After a long time I'm updating this story, the truth is that even though I have it all outlined, writing is a little challenging once you're sitting in front of the screen.

Thanks to Mackenzie for her betaing time.

And thanks to all for your patience. (especially romantichopeless)

Chapter V

Curious Coincidences

Carlisle ran his palm along the curve of her waist. Her skin was smooth, soft, and perfumed with the most delightful fragrance. She had a spellbinding effect on him.

It wasn't only her blood that sang to him with the most entrancing of melodies, it was Esme's whole being. Her soul, her joyfulness, her marvelous smile, the sound of her voice…They had such a power over him.

No woman on Earth had captivated him the way Esme did, and Carlisle never thought it possible that one of his kind could find a mate -moreover, a soulmate in a human.

He didn't even think it possible that someone could love him.

During his years with the Volturi, Carlisle witnessed the undeniable devotion that vampires held towards their mates. Once they had found each other, their destinies were tied for eternity.

But Esme was a human girl whose days on Earth were already numbered. She was going to die… Unless he did something to halt that unavoidable fate all of humanity shared.

It was a shame to imagine the glorious beauty she would be as one of them. The sole idea made him jealous, to know other eyes would desire Esme the way he did.

But he would show her the good in his world, how Edward and he lived. He would openly teach her the many things that were forbidden to girls of her age in the human world.

He would make her happy, for she deserved the world.

It bewildered Carlisle how the deep love he felt for her had pulled him back from turning her into a vampire the night before. He had been so close. But Carlisle loved her intensely, and he would've betrayed Esme in the most unimaginable way by forcing her into something she didn't know existed.

He had to tell her what he was first.

Carlisle's heart suddenly shrunk at the possibility of rejection from his newfound love.

What would Esme have to say after he confessed?

He had to tell her soon, for it was something of a serious matter, but he needed to find a proper way.

His sweet temptation shifted softly in his arms. His caresses had woken Esme up. She didn't say a word but only snuggled against him.

Carlisle marveled at how she didn't seem to care about the coldness of his skin…She didn't even notice his unbeating heart.

Esme's lashes fluttered open to find herself in the arms of her husband.

Her husband.

Never on Earth would she have imagined she would be married at her young age.

Despite the gossiping in town against her lack of graceful manners and sophistication, the most refined prospect had asked for her hand, requesting her parents to allow him to marry her in the shortest time.

Everything happened so fast.

And here she was, suddenly waking up in Doctor Cullen's arms.

Already blushing as she realised their bodies were entwined without the protective barriers of clothing, Esme raised her head to look at him.

Doctor Cullen was staring at her with those astounding sunny eyes, his lips drawing the most beautiful smile…and that strange halo he seemed to radiate called her attention one more time. There was something about him, something unique Esme had never seen on another man.

"Did you sleep well?" He spoke softly, as if someone could hear his words.

Without a doubt, Esme slept extremely well. She hid her smile in his chest, and he couldn't help but smile at that particular reaction she had whenever he addressed her. She was blushing, Carlisle knew.

Esme breathed in before gathering the courage to look at him again.

His gaze was so intimidating.

"What is it, my love?" Carlisle's fingers began to comb the soft waves of her hair.

My love. She could melt in his arms only from hearing that endearment coming out of his lips one more time.

Esme smiled radiantly, feeling his hands move up to caress her shoulders. Apparently her lack of clothes didn't bother him.

"Am I dreaming?" She whispered.

Carlisle shifted their bodies gently, so his would cover hers. "Would you like it to be a dream, Esme?"

His gaze was mesmerizing.

"No," Her voice melted into a silly mumble as his lips touched hers with tenderness.

Another kiss.It was impossible to get used to receiving them from him. They sent shivers through her body, shivers that turned into burning fire once they reached her womb.

Was she supposed to fulfill her duty during the mornings too?

Her arms embraced his strong figure, whilst his lips wandered down the crook of her neck.

Apparently nights and mornings…Not that she would complain.

