Author's note: Another chapter is done. This is longest one I've written thus far and it's mainly because of a need for the story to progress more rapidly from here. Hopefully this chapter will bring back some action (of many kinds) to the story, seeing as the last ones have been fairly uneventful.
The prologue as well as chapter one through five has been updated thus far, but I've decided not to republish the changes until I publish the next chapter. Most of the changes is proofreading, but some minor tweaks to the storyline has been rewritten as well. I'll be finished with the rewriting of all chapters by the release of chapter 13. The changes to earlier storylines will be important come ch.13 but doesn't have an immediate effect on this chapter, therefore I've chosen to withhold with republishing them until the coming chapter. I hope this makes sense.
Happy reading.
-.-.-
THE LOCKET
Chapter 12
"The Northern Pass"
-.-.-
Bella was beyond tired. In all honesty she expected she'd soon tumble off Dauntless, if they had to keep riding much further. They'd made camp that first night but had barely slept through most of it before they were rudely woken by Emmett, telling them they needed to head on. It had been like that for the past three days and she was fed up.
She'd avoided Emmett like the plague, ever since she had heard their fight. She knew it was childish of her and as far from her resolve to wear her big girl panties, but every time he had approached her since then, she'd felt nervous and had stuttered an apology, running as fast as she could in the opposite direction.
Most of their travels had thus far been over rough slopes and through murky ground of dense forests, and the calming rocking motion from sitting on a horse, was all but a precious memory, as she remembered the first 20 hours of their trip.
Since then, they had been going through hell. Or something similar to that analogy, she thought and felt her muscles tense for the millionth time as Dauntless stumbled over another rough patch of dirt on the forest floor. Her thighs were burning from the many hours of clamping to keep her body from rocking to hard back and forth on the horse's back. She had blisters between her fingers from gripping the rough leather of the reins, and she was sure her butt was taking the worst toll of the countless hours spent in an unforgiving seat.
They came to an opening in the trees, like that of the meadow her and Edward had stayed in before they'd been tangled up with the trolls, a small stream bubbling past the edge of trees lining the small enclosure.
"Hold up," she called to the two men ahead of her and gently nudged Dauntless into a slow trot. She instantly regretted the choice, as the increase in tempo caused her to slump back and forth, her sore behind screaming for some relief of the harsh leather beneath it.
Edward and Emmett had been riding for the most part in silence, their determination to reach Camp Portus on the forefront of their minds. They'd initially conversed back and forth about the state of the country and the progression with the plan, but lately most of their discussions had been revolved around Bella and her erratic behaviour towards Emmett.
"What's up?" Edward asked, a little worried as he caught sight of Bella's tense facial expression.
She came to a stop next to them and sighed gratefully once the rocking stopped. "Can we just take a quick break?" she whispered and untangled her stiff fingers from their hold, hearing some of the joints cracking loudly. She winced slightly and looked towards Emmett, who she expected would protest at her request.
But he surprised her, as he looked up and his bright blue eyes looking gloomy, questioning the authenticity to the mask of a smile that he gave her. "That's actually a great idea," he responded, his gaze turning soft as he heard the crack from her fingers. "We'll make camp here… We're only a couple of miles from the northern pass, and it'll be hard to sell our story, if we arrive looking as worn out as we feel. A day's rest is probably in order, if we have to fool the King's Guard."
Edward nodded in silent agreement and dismounted from the chestnut mare, before turning to hold Dauntless as Bella stared dumbfounded at Emmett. "Come on, princess," he whispered in encouragement and startling her slightly, which in turn caused Dauntless to roughly kick his hind leg into the ground.
She gently clapped the horse on its neck, before freeing her feet from the stirrups, feeling her muscles ache from the stretch and motion.
Edward was stunned when he heard her groan, his mind instantly going south as he thought of alternate situations where her groaning was from something much more enjoyable than sore muscles caused by their endless travels. He was so caught up in his own imagination, he only barely registered her leaning forwards and swinging her right leg over the horse, before she tumbled to the ground, landing hard on the grass next to him.
"Holy fuck! That hurt," she grumbled and slowly stood, brushing off the dirt and mud with her trembling hands.
"Are you okay?" Edward questioned and mentally slapped him self for not paying attention to her. He should have known she would have found a way to mess up the simple task of dismounting a horse, but he'd been too preoccupied with wishing his daydream were a reality to really notice the accident waiting to happen.
She kept muttering obscenities as she assessed her body for injures and when she came up empty, she looked him in the eyes and relayed the result of her search. She was fine, all except from her pride that is. Would she ever break the curse of bad luck, which seemed to hang over her head, she wondered?
Her musings came to a halt when she heard Emmett's boisterous laugh from behind her. He'd obviously watched her graceful dismount and she'd badly wanted to admonish him for being rude, but the infectious laughter, brought a smile to her face, as she blushed and looked towards the ground, once again feeling foolish and in too deep.
"That was absolutely magnificent," Emmett kept laughing loudly, his baby blue eyes shining with mirth as he came to stand by them. He gestured for Edward to hand over the reins of the horses, before chuckling out the next order. "We'll set up camp here, while you go look for some dry wood to make a fire." He looked pointedly at Edward, who nodded in return and disappeared into the forest.
"You sure you alright?" he laughed, giving her a once over as he tied the reins to a peg they used from the tents to keep the horses from running off, when they did take breaks from the endless travels.
Bella sighed softly, a small smile on her face, as she nodded towards him. "I'm okay," she whispered, a silent chuckle escaping her lips as she looked at his face, dimples so deep from the face splitting smile he carried.
They were silent for a long time, as Emmett retrieved their camping gear from the small pony and began setting up. Bella was untacking the horses, bringing them some much needed relief, not only from lugging their heavy asses through hellish terrain but also from the unforgiving tear of the rough leather of the saddles and bridles.
Edward had been gone for a while and the stifling silence that had settled in the air surrounding them, was crippling her ability to form words – of any kind. She wanted to rid herself of her bad conscience and apologize to the big goof, for acting like a petulant child for the last couple of days.
She had come to care for Emmett, in an almost brotherly fashion, and she had known instantly that her behaviour was unwarranted, when she'd raced past them on that green hill. She knew he didn't mean it in the sense that her head had interpreted it, but one again her emotions had taken control of her actions and this time, it took her far longer to break down the barrier her unwanted behaviour had built around her.
"Bella, I'm sorry about – you know, before…" Emmett was the first to break the silence, his otherwise boisterous demeanor missing, as his timid voice cracked at the end of the sentence.
She looked at him, as he sat a few feet from her, his big burly body curled in on itself and with a sombre pout, as he tried to avoid eye contact with her. She drew in a nervous breath, before steeling herself and scooting closer to him, so she could reach for his hands to hold in hers.
