting to jar her awake. She needed her rest.
I kissed her forehead lightly. Warmth bubbled in my chest as the memories of what we had shared played in my head.
I'd thought that once she drifted off, my mind would speed into reverse, attempting to make sense of all confusion of the day. I was pleasantly surprised to find that in place of all the lies and confusion, there was only Bella.
xx
I set the breakfast tray I had prepared for Bella on the nightstand.
For some inexplicable reason – Alice's doing, I presumed – the little kitchenette in the cottage had been stocked with an exorbitant amount of food; more than enough to feed a small army and certainly more than Bella alone could possibly consume.
I'd never so much as cooked a slice of toast in my life. I had however lived in the same apartment building as a chef when James, Victoria and I lived in New York. Out of sheer curiosity I had gleaned a little knowledge. I hoped it would prove sufficient.
The most I dared attempt was a French omelette and a few slices of toast. I was nervous enough about presenting those to her. I wanted to show her how much her faith in me had meant by making her breakfast in bed. I wouldn't get that message across very well if I poisoned her.
Bella shifted under my touch but instead of waking, she buried her face in the lush pillows, burrowing away from the daylight shining through the windows. It was a rare day of sunshine in Forks.
"Mmhmph. G'way."
"Bella, love?" I tried again.
She blinked at me sleepily. "Edward? You're wearing clothes."
"So I am," I joked looking down at myself, amused by her groggy observation. I stroked her hair away from her face. "I made you breakfast. I thought you might be hungry after last night…" I presented the tray I had prepared with a nervous flourish.
She sat up to accept it, the smell of warm eggs penetrating her sleepy fog. As the covers fell away from her I fought the urge to stare at the bare skin revealed, not wanting to be ungentlemanly.
"That's so sweet. It smells really good, Edward." She kissed me, not at all fazed by being half-naked in front of me. "Thank you."
I crawled under the covers, settling next to her as she balanced the tray on her crossed legs. I was glad I had had the foresight to put on last night's clothes. Cuddled up next to Bella, both of us naked, would be asking for trouble. Newly armed with the knowledge of what it felt like to be joined to her, I wasn't sure I would be able to control myself.
"I tried my best. Don't feel obligated to finish if it's awful. I won't be offended."
She grabbed the silverware, immediately digging into the eggs. There was no hiding the expression of distaste that followed.
"Shit. I'm sorry Bella. I'm sure if we go to the Cullens, Esme will cook you something…"
To my dismay, she giggled. "I'm sorry. They're really very good. You just looked all cute and hopeful. I couldn't resist." To my great relief she forked another large bite, a huge grin on her face.
"You're cruel. I was genuinely concerned that I might poison you."
She shrugged, unrepentant, her mouth full of egg. "Consider it payback for the morning after I broke my arm, when you convinced me we had never kissed. I was terrified. I got over it. You love me anyway."
I kissed her hair. Letting her fall asleep with it still wet had resulted in a tangled mess. I thought she looked adorably disheveled. Like she'd just spent the night in my bed. The thought filled me with a strange sense of accomplishment.
"Yes, I do. Speaking of loving… how are you feeling?"
She paused, assessing her body for aches and pains. "I feel good, actually. A little achy in places, but it's a good ache. Reminds me it was all real."
"I'm glad."
It made me indescribably happy to know that I had been able to provide her that experience without unpleasant complications. She didn't have to miss out on or regret an important rite of passage because I wasn't a normal, human boy.
She leaned her head on my shoulder. "Me, too. I think I might need a little practice. Next time, it'll be even better."
"Practice is the way to improvement," I agreed.
Now that we had made love without cataclysmic results, the prospect of doing it again didn't seem nearly so intimidating. I found myself eager for the opportunity to give her pleasure without the pain.
"So what's the plan for today?" she mumbled, taking a sip of orange juice.