Her breathing quickened and her pulse raced when his legs parted hers. Their bodies fit against each other with perfection. His arms slid under her neck, holding her. How incredibly arousing it was to simply be able to hold each other that way, and to savor their lips like the most delicious treat.

Carlisle felt the unfamiliar heat that touched him the night before, rise in him. He kissed her with fervent passion, getting lost with desire, but just like the night before, he was extremely aware that any wrong movement he could make might harm her.

A strong sudder ran through her spine when she felt him pressing his arousal against her core one more time.

If kisses weren't easy to get used to, to become one with him was going to take her the rest of her life to get accustomed to.

She closed her eyes, and then gently he drove himself inside her.

It hurt again, but pain subsided like the night before, and soon their minds began to get lost in the extraordinary feeling of being loved and welcomed.

He moved gently at first, but soon Carlisle was lost in passion. His hands grabbed onto the mattress, and Esme opened her eyes to watch him reach the highest peak of ecstasy. His jaw tightened and his body tensed up in her arms. He buried his face into her hair, breathing her name countless times as he released himself within her.

She enveloped herself tighter against him. Somehow, Esme felt Carlisle wanted to feel loved, and she wanted to make sure he did.

"I love you." Her palms cupped his face so he could be able to look into her eyes.

Breathless, he crushed his lips against hers.

They both broke apart their kiss to stare at each other, perhaps to be sure they weren't hallucinating, for it still felt surreal.

He could get lost in her ingenuous honey colored eyes…

Out of the blue, Carlisle's heart shrunk with remorse. Was he taking advantage of Esme while she didn't know what he was?

"I don't deserve you." His fingers traced the contour of her face with melancholy. "But I love you deeply, Esme."

Esme's features showed perplexity at his words.

"Don't say that." Two of her fingers went to quiet his lips. Her touch was extraordinarily soothing. He would allow her to do it all day, every day. Her fingers travelled to softly caress his temple, tousling his hair. He closed his eyes until she stopped, moving her hand away.

Carlisle blinked before finding Esme staring at him.

"Don't say you don't deserve me, for I think I'm the one who doesn't." She shrugged in the most adorable way. "And then we would argue about who truly doesn't deserve the other, and it would be the most unreasonable dispute." She smiled. "Don't you think?"

Her words tore out a smile from him. How not to love her?

She laughed softly.

"I…"He looked down, thoughtful. "There are so many things I must tell you, Esme."

She remained staring at him, absorbed by his halo. "We have a whole life for you to do it."

He looked down at her collarbone, and his expression turned thoughtful. He hadn't notice the soft purple marks on her shoulders.

He suddenly moved away from her and out of the bed, wrapping the sheets around his waist, as he walked towards the fresher.

Without Carlisle by her side, Esme felt incredibly empty. She immediately sat, enveloping herself with a quilt as well.

Had she said something wrong?

As Esme heard the water running in the bathtub, she moved to sit on the border of the bed. It surprised her how her healed leg hadn't given her any trouble before, though it was aching now; her whole body ached. It didn't take her long to realize the pale purple bruises on her skin.

She inspected her arms, completely perplexed.

"Esme."

Esme almost jumped in fright - she hadn't heard him coming back. Carlisle was standing by her side wearing a silky dark robe.

"Come with me, please?" He offered his hand to her, and puzzled, she took it.

o)O(o

She stared at the hot water in the tub as he unwrapped the quilt around her. She closed her eyes when she found herself standing nude before him. Her face burned, but then his hands took hers, leading her to the tub.

Carlisle's medical mind was focused only on finding how much harm his caresses had caused Esme. It was a fortune that unlike other ladies he had examined during his medical experience, Esme was his wife, and he could see her this way without receiving a good slap.

Luckily, her body structure was perfectly well. The pale bruises were the only signal of his unsafe touches.

He helped her descend into the warm water of the tub, sitting himself on the floor next to the it.

"It's not that grave, Doctor Cullen." She tilted her head to a side, smiling a little.