Her actions took him by complete surprise and his face crumbled into a look of despair, as he shut his eyes and let a tense breath wheeze past his lips. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, it's just that-"
She hushed him and smiled gently, when he returned her soft gaze, his blue eyes swimming with all the words he wanted to say to her. "I know, Em… It's okay," she whispered. "I really need to apologize to you too."
He looked chagrined as he registered what she was saying, shaking his head to try and keep her from finishing what she was going to say.
But she ignored his attempts and continued in a relentless tone. "Let me finish dimples," she threw a smirk his way, delighted to see the happiness seep back into his blue eyes. "I'm sorry too. I've been behaving like a stubborn child these past few days and I let my sour mood out on you, not wanting to admit to myself that I was wrong to react like that to what I heard."
He was looking at her with attentive eyes, and she felt a rush of relief passing through her body, as she opened up about the last few weeks of foreign emotions she'd battled with. "I'm also sorry about the tension I've caused between you and Edward," she whispered as she looked back at him with hurt in her eyes. "It's been so tough wrapping my brain around everything that has happened, it all still seems so unreal to me… And Edward, he's been, I don't know…"
Emmett smirked, a mischievous look in his eyes, as he caught her fidgeting hands in his. "He's been, what baby doll?"
She glanced down at their hands and wondered at the difference she felt when his skin met hers. With Edward she felt electricity and sparkles whenever they touched, even with something as innocent as holding hands, but the warmth spreading through her hands from Emmett's touch, felt more like a steady heat emanating between them, the familiarity of the warmth similar to a touch from her mother.
"Why the sudden silence about lover boy, sugar?" he laughed quietly and brought her chin up, so he could look her in the eyes.
She felt the heat of a blush rise to her cheeks, as she looked into his inquisitive eyes. "He- I- It's," she stuttered, before slumping together. "It's complicated."
"What's complicated about it, sweetheart?" His stare turning serious as he kept her gaze locked with his. "He likes you, you like him… I mean, the tension between the two of you – Jesus!" he cried, a small smile forming on his thin lips. "I've spent the last week waiting for one of you to stop being so damn stubborn and just jump the other."
Bella jolted back and gasped loudly at his brazen words. "Christ Emmett," she muttered and shook her head, a nervous laugh escaping through her lips.
"What?" he laughed and looked at something behind her. "You know you want to. Heck, even I can see that."
Bella didn't get a chance to reply as the smooth voice from behind reached them.
"I've brought food. There's a riverbank not far from here, we'll be able to clean up and prepare for the pass-" Edward stopped midsentence as he came to a halt next to the two sitting figures by the tents. "What's going on?" he wondered as he looked at the stupid smirk of his friend and the blushing face of his princess, briefly taking notice of their locked hands. He scowled at Emmett, his pout turning into a burning stare as he watched the big oaf lean forward, to whisper something into Bella's ear, making her blush profusely, as she tried to hide beneath the curtain of her hair.
Edward blanched when he saw Emmett wink at him and leaned in to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. He dropped the rabbit he had hunted for dinner, his vision turning red, as he latched onto Bella's arm, hoisting her up to stand next to him, before turning and rapidly walking back in the direction he came from, dragging her behind him.
"It's about damn time!" Emmett called, his laugh carrying past them with the wind as they disappeared between the dense foliage.
-.-.-
The rippling sound of water guided them forward and Edward was striding through ferns and low-hanging branches, barely noticing his pace had Bella running behind him to keep up with his long, determined strides.
"What the hell, Edward?!" Bella nearly screamed as she fell over yet another tree root, trying to dodge the flying branches hurdling towards her. She tried to free her wrist from his iron grip but came up unsuccessful and grumbled with irritation at his cave mannish behaviour.
He was stoic in his posture, keeping a firm grip to her and ignored her indignant screaming. He was fuming inside, and he was dead set on getting her as far away from Emmett before he turned on her.
She kept huffing, muttering the occasional profanity at him, as they kept trudging through the forest. She heard the increase of rippling water before she saw the light up ahead and she found herself increasing her tempo, instead of fighting him.
"Oh, wow," she sighed as she took in the sight ahead of them. A wide riverbank twisted its way through the landscape, the small stream they'd followed connecting to the bank, its water running into the much bigger flow ahead.
Edward had come to a stop by the edge of the trees, but Bella barely registered his pause as she walked past him, wanting to feel the coolness of the water on her skin. Her wondering came to an abrupt halt, as she felt a violent tugging on her wrist, spinning her from the wonderful view ahead of her, to one of a steaming Edward behind her.
"Holy shit, Edward. What's the matter with you?!" She exclaimed, feeling his exasperated expression mirrored on her own face.
He kept silent, slowly bringing his arm back, taking her reluctantly with it. "You are mine," he growled, being careful to enunciate every word, making them sound as if they were stand-alone words instead of being parts in one coherent sentence.
She gasped at the implications to his words and felt the air around them sizzle with electricity. Her stomach filled with butterflies, their wings flapping violently against the inside of her skin, the feeling similar to that of eating Pop Rocks. She looked into his emerald eyes and marvelled at the green colour shining back at her. She found herself entranced with his stare and briefly noticed when he let go of her wrist, bringing his hand to interlock with the hair at the back of her neck, bringing her head even closer to his.
"Bella," he sighed, before closing the last few inches remaining between them and meeting her ruby lips with his own.
The butterflies rushed to her face, the sizzling electricity concentrated to where his skin met with hers and she moaned as she felt his tongue probing against her lower lip, begging her to let go of the last of her walls and open up to him.
He needed to taste her, almost as much as an addict needing his next fix of heroin, and he groaned loudly when she hesitated, as he felt the muscles at the back of her neck constricting when she tried to pull away from him. He slowed his assault on her lips, but kept his grip on her firm, when he separated their lips.
"Let me in baby," he whispered and stared into the pools of brown, swimming with unsaid emotions. "What's so scary, princess?" he questioned and felt the dread begin to settle in his stomach, when he realised he might have scared her with his brazen behaviour.
She was quiet for a long time, her brown eyes glazed over as her mind tumbled with the many reasons why she should turn away from him and how his feelings to her could be rationalized as to the lack of any other female contact for the last couple of weeks. Of course, he was jumping her, when she was all there was, she thought and felt her eyes well up with tears.
He released a staggering breath and moved to let go of her hair, stepping slightly back to allow her the space to move away from him, if that was what she wished. "Uhm okay. I'll just go- uh -back for the soap?" he muttered, keeping his gaze down.
She'd felt the disappointment as he'd distanced himself from her, and she found her mind screaming to bring her body back to his heated one. She moved, almost involuntarily, back into him before she gripped onto the collar of his black shirt and forcefully brought his lips back down to hers.
He was reluctant at first, staying stoic in front of her, and she briefly felt a flash of insecurity at his unresponsive behaviour, wondering if she truly was as unattractive to him as her mind was trying to convince her of being. She sighed softly, the water at the edge of her eye slipping its grip on her lashes and flowed down her cheek.
It was like lightening had hit him, as he stood right in front of her, watching her retreating form slumping in on itself, the wet trails of tears marring her otherwise beautiful face. He instantly regretted his reluctance once he realised she'd interpreted his actions towards her as unwilling and he felt an instant need to rectify his behaviour.
He caught her around her waist before she could turn away from him and run and brought their bodies clashing together, briefly feeling ashamed for his rough handling of her, but putting the thoughts aside as he once again met her hesitant lips with his hungry ones.
Bella froze for a second, before the warmth of his lips spread to her cheeks and she smiled into the kiss, feeling her relax into him, as he took ownership of her body, lifting her slightly off the ground and tilting his head to once again ask her for entrance to her mouth.
This time she granted him access and he moaned loudly as he felt the wetness of her mouth and tongue as he slowly allowed his own to meet with hers. She tasted of wild berries, the sweetness of her own peculiar taste mixing with the sourness of the berries and he vowed to keep the memory of her taste with him forever.
She pushed slightly on his chest, making him reluctantly break their kiss, but not yet ready to let go of her. "I need air, Edward," she laughed, the smile on her face so big that the skin around her eyes crinkled with happiness.
He let her take in a few gulps of fresh air, before he became too impatient and reached down to her supple behind and picked her up off the ground in one fluid motion. She shrieked, her laugh bubbling from her beautiful bruised lips as she threw her head back and tightened her grip on his shirt.
He marvelled at the beauty shining from her as she laughed uncontrollably at his behaviour. His emerald eyes shining in mirth, as a smirk formed on his own bruised lips. "Are you laughing at me princess?" he asked, his voice laced with some emotion she didn't understand.
"And what if I am?" she asked with a coquettish smile, a twinkle in her big brown eyes as she investigated his.
"Well," he breathed and stole a quick kiss from her, leaving her breathless once again. "Please enlighten me as to what you find so funny then." His voice was dark.
She gasped as she felt him start to walk. "What are you doing?" she squealed and wrapped her legs around his waist, in an attempt to keep her body steady against his movement. "Edward!" Her voice was gaining momentum as he kept on walking but didn't respond to her.
He snickered at the young woman in his arms, trying to hold his attention locked onto his plan, instead of focusing on the way her behind felt in his hands or how her change in position had brought her to line up perfectly with his front, the soft tissue of her bosom rising against his hard chest, with every breath she took.
"What are you doing?!" she exclaimed, a maniacal laugh escaping through her lips, as he stepped over some of the rocks lining the bank of the river. His dark jeans soaked in the cold water, the feeling bringing a smile to his lips as he once more leaned in and kissed her with a frenzy. He walked until he was almost waist-deep into the water and pushed her away from him, breaking their kiss, and dropping her into the cool water beneath them.
"Edw-!" she screamed, before she disappeared under the surface, only to resurface seconds later, her dark hair almost black from the water, as it clung to her red face. "You idiot!"
He threw his head back and laughed, the sound overshadowing the bubbling water. "Now see, that is funny," he howled, and she couldn't help but join in with his laughing, the sound so contagious, that she soon found herself almost doubled over. This lined her perfectly with the edge of the water, and she couldn't help herself as she swung her right arm back, only to thrust it forward towards him, making the water splash against his upper body, making his dark shirt cling to his hard chest.
"Jesus, that's cold!" he exclaimed and looked at her with questions in his eyes.
"Turnabout, fair play and all that…" She smirked and winked at him.
He choked on his next words, as he noticed her appearance as she stood a few feet from him. Her white satin shirt had turned almost translucent from the water, as it clung to her small form and revealed a set of beautiful dark teats pointing at him under the wet fabric. Her chest was heaving from her rapid breathing and he felt his own breathing come to mirror hers as he began stalking towards her, muttering a curse under his breath at the resistance the water created to his movements.
Bella felt her breath catch in her throat as she watched him stalk towards her. She felt encased in a bubble of tension as her body and mind screamed for him so touch her, anywhere, longing for the heat only his touch could give her. She moaned loudly when he caught up to her, his hands gripping her under her butt and once again lifting her into the air, before he violently crashed his lips to hers.
She wrapped her legs around his waist once again as he trudged back out of the water, his hands roughly massaging the soft tissue of her behind, making her front rub softly against his. He groaned and prodded her mouth with his tongue, desperate to get a taste of her again, as he felt shockwaves trembling through his body from her rocking motion against his quickly hardening member.
Another moan escaped through her lips when she felt his tongue latch onto hers. The butterflies were back, tenfold, and she felt a warmth tingling settling deep in her stomach, a rush of heat bursting up her spine as the electricity in her body settled between her legs.
Edward had walked them out of the water and scrambled to the nearest surface, which happened to be an old oak tree standing a bit ajar from the rest of the trees lining the area. He released her lips, only to follow a wet trail across her cheek and down the ivory skin of her neck, not being able to resist the need to leave her with a small love bite beneath her ear. When he finally had her back against the rough surface of the tree, did he return his lips to hers, groaning when he felt her hands reach up into the locks of his hair, her nails scratching against his scalp as she pulled on some of the roots.
"You're so sexy," he breathed against her lips and she felt a rush of heat explode between her thighs making her moan in abandon. She would have been worried she'd sounded ridiculous, but his responding growl and searching hands had her mind occupied with much more important issues, than her fragile self-esteem.
He returned to her neck and the top of her collarbone, laying wet kisses in a hot trail as one of his hands released its grip on her backside. She felt a brief sense of loss when his hand disappeared from her butt, but she soon revelled in the feelings of need her body felt, when said hand travelled north, up her side, until it came to a rest just underneath her right breast.
He lifted his head to stare into her eyes, a breath catching in his throat when he caught the pure look of need returned in her gaze.
She looked at him, seeing the question in his eyes, eliminating the need to voice it aloud, as she released her own grip from his hair, bringing her hand down to lay on top of his, slowly bringing both up to cup her breast. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back to rest against the tree trunk, the sensation of his hand touching her so intimately sending yet another wave of heat through her body.
A small water droplet ran down her neck and Edward leaned in, the tip of his tongue running along the trail the drop had left behind. He moaned against the skin beneath her lope, before bringing it into his mouth to gently suck on the soft flesh.
His hand had remained still, cupping her boob, as he spent a minute on getting used to touching her like that. He wanted to commit the feeling to his memory, taking notice of how the supple, pliable organ felt against the heat of his palm and the weight of it as he supported the mound with his hand.
"Please," she panted impatiently and gently curled her hand still covering his, making his long digits squeeze around her flesh, the feeling bringing a moan out of both as they froze and took a second to enjoy the feelings this new action brought on.
His hands returned to their massaging, one against the supple skin of her breast, the other against the soft tissue of her backside, making her body tremble in pleasure and she snapped her head forwards, bringing her hands back into the hair at the back of his neck and forcing his lips to clash against hers.
"Jesus!" he growled against her dark lips, her tongue dashing into his mouth, searching for the wetness of his tongue.
She sighed in pleasure when she found the muscle, her nails scratching against his skull, eliciting another deep moan from him. The sound spurred her on and she braced her back against the tree as she ground her hips against his, feeling the hardness of his front nestle perfectly against her softness.
Edward pulled back, his head falling slightly forward, his hot breath panting against her flawless skin, making her groan and push harder against his length, trying to bring them even closer. He stepped slightly back, bringing her with him as he turned and gently fell to his knees, laying her softly against the muddy ground. He briefly wondered if the cold ground would be unwelcomed to her, but the thought quickly fleeted from his mind, when he felt her tugging on his shirt.
He reached back and pulled the offending fabric from his body, his skin prickling as it met the cool breeze brought by the river.
Bella stared at him in awe, his chest heaving from his deep breaths, making his stomach muscles contract from the exertion. She ran a shaking hand along the edge of his jeans, stopping briefly to curl a finger into the soft, dark hair that blazed a trail from his navel, down his lower abdomen and under his trousers. "Come," she whispered and curled the finger around the edge of the fabric, tugging on it impatiently when he remained stoic above her.
She sat up, leaning on her left arm and keeping his eyes locked with hers as she released the grip on his pants, slowly bringing her hand up to open the three buttons on her shirt.
His eyes followed the movement of her hand, the creamy skin which appeared beneath the fabric making his throat run dry. Her hand ran slowly down her stomach, coming to a halt at the edge of the shirt, before rising with the fabric, exposing her flat stomach. His hand reached out, the need to feel the softness of her skin driving his actions, a long finger running from the top of her trousers to the small swell underneath her bellybutton. He dipped his finger into the tiny hole, before returning his gaze to her molten chocolate eyes.
She was panting, her bosom rising in vigour, as she stared back into his emerald eyes. They were turning darker, the need to touch her shining through them, silently asking her if it would be alright to continue.
"Please Edward," she whispered, her voice sounding desperate as she watched him above her, his own chest rising rapidly from his breathing.
He groaned, the sound sending shockwaves straight to her privates and she responded with her own moan as she swivelled her hips on the ground, trying to get closer to him.
His hands gripped the fabric that had been left scrunched around her small waist, and he gently nudged her into a fully sitting position, as he drew the fabric over her head, freeing her from the offending object.
She sat in front of him, her top bare and he needed a moment to collect his thoughts as he gazed at the beauty of her. "Magnificent," he sighed and brought a hand up to cup her left boob, his fingers grazing the taut peak at the center of her bosom, the cerise skin tightening in response to his gentle touch.
She took him by surprise when she sighed his name, bringing his eyes back to hers, before she crashed their lips together, tongues wrestling, as her hands went straight to the zipper in his pants, desperate to release him from the remaining fabric.
He gently pushed her on the shoulder, forcing her to lie back down onto the ground, as he slowly rose, towering above her, his hands taking over where hers had been obstructed and rid himself of his jeans. She'd taken to open her own pants, her hips shimmying on the ground as she fought to kick the fabric away from her body.
They stared at each other. Edward stood erect – for all intents and purposes – his hard member pointing straight forward and throbbing with the blood rushing through it. Bella was laying in front of him, her bosoms heaving from her panting, the heat from her privates being almost unbearable as she first laid eyes on him, in all his glory.
Her cheeks filled with heat as she saw him close his fist around the base of his shaft, slowly drawing the taut skin forward over the head. She groaned and felt the heat spread to the top of her chest and she raised her hand to gently pinch her nipple, before running it down her body, feeling the skin blazing from the soft touch, as her hand settled between her thighs, feeling the wetness that had pooled there.
"Oh god," Edward stuttered and fell to his knees, rapidly aligning his hard body to her soft one, feeling immense pleasure where his skin came into contact with hers, sending shivers through his body, making him gasp between rugged breaths. He curled his hands around her shoulders, needing to keep her steady against him, as he whispered the next words into her air, breathing in the floral scent of her hair, splayed on the ground beneath them. "Baby… are you sure?"
She responded by latching onto his shoulders, bringing her lips up to meet his in a gentle kiss, their lips moulding together, making it hard for her to distinguish where he began, and she ended.
"Yes," the confirmation turned into an elongated sound as she felt him line up to her and gently push his way into her. She groaned, partly in pain, but mostly in pleasure, as she felt herself stretch to accommodate to his length, every inch of her burning in heat, as she felt electricity spark from her center, spreading to the rest of her willing flesh, making her muscles spasm in response.
"You- oh my," he stuttered and closed his eyes, his face strained with pain as he paused his advances, when he felt the resistance he'd suspected would greet him. "Jesus!"
"It's okay, Edward," she whispered, bringing a hand to his cheek, willing him to look at her. "I'm okay."
When he finally met her gaze, he startled slightly at the bright colour reflected back at him. Her usually dark chocolate eyes were shining, the deep pools brighter, reminding him of the colour of cinnamon. He released a ragged breath, leaning down to gently kiss her and brought a hand from her back to gently massage her right breast, squeezing her teat between his index finger and thumb. When she responded with a loud moan, he gently steeled himself and pushed through the barrier keeping them separated, sheathing himself fully in her wet core.
She cried out, feeling her body tense from the momentary pain.
He kept on with massaging her bosom, bringing her back into reality, as she experimentally rocked her hips back and forth, marvelling at the shots of pleasure rising from her core into the rest of her body. What had remained of discomfort from him bursting her barrier, had dissipated and she found her hips moved of their own volition as they kept moving, chasing the pleasure his stiff member inside her granted.
He groaned from the movement of her hips, the spasms in his muscles making him fall against her, as he began rocking with her movements. He matched her rhythm perfectly, pushing deeper into her with every thrust, his length rejoicing at the wetness pooled between her legs, making his movements smoother.
"So good," she moaned, as she pushed her hips up to meet with his, willing him to go deeper. She felt her muscles clamp onto him, the ridge behind his head scratching – oh so deliciously – against the soft walls of her core, a need for speed entering her mind. "I need…" she whispered and felt insecure as she tried to voice her wishes to him, feeling vulnerable as she chased something, she couldn't really define.
"What baby?" he stuttered, his breath staggering against the heat of her skin, as his body shivered from the exertion of holding back. He wanted to savour every inch of her, but his body was betraying him, his need to increase the speed almost overwhelming.
She looked at him behind hooded eyes, her body feeling afloat, as she raised her hips so high in an effort to find what she was searching for, the muscles in her back straining against the movement. "I need you to go faster," she nearly screamed, seconds from crumbling back onto the ground.
His emerald eyes turned darker yet and he drew in another harsh breath, before he moved one arm to lay beneath her bum, keeping her slightly elevated, as he increased the speed of his thrusts, making her head fall back from the immense pleasure the enhanced movement brought to her core.
She once again felt her muscles clamping onto him, this time bringing her closer and closer. Her hands had moved to his back, her nails digging into the hard muscles flexing beneath them, the movement, together with his stiff length charging in and out of her heat, taking her over the edge. She moaned, a long and sultry tone filling the air around them, as her muscles spasmed in pleasure, sending a heatwave through her limbs, making her shake violently as she writhed beneath him and rode out the feeling.
She was only distracted from her own body's pleasure when she heard a guttural groan escape through Edward's lips, his face twisting in pleasure as he slammed roughly into her, holding still as he felt his own orgasm ripple through his body. She took immense pleasure in feeling his hot member thrusting violently inside of her, similar to the spasms of her own muscles and she turned her gaze onto his, feeling a smile begin to grow on her face.
"Hey, you," she whispered and gently caressed his cheek.
He closed his eyes, startled at first, but then revelled at her touch, before returning her smile with one of his own. "You are amazing."
-.-.-
It was in the early morning hours, the dew shimmering as it stuck to the long stems of grass lining the edge of the gravel road they were travelling along. A massive field of rape flowers stretched to the left of the road, a scattering of poppies breaking through the yellow surface and the forest they'd travelled through sat to the right of the road, the trees thinning in numbers as they went along.
They'd made it to a bend in the road, mountains appearing in the distance, two of the highest summits breaking through the clouds scattered in the sky above them.
"It's just up ahead," Emmett called and came to a halt on the pinto. "We should get ready while we are still out of sight." He dismounted the horse, removed his jacket and retrieved a brown leather one from one of the bags packed on the pony. The jacket had an inscription on the back, the letter 'R' sat over a swirl of flowing lines and it was encased within a simple version of a crown.
Edward caught the bag Emmett threw at him and dismounted his own steed, before digging through the pouch. "What the hell, Emmett!" he scoffed loudly and looked pointedly at him.
"It's awesome, right?" he laughed loudly and came to stand by Dauntless, keeping hold of his reins as Bella moved to dismount the stallion.
"It's… Something, alright." Edward muttered and fished a brown dress shirt out of the bag. It had ruffles around the sleeves and neckline and he held it up against his chest, trying to straighten some of the ruffles, which had curled around the collar.
Emmett doubled over with laughter, his sudden movement spooking Dauntless, making him jump to the side.
A shriek tore through Bella's lips, as her loose grip on the saddle disappeared in correspondence to it being torn away from underneath her. She tumbled to the ground, landing roughly on her backside. "Christ Emmett!" she cried as she stood up to brush off the dirt from her fall, finally catching a glimpse of Edward. Unfortunately, she'd missed his undressing, and she felt a brief twinge of regret stab her in the side, but the stabbing quickly turned from regret to hurt as she doubled over, laughing at the sight of the proud man dressed in the most ridiculous outfit she'd ever laid her eyes on.
He was wearing the brown dress shirt, a white satin vest on top of it and black linen riding pants, the kind which poofed around the thighs and became tight around the knees. They were held in place by long white socks which were nestled into a pair of dark, shiny heels, a pretty bow lining the front tip of the shining object.
"Ha-ha, hilarious," Edward scowled and shot both of them an annoyed look, his right hand getting intertwined in the many ruffles of the sleeve, as he tried to grip the tip of the saddle to haul himself back up on the chestnut mare. He growled and violently shook his arm, already feeling tired of the stiffness of the pants and the unnecessary and quite frankly hideous fashion statement of the ruffles that were sewn onto the shirt. "Is this really necessary?" he growled and motioned down his body, as he turned and stared into Emmett's eyes.
"That's- just give me a minute," Emmett howled, his blue eyes twinkling with mirth as he had trouble getting the words out, as they were replaced with laughter. "Whooh…" he wheezed and fought to collect himself as he reached for the pouch with the clothes for Bella. "That's what the townsfolks wear nowadays. Especially when dealing with official matters. And hey," he called, the laugh still very much apparent in his voice, "if I have to be dressed for the occasion, then so do you."
Edward huffed, a few select words bubbling against the inside of his mouth, but he kept them in and looked towards Bella. She was smiling, her face twisted from the laughter she'd trouble keeping in as she witnessed the bickering between the two.
"Head's up!" Emmett called and threw a bag at her, when he located the right one from the back of the pony.
She caught it right before it smashed into her head, tumbling backwards with about as much grace as an elephant doing ballet. She blushed and investigated the bag, a mix of fabrics in white tones inside. "What's this?" she asked and moved to pull out the first item her hand grasped.
"Clothes," Emmett responded and left out the 'duh' he'd really wanted to spew at her. How could anyone be this slow? He wondered.
"I can see that you idiot," she scowled and looked pointedly at him. "What am I supposed to do with this?"
"Well, I wouldn't have pegged you to be this dense, baby doll, but seeing as you need clarification… You wear it," he smirked and gestured to her body. "Don't be shy, it's nothing we haven't seen before," he continued with a sinister smile on his face.
She glared at him and moved to stand behind Dauntless, gently laying the bag on top of the horse's croup. "Would you mind?" It wasn't really a request and she stared pointedly at the two men looking towards her, gesturing for them to turn around.
"No, I really wouldn't," Emmett smirked and folded his arms across his chest, before he felt Edward smack him in the back of his head, the impact bringing his chin down to crash with the top of his chest. Before he could say anything, he felt Edward grab onto the collar of his jacket, dragging him in the opposite direction of where Bella stood, staring daggers at him.
She sighed and hurried to undress, trying to figure out how to wear the pieces of clothing she pulled from the bag. If she'd thought Edward's outfit was ridiculous, then her own was flat out unreal. She put on the full skirt, which tied around her waist, with a bunch of blonde and tulle gathered around the top of it, making her hips and butt appear much bigger than her natural figure. The next item she pulled out of the bag was a white leather shirt, with poofy shoulders and a high neckline. The bodice was tied together against her midsection, the ties closing just below her bosom. A pair of white lace gloves, brown leather boots and a black headpiece were the last items she pulled from the bag, and she hurried to put them on.
She walked out from behind the horse and cleared her throat, letting the two men know she was decent enough for them to turn around. The lace of the black headpiece obstructed most of her view as it hung down in front of her face, but she didn't miss the mirth in Emmett's eyes, nor the shock in Edward's. "This is ridiculous Emmett," she screeched and tried to walk towards them, the stiff fabric of the skirt obnoxiously obstructing her gait as it wrapped around her legs.
"Oh no, no, no, baby doll," Emmett busted out laughing. "That is hilarious!"
She huffed but didn't feel like dignifying him with a response and turned to mount Dauntless. Edward had moved to her, and laid a hand on her shoulder, effectively stopping her from swinging her legs astride the black stallion. "You'll have to ride off side," he whispered, his mouth getting dangerously close to her ear, his hot breath passing over her skin, making the tiny hairs stand, as she felt heat pool into her cheeks. She closed her eyes and leaned back against him, wishing they were alone, so she could take the liberty of ridding both of them of the offensive fabrics keeping their skin apart.
She found her mind wondering back to their tumble on the ground the day before and she felt her body quiver in response to the images the memory brought forth.
She turned her head to the side, her eyes searching his face as she silently invited him to connect his lips with hers.
His green eyes were turning a dark moss green, his breath catching in his throat and he latched onto her hips, bringing her back tightly against his front, wanting her to feel how she affected his body. He leaned down, his lips inches away from her ruby ones, when the idiot he had seemed to forget all about piped up from somewhere in front of them.
"Hey you two! Cut it out," Emmett called, the smug tone of his voice making Edward's blood boil. "I am your chaperone, after all. Now let's get going."
"Would you just-" Edward cut himself off and sighed, resisting the urge to flip Emmett off, as he turned back towards Bella. "Later princess," he whispered in her ear, a sanctimonious smile adorning his face as he watched her blush and flutter her eyelashes, trying to control her reaction to the promise he'd given her. "Let me help you," he continued and grasped her around the waist, hoisting her into the air, as if she weighed nothing, and gently positioned her back in the saddle, both of her legs situated along the left side of Dauntless.
Both men hoisted themselves onto their respective steeds and the trio continued down the long gravel road, the mountains that stood ahead rising higher into the sky.
-.-.-
The gravel road had taken them away from the dense forest and past the vast expanses of fields stretched across the countryside, bringing them closer to the mountains that had towered up ahead of them.
Gravel had turned into dirt, as the path twisted around the rocky sides of the great slopes rising high up into the air.
Bella was struggling to keep herself in the saddle, her already non-existent balance challenged with her new seating arrangement. The movement of the gait beneath her, which had previously felt so natural to her, was now rugged and uncoordinated. She briefly wondered why women would voluntarily subdue themselves to this form of riding, when her body twisted uncomfortably as Dauntless turned with another bend in the path.
"Relax your seat," Edward whispered next to her and brought the auburn mare to walk right up to the stallion. He reached across her seat and grasped the leather holding the right stirrup, bringing it over to the left side and instructed her to place her right foot into it.
She felt slightly less unbalanced, the changed position of the tack bringing her some added leverage, to remain seated in the saddle.
"Take a deep breath," Edward murmured, still staying right by her side, his right hand moving to lay against her abdomen. "Relax your midsection, let the motion of the horse guide your movements." He gently pushed against her stomach, when the step of Dauntless allowed her seat to naturally retract, and she felt herself sink back into the saddle, the ride suddenly much more enjoyable.
"Thank you," she whispered and tossed him a small smile, the tiny distraction bringing her off balance, making her body tense again. She sighed and returned her mind to focus on the movements of Dauntless beneath her, as Edward nudged the mare to move ahead of her, before bending around another corner.
She followed him, a breath of relief escaping through her lips as she laid eyes on the dirt road turning into gravel once again and going straight forward, instead of bending or twisting through the landscape.
They were nearing a long brick wall, which stretched between the two mountains, which peaks she'd seen reach the sky, back by the field of rapes.
A stone arch sat in the middle of the wall, tall wooden gates keeping them from continuing, and she tensed when she realised they must have reached the northern pass.
Emmett gestured for Edward and Bella to stay back, as he went up to the gates, yelling for someone on the other side. A square in the side of one of the gates opened, a pale face sticking out and called for Emmett to identify him self and his business passing through.
"Private James Allen, 103-065, escorting two Doe's to Pope Michael's," he responded, keeping a straight face as the guard from the window disappeared for a minute to verify his story.
A few minutes passed before they heard a loud crack, as the wooden gates slowly opened in front of them. Emmett didn't turn to look in their direction but nudged the pinto into movement as they passed through the gates. Edward moved to follow him, keeping his head down, as he made it to the other side of the gate.
Bella felt nervous butterflies bat their wings against her insides, and she took a moment to draw in a slow breath, before she too gestured for Dauntless to resume walking. She stared at the dark wood rising about five yards from ground level and was shocked to see two guards standing by the wall on the other side, both in similar jackets to the one Emmett was wearing.
She turned her head down when one of the guards caught her staring and as if Dauntless could feel her sudden discomfort, he increased to a slow trot, taking them away from the gate and the guards behind them.
A large field of grass and wildflowers stretched ahead of them. The gravel road had ended abruptly about a mile from the gates, the pebbles replaced with greenery and the horses prepared to climb a small hill that rose above the landscape.
Bella marvelled at the sight, as Dauntless reached the peak, granting her the full view of the valley nestled between green fields, idyllic hilltops and lined by a range of mountains off in the distance. A waterfall rushed down into a small lake, ebbing into a rather wide creek, which flowed down the hills and circled a large village, that sat in the middle of the green valley. The grey bricks of the buildings standing in stark contrast with the bright and colourful nature surrounding the town.
The townspeople didn't give them a second glance as they rode through the streets. The town was bustling with life, people going back and forth on the cobblestone paths, some running errands, but most of them going to and from the big plaza placed in the middle of the town. A market of some sort was occurring in the square, wooden booths lining the perimeter of the area, all of them displaying different objects and produce than the last one.
They'd travelled through the town and had made it to the small inn to the east of the plaza, leaving Emmett with the horses, as Edward had pulled Bella from Dauntless and dragged her back in the direction of the market.
They blended well with the rest of the townsfolks as they strolled down the pebbled sidewalk, various vendors shouting to call on the attention of potential buyers filling the air.
Bella wandered around the booths and smiled at some of the vendors and people she passed by on her route through the plaza. Edward had excused himself a couple of minutes after they'd arrived at the market and she had figured she might as well enjoy the bustling atmosphere, since they would only be staying in the town for the night.
A beautiful royal blue cashmere sweater dress hung on a steel mannequin by a small, modest booth on the edge of the market. Rolls of wool, silk, flax, cotton and cashmere in various dyes were displayed on the counter of the booth, wicker baskets with yarn sat in front of the table and a couple of sheep rugs hung from the roof.
"Looking for something special sweetheart?" asked a soft voice from behind her.
She startled, a small yelp escaping through her lips as she flinched sideways, turning to greet the small, elderly woman who'd greeted her. She'd felt compelled to touch the fabric of the dress, the soft texture caressing the tips of her fingers, as she gently lifted the skirt. She was so tuned into her own thoughts, she'd completely closed off the rest of the world, and hadn't noticed the woman coming up to her from behind. "I'm sorry," she stuttered and smiled softly, an apologetic look on her face.
"Don't apologize for having a curious mind," the old lady smiled and turned to lift the left arm of the dress. "It's just a showpiece, so the folks around here can get inspired to use the fabrics I weave. It was for my daughter…" her grey eyes turned sad and she dropped the sleeve.
Bella tore her eyes from the blue dress and laid a supporting hand on the old lady's shoulder. "It's beautiful," she whispered and gave her an encouraging smile. "What happened to your daughter?"
The old lady turned to Bella and paused as she looked at the young lady in front of her. She reminded her of her own baby. "She passed away a long time ago… But enough of an old lady's heartache," she muttered, her scowl turning into a soft smile. "What's your name darling?"
Bella returned her smile and felt a warmth raise in her stomach as she watched the old lady turn towards her and grasped both of her cold hands between her warm ones, the skin of her palms feeling silky, reminding her of her grandmother's touch. "Bella," she whispered.
"Hello Bella, I'm Didi." She responded, her grey eyes twinkling in the late afternoon sun. "What brings you here to my little humble stand?"
She turned and gestured to the dress. "It just caught my eye, and I just had to feel the fabric," she replied.
"It would look beautiful on you sweetheart," Didi grinned. "Would you like-"
"Oh no, no" she interjected. "Besides, I don't really have any…" She stopped herself this time, her mind reeling from the fact that she just now realized she didn't have any money, or what kind of currency they used here in… Wherever the hell this world was. "I can't pay you for it," she stuttered instead and shuffled about a bit, before she felt Didi tighten her hold on her hands.
"No need for that," Didi shook her head and laughed. "You can have it. Besides, it looks like you could use an upgrade."
Bella tried to object, but Didi shushed her protests and moved to pick off the dress from the mannequin. "It will look beautiful on you," she smiled and held the dress up against Bella. "Where did you even dust off these garments?" she wondered as she tried to pat down the poofyness to the sleeves of her shirt.
A tinkling laugh escaped through Bella's lips. "They're quite ridiculous right?" she nodded her head and removed the headpiece hanging over half of her face.
"Didi!"
Bella heard Emmett's scream from somewhere behind them and she turned, just in time to see Emmett and Edward walk towards them and away from the crowd that had gathered in the middle of the plaza.
"Pumpkin'!" Didi exclaimed and engulfed the big man in a hug, pinching his cheeks before releasing her hold on him.
He smiled at the tiny woman, his dimples so deep in his cheeks. "What's going on? I can see you've met Bella," he grinned and bumped his fist into Bella's shoulder, making her fall back a few steps.
"Caveman," Bella muttered under her breath and felt her cheeks heat with a blush when Didi reiterated her comment.
"He was dropped on his head as a child," she laughed and turned to smack Emmett on the chest. "Get some manners already boy."
"Hey!" Emmett exclaimed and threw his head back in laughter. "It's not my fault that baby doll here has no sense of balance."
Edward moved to stand next to Bella, his right arm reaching around her back and grasped her waist in his hand. "I've got you love," he leaned down and whispered in her ear.
Didi was looking at the three young people standing around her, her gaze zeroing in on the hand resting against Bella's waist. A wistful smile was plastered on her weathered face, the wrinkles around her eyes creasing deeper as the smile grew when she caught the look in the young man's eyes. "What's going on Emmett?" she asked and turned to look into the familiar blue eyes.
"Can you keep a secret?" Emmett whispered, his face resembling that of a small child, hoping to confide in a comrade with confidential information.
"Do you not know me at all, Pumpkin'?!" she exclaimed in a hushed voice as she gestured for them to step behind the back of her booth, offering them some privacy from curious bystanders. A few of the townsfolk had turned with interest to their boisterous greetings and Edward had tensed when he noticed the unwanted attention.
"We're going to Camp Portus," Emmett whispered, hoping his words would convey the underlying meaning to her. Didi had always been very smart, so he figured she wouldn't need further clarification.
She searched his baby blue eyes, before nodding her head in resolution. "I knew you were special," Didi turned to Bella, her hands grasping a hold of hers once again. "Now you really have to take the dress." She turned to look at the two men, their outfits equally as hideous as the one Bella was wearing. "Who dressed you in these?" she grimaced and pulled on the collar of Edward's shirt.
"We needed to play the part to get through the gates, Didi," Emmett explained, his voice strained with annoyance.
Didi laughed, her full belly bouncing slightly as she laid a hand on Emmett's chest. "I should have known… Let's get you into something much more fitting for your travels," she winked at Edward and gestured for the three people to follow her.
-.-.-
It was such a relief to rid herself from the constricting, harsh fabrics of the costume, and the soft cashmere of the dress hugged her body. It felt like a fluffy sky was wrapped around her and she couldn't resist running her hands up and down the dress. Didi had provided her with a blue ribbon that matched the colour of the dress, so she could tie her brown curls back.
She'd followed the sound of voices travelling through the tiny halls of the cabin, a sweet smell permeating the air, making her stomach growl. She shrieked when someone stepped out into the hall, her mind in a haze and she blinked and tried to focus on the figure.
"Hi."
His low voice wrapped around her in a similar fashion to how the fabric clung to her skin, and she felt a blush rise in her cheeks as she took in the sight of Edward standing before her. He wore a cotton shirt, the dark grey fabric stretched across his chest, hinting at the hard muscles underneath and she felt her heart race in her own chest. "Hi," she breathed and met his gaze, the dark emerald eyes burning as he looked her over.
"You look stunning love," he whispered and raised a hand to catch an escaped curl, brushing it gently behind her ear, before falling to her shoulder, a long finger running along the seam at the edge of the neckline.
She drew in a breath as his finger neared the top of her cleavage, her eyelids fluttering as she refused them to close her view of him, as he kept her gaze locked with his and stepped closer to her, connecting their fronts and pushing her slightly backwards, until she gently hit the wall behind her.
"Bella," he moaned, the sound of her name bringing her immense pleasure, before he leaned down and met her lips with his own. The kiss was slow, his lips moulded around her upper one first, gently sucking it between his, before he released it and moved to suck on her lower lip, his teeth gently pinching the supple flesh, eliciting a soft whine from her.
He brought his body closer to her, bending slightly to grasp her on her hips and lifted her against the wall, keeping her pinned with the weight of his body, so his hands were free to further explore her and satisfy his need to feel her soft skin beneath them once again. It seemed like their escapades in the woods happened days ago, and his body was hungry for her touch, desperate to feel her supple flesh beneath him once again.
His right hand travelled north, past her slim waist and grazed the side of her bosom, making her sigh and push her back from the wall, trying to arch her front into his touch. She was chasing the pleasure his touch granted and her breathing turned into panting when he tightened his grip on her ribs, his thumb running along the underside of her boob and flicking up to briefly skim over the tightened peak. She moaned lightly, breaking their kiss as they heard laughter coming closer, feet shuffling against the hardboards of the floor beneath them.
"There you two lovebirds are," Emmett grinned and clapped Edward on the back as he pushed past them in the narrow hallway. "Come now, Didi's cooked us dinner. Better not keep her waiting," he sang and laughed as he disappeared around a corner.
"I'll kill him," Edward muttered, as his head fell to rest against her shoulder, his hot breath lifting the fabric of the dress and giving him a sneak peek at her heaving chest.
Bella laughed softly, trying to disguise the groan she emitted when she felt his breath run along her skin. She gently lifted his chin up to place an innocent kiss on the tip of his nose. "Later," she whispered and pushed him slightly backwards, her feet landing back on the ground. She took a hold of his right hand and tucked him along behind her, as she followed the path Emmett had taken down the hall.
The smell of bread baking and coffee brewing brought Bella's attention from the handsome man walking behind her, to the aching in her stomach. Her feet picked up the pace, nearly making them run the rest of the distance down the narrow hallway and into the tiny kitchen at the back of Didi's cabin.
Didi was standing by a big fireplace, stirring something in a cauldron hanging above the open fire. "Ah, you're here," she smiled and patted her hands on the apron tied around her plumb waist. "Come, sit," she instructed and pulled back a chair from around a small wooden table, that sat in the corner of the room, in front of a small arched window.
"It smells so good in here," Bella smiled at the old lady and took a seat across from Emmett, who has grinning and mouthing something to Edward, who had come in behind her, and was taking a seat next to him.
"Shut up," he muttered under his breath and unfolded the yellow cloth napkin, before spreading it out across his legs.
"I didn't say- hey!" Emmett exclaimed as Didi breezed past him and smacked him on the back of his head. "What'd you do that for?"
"Leave them alone boy!" she shrieked and returned to the boiling pot over the fire. "And thank you sweetheart," she turned her gaze back to Bella, a soft smile adorning her wrinkled cheeks. "This here, is an old family recipe. Best lamb stew in the whole damn country," she boasted as she poured the food into small bowls, handing them to Emmett to hand around, before she joined them at the table with a loaf of bread tucked under her arm.
It really was the best lamb stew Bella had ever tasted. She felt her stomach ache from the amount of food she'd devoured, and she leaned back in the wooden chair to rub her belly and complimented Didi's cooking.
"Thank you, sweetheart," she purred from across the table, her grey eyes travelling to Emmett, who was gulfing down a third helping of stew. "Have you no shame, boy?" she laughed and stood from her chair, bringing the pot of coffee to the table along with ceramic cups.
Emmett barely spared her a glance as he picked up the bowl and drank the remaining liquid in one last gulp. "None, whatsoever," he smirked as he set the bowl back on the table with a loud clack. "This is the best food we've had in days. Who am I not to enjoy and take advantage of that opportunity? Besides, nobody makes a mean stew like you do Didi," he grinned, his charming dimples thrown her way, so as to appease the old lady from smacking him once again.
She laughed and poured herself a cup of coffee, before returning her gaze to the young girl across from her. "So… What's your business in Camp Portus?"
Bella stuttered, as she could feel Didi's grey eyes staring at her. "Well, we-"
Loud banging from the front of the cabin spooked her, and she jumped in her seat, a small yelp cutting off her sentence.
"Miss! Open the door!" A man's voice yelled from the outside. "Ms. Delacrux, open up!"
Emmett and Edward stood at the same time, their chairs scrabing against the wooden floor and the sound seemed to stir some action in Didi. She stood as well and walked out of the kitchen in the direction of the noise from outside.
Edward looked out the small window, his face turning pale, before he turned and grabbed Bella under her elbow, dragging her out of the chair and turning to drag her out of the room.
"What's going on?" Emmett whispered as he followed behind them.
"Royal Guards." Edward sneered and turned to look down the hallway, making sure the coast was clear.
"Shit," Emmett muttered and moved to go ahead of them. "They must have figured it out… Damn, I thought it would be longer until those idiots got word back from Central."
Bella stumbled behind Edward, her elbow screaming in pain from his tight hold, but as she moved to pull her arm away from him, she felt him grasp her tighter and covered her mouth with his other hand.
"Shh…" he hushed her and pulled her tightly against him, as he stepped up to Emmett. Emmett was peering around a doorframe, his stance tense as he saw something the other two wasn't privy to.
"What's this about?!" she heard the tremble in Didi's voice, the sound bringing tremors up and down her spine.
"Intruders ma'am," a rough voice answered. "We have reason to believe you're harbouring fugitives to the throne."
"What are you- Hey! Put that down!" Didi shrieked, followed by the sound of feet shuffling across the wooden floor.
"Shut up old fart," another voice shouted, a loud cracking sound followed by a thump and a shrill cry from Didi.
Emmett turned to glance at Edward, his face grim as he made a gesture for him to follow. "We need to move," he whispered and walked hurriedly down the hallway.
"Keep quiet," Edward whispered to Bella and turned to catch up with Emmett, his grip still tight on her arm as he dragged her along behind him.
The sound of the back door creaking as it opened had them pausing, waiting to hear if the Guards had caught on to their attempt of escape. A loud ruckus came from the front of the house, Didi's cries drowned by the sound of skin collapsing against skin, glass breaking and furniture cracking, as the male voices carried out to them, where they crouched outside the back of the cabin.
"Keep moving," Emmett muttered and crawled away from the small brick house, his form disappearing in the dark.
"Bella," Edward whispered and turned her face to look at him when she didn't budge from her position besides him. "We have to go."
An explosion from inside rocked her from her stupor, an obnoxiously loud popping sound followed by a scream, made the blood rush from her face and into her limbs, her body acting on instinct as she stood and raced into the darkness, followed by that of Edward's.
She'd heard gunshots before, after all, her father had taken her hunting once or twice when she was younger, but nothing could have prepared her for the bloodcurdling scream which followed. Her blood ran cold as realization sat in and she doubled over, falling to her hands and knees in the grass, her body heaving as a sob escaped through her lips.
She briefly registered hands lifting her from the ground, a soft voice pleading with her to stay quiet, before she gave in to exhaustion, the dark spots at the back of her eyes engulfing her entire vision as everything turned black.
The sound of her name, was the last thing she registered before going limp.
-.-.-
Author's note: This was my first-time writing sex scenes. Please be gentle with your feedback, and I sincerely hope I've done the scene justice – in both description, action and feelings. It might be a bit too long or too descriptive for some of you, but I feel justified in this choice, as the protagonists won't have many options of privacy in the coming chapters (but that's not to say their sex life will be completely void). Besides, this was their first time – it should be special, even if it happened on the muddy ground.