"That's up to you. It's Saturday, so we can do whatever you'd like. I need to talk to the Cullens before we leave, though. Last night we didn't resolve much. I wasn't the nicest to Carlisle."
"He's going to understand, Edward. He loves you. You couldn't have listened to him tell that story about how he found you and not understood that."
"He's not so bad. Yesterday I was wound up."
Bella pushed a piece of omelette around her plate. "I told you last night that I was here to listen. I meant that, you know. If you want to talk, I want to listen."
I kissed her temple. "Thank you for that, but last night you gave me exactly what I needed. Something I didn't know I needed. Being with you has put some things in perspective for me. I understand what's important to me, now."
While Bella had slept, I'd spent hours thinking. Thoughts of our night together had saturated my mind making it difficult to concentrate on anything else. At first it had frustrated me, until I realized I didn't want to think of anything else. I was happiest when I was thinking of Bella. All the day's other events were in the past. My future was with Bella.
"What's that?"
"You. Everything else is just… details. As long as I'm with you, I'll be happy. Carlisle may not have been forthcoming about the past but he was there for me when I needed him. When you broke your arm and I was in a blind panic, he was there to offer assistance. When I was terrified my way of life would be incompatible with being with you, he suggested an alternative. Those are the things that really matter. He helped me keep you."
She set her fork down, glancing at me uncertainly. I didn't blame her. Last night I had been all over the emotional map. Fortunately, the new day had brought with it some much needed clarity.
"You're sure you're okay with everything? The stuff with James, too? Not seeing him or Victoria any longer? You've been with them for such a long time…"
I nodded, I was more positive than ever that there was nothing for me to regret. It was apparent that I had meant very little to them as a person. Victoria had valued me for my gift, James not even for that. Their lack of respect for me hadn't even really come as a surprise. There had been evidence of their self-absorption from the beginning but I had refused to admit it was a problem. As the decades has passed, I had foolishly accepted them as family because I had never been offered an alternative. I'd assumed all covens were the same. Now that I knew that wasn't true, I wasn't going to make excuses for them any longer.
"Time spent together doesn't create a family. Love and respect do. We never had that."
Bella shoved her nearly empty tray to the foot of the bed and cuddled into my side. Once again I was very aware she was naked. I hugged her close nonetheless. "I'm sorry."
I shrugged. While I appreciated the concern, there was no need.
"Everything is working out for the best. I have you and the Cullens. James and Victoria were a phase in my life that should be erased from memory."
"I'm happy you're not going to be around them any more," she said quietly. "From the day that you told me you got into a fight with James, before I ever knew what he was capable of, I…"
I shushed her before she could continue. Those days were behind us. I'd rehashed the past enough for both of us.
"You don't need to worry about that any longer. Let's think about the future now. In six months we'll be away from here. I'll be by your side as you go to university for the first time…" I trailed off, letting her imagine the possibilities.
"Sounds nice." I was pleased to hear the smile in her voice once again. "We're going to need to start thinking about where we want to send applications soon. It's nearly November."
"Are you still set on paying your own tuition?" I was quite positive I knew the answer. That didn't mean I wasn't holding out hope I could persuade her to change her mind. If she did insist on paying for her education, I would make absolutely sure that she didn't spend a penny on any of her other necessities. I could be pig-headed too.
Most of the fortune I had accumulated was tied up in joint accounts with James and Victoria. I had no intention of ever accessing those again. That chapter of my life was closed. I wouldn't willingly link myself to them in any way. They could do as they wished with what remained.
The resources I had in my name alone weren't worth nearly as much but there was certainly enough to ensure Bella and I could live comfortably while she got through school. Money was of little value to me. Vampires didn't require much. It would be best spent making Bella happy.
"What do you think?" Her expression told me her position on the matter hadn't budged.
"I don't see why you insist on making such a commotion," I muttered, dismayed by her refusal to see that providing for her wasn't a mere obligation for me. "It's just money. If we're going to spend the rest of our lives together, shouldn't we pool our resources?"