Carlisle only watched her. He thought he could confess right there and avoid both of them anymore harm. But his fear of losing her helped to mine that thought.

"I'm afraid I haven't been gentle with you…" He looked away, still fighting the imperious necessity of telling her.

"I've gotten more bruises from other less…important activities," Esme nodded, getting his attention with those words.

He looked a little confused.

"Horseback riding, tree and ladder climbing have cost me quite a few falls…and I once hammered my hand; I didn't feel it for weeks." Esme smiled.

"Oh Lord, Esme." Carlisle suddenly chuckled. "How am I going to protect you?"

"You don't have to protect me." She smiled broadly. "I'm strong." She slid her hand out of the water, and he took it softly. "Just love me."

"I already love you." He touched her face with the back of his hand- a soft touch that sent out powerful feeling.

o)O(o

Carlisle could recall very few things from his human childhood. His mother died giving birth to him, leaving him alone with his father, a busy Anglican pastor, who appointed his mother to look after his son while he was crusading against the evil.

Carlisle recalled his grandmamma as an extraordinary, hardworking woman of long black hair, which contrasted with her snow-white skin. She used to tie her beautiful hair in a piece of cloth, and bake Carlisle the most delicious treats; pudding, white bread, and one time she taught him how to make a soup-stew.

There was a blurry, particular memory that hit his mind in that moment. He was about nine or ten years old, and Grandmamma called him to the kitchen.

"Today my dear child, you will prepare our dinner"

Carlisle stood there static, his blue eyes staring in surprise at her. He was a boy, and boys didn't cook…Did they?

She tied an apron around his waist, while speaking words that were now wise to him.

"A man who knows how to prepare a dinner, will get to his wife's heart faster. Savory seasonings stimulate the appetite." Grandmamma gave him a peck on the cheek.

Young Carlisle wrinkled his nose at those words. He didn't even have a wife.

He smiled a little at the memory, placing a cup with warm tea on the small round table he had just prepared for Esme's breakfast. He wasn't as wonderful as his grandmother was in the kitchen, but even when he couldn't take part in it, Carlisle knew how to fetch things for breakfast, and even dinner if asked.

His hands arranged the silverware on the table, placing the jug filled with milk on the shiny tray next to the sugar bowl. He ran his hands over the smooth tablecloth, making sure no wrinkles would show before placing a plate with neatly sliced pieces of white bread on it.

It was perfect. If he'd only had a flower for his lady, he would place it in a vase in the middle of the table.

He looked around him. If he had more time, he would've cleaned the parlor for her. It looked terrible compared to the immaculate table.

Edward's house had been inhabited for a very long time, and under his orders, only three rooms had been cleaned days prior to their arrival by the former housekeeper: The main dormitory, Carlisle's study, and Edward's bedchamber.

But the rest of the mansion was inhabitable.

Lost in his thoughts, his senses failed to perceive Esme's figure standing by the door. She was wearing a simple pastel dress he had given her, and her eyes were wandering around the room, observing the many spider webs hanging from the chandelier and other places throughout the room.

"I'm terribly sorry, we didn't have time to ask the housekeeper to prepare the rest of the rooms in the house." He pulled a chair from the table, inviting her to sit.

"I must confess that even coated in dust, this house is marvelous." She went to take a seat, her eyes glued on the large curtains that hung from the windows.

"I believe it's the people inside this house who make it marvelous," Carlisle said as he sat on the chair by her side.

Esme smiled a little. "People like you?"

Carlisle smiled bashfully.

Outside, Edward rolled his eyes. He had just arrived, and maybe it was better not to enter the house yet. Carlisle and Esme's sweetness was unbelievably…cloying.

Wait, He thought to himself. Wasn't Esme supposed to …

Esme looked at the table to inspect what Carlisle had prepared for them. The silverware was gracefully placed on a delicate, white tablecloth, and the most delicious warm bread and muffins were sitting right next to it.

Her eyes glittered under the light of the chandelier. She tilted her head to a side, a smile forming on her face. "You baked?"

He smiled a little. His grandmother was right, seeing the look on Esme's face was priceless. "I did."

"While I was in the tub, you baked these?" She raised her eyebrows. "It's simply perfect. You're amazing."

Carlisle smiled a little more, pleased to receive such praise, he invited Esme to take a muffin. "I was taught how to bake a few things."

"I'm afraid that I am a failure in the kitchen." Esme shook her head, disappointed at her dreadful skills.

"For every rip, there is a patch." He poured some tea into her cup. It was funny; Esme always looked at herself as a 'rip', and there was no doubt to her that Carlisle was her 'patch'. She beamed…but her eyes got suddenly distracted by a painting hanging on a wall, a painting of a beautiful woman.

Her interest made Carlisle look at the painting as well.

"Edward's mother…" He explained.

Esme stood from her place to get a better look at the beautiful woman depicted in the frame. Carlisle followed her.

The woman's features were definitely similar to Edward's, but her eyes... Edward had certainly gotten his father's eyes. Something inside Esme sparked an undesired feeling of jealousy.

"Did you love her very much?" She found herself asking, a knot forming in her throat.

It took Carlisle more than a second to understand what she meant.

"Oh, no." He took Esme's hand. "I wasn't married to Edward's mother."

Esme suddenly seemed to be in shock.

"You see," Carlisle explained, "Edward is my adopted son."

Esme's expression was suddenly filled with disbelief. A little confused, she observed the painting again. "But I thought…" She looked at Carlisle. "Edward looks like you. His eyes and…"His pose, the way they both walked, and talked. They had the same demeanor.

Carlisle's lips drew a thin line. "It's a curious coincidence."

"What is this?" She then approached a second painting that was sitting on the floor along with some other old frames.

The painting depicted four men; three of them were sitting on three thrones, while the fourth one, a familiar man with golden blonde hair was standing behind them.

Carlisle's stomach turned upside down. Who on Earth had left that painting there?

Edward…

Esme's unexpected giggles pulled Carlisle out of his thoughts.

"Is that you?" She kneeled on the floor to take a better look at the man in tights, dressed like what she thought was an extremely elegant Romeo. Her fingers traced the man in the painting - it was definitely Carlisle. "Was it a costume ball?" She looked up at him with a smile.

Carlisle breathed in before replying as he squatted by her side. There was no way for Esme to know that the painting was almost 300 years old. "It was a ball."

"You look quite picturesque." She looked extremely amused.

"Picturesque? My lady?" A little smile appeared on Carlisle's face.

"And handsome," She whispered, leaning her face towards him, seeking a kiss he immediately gave her.

"Who are they?" She asked about the other men.

"Those are Carlisle's best friends. You have no idea how unbelievably friendly they are, Esme." Edward leaned on the parlor's doorframe.

"Edward!" Esme inevitably moved from her spot to receive him.

She embraced the teenager the way she did when he had presented her with her much loved belongings. And Edward couldn't help but happily receive that second warming hug. It was difficult not to love Esme.

"Did you arrive just now?" She asked, concerned.

Edward nodded, happily greeting Carlisle with a nod, who seemed to want to murder his son about the painting.

"How could you?" Unexpectedly, Esme interrupted Edward's gleeful semblance, and Carlisle's thinking.

"You have to show your father and your home some respect." She continued, "It is not like a gentleman to wonder outside during the night. What is more, what if something happened to you?" She stared at Edward with a look he hadn't seen coming from a woman in years.

The boy's lips opened in surprise.

"I…"Edward tried to order his thoughts. "I went hunting…Do you remember?"

"Only animals hunt during the night." Esme's hands went to her waist. "Are you an animal, Edward?"

The boy blinked before looking from Esme to Carlisle. His father had a subtle smile written on his face. Esme scolding Edward was the last thing he could have imagined would happen.

"No…Ma'am." Edward mumbled, avoiding eye contact. Esme looked exactly like his dear mother did whenever he did something reckless. Unconsciously, he scuffed one of his feet against the floor and