"Being with you is enough," she countered firmly. "I don't need to be showered with your wealth. I don't care if we end up at some little community college, living in a tiny one bedroom apartment somewhere. I want to travel to the east coast but we can do that on a budget."
I sniffed. I hated the thought of her settling for community college when there were so many other options available if only she would let me help.
Bella nudged me lightly, misinterpreting my reaction as derision. "Don't be such a snob. Not everyone goes Ivy League. Community colleges teach all the same stuff, except they're cheaper and they weed out all the pretentious snobs like you."
"If you can afford the best, why not?" I countered.
"Haven't you been listening? I can't afford the best."
"Haven't you been listening?" I returned her sarcasm. "You don't have to. Even if you insist on being difficult, there's always merit scholarships. I've seen your grades, Bella."
They were exemplary across the board. She would have no trouble going to a university out of state if that was what she chose.
Her cheeks reddened. "Look, I'm not ruling anything out, okay? Right now I'm all about equal opportunity. We still have a while until we have to worry about this, anyway."
I threaded my fingers through hers. The last thing I wanted was for her to think I disapproved of her choices. If I thought she truly wanted to go to community college, I wouldn't have pressed the issue. It was the fact she seemed to think she might have no other options that bothered me.
"I will be happy to follow you anywhere. This is your first time leaving home. You should get to choose where we go. Just please promise me you won't pass up an opportunity because you think you have something to prove. We're in this together, now. Let me help."
She looked down at our joined hands shyly. "We'll figure it out, okay?"
I raised her hand to my lips, placing a soft kiss on her knuckles. "I know. I apologize if I come across as demanding. I will be happy with whatever you choose. I just hate the thought of you settling. You're better than that. I know you're capable of anything you set your mind to. In fact, I'm positive that I believe in you more than you believe in yourself."
She turned bright, shiny eyes to mine. "Thank you. For believing in me." Her tone was soft and modest. She still didn't believe she was as special as I knew she was.
"You've always done it for me." Last night, in particular, she had proven just how deep her faith in me ran. I owed her the same unconditional trust.
The kiss that followed was sweet and gentle, full of promise and reassurance. It was the perfect contrast to our passionate exploits the night before.
"The Cullens are probably wondering what happened to us," Bella whispered, peering at the clock. It was nearly noon.
I nodded. "We should probably make our way to the main house before one of them comes banging down the door to check we made it through the night."
I got out of bed, heading to the wardrobe in search of clean clothes. Alice had stocked enough food to feed the town. Surely, she'd thought of clothing, too. Unsurprisingly, hanging neatly side by side in the wardrobe were two perfectly sized outfits. Alice was more prepared than a team of Boy Scouts.
Bella grinned, her playfulness making a triumphant return. "I think we did more than just make it through the night."
"A fact which we're never telling Emmett," I suggested, hastily switching out of last night's clothes and into the fresh ones. "As far as he needs to be aware, we'll live our entire lives as innocent as the driven snow."
Bella snorted, but accepted the t-shirt and jeans Alice had left for her. Her words were muffled as she pulled the shirt over her head. "If you expect that to last more than, oh, five seconds, you're more deluded than I thought."
"I prefer to think of it as optimistic."
"Sure," she giggled, standing to button her jeans and wrap her arms around my waist. "Ready to go face the music?"
"Let me comb your hair, first," I suggested, quickly locating a brush to run through it. "You'll give away our lack of innocence, for sure."
She snorted but let me brush her hair and pull it into a ponytail, anyway. "As if they won't know anyway."
"I enjoy living in hopeful delusion."
With Bella on my back it took us only a minute to reach the Cullen house. At the sight of it, a flash of nostalgia hit me. I would be glad to see them, inappropriateness and all. I would miss them when Bella and I eventually struck out on our own.
We were met at the door by booming laughter and a dimpled grin the size of a small continent.
"Somebody got lucky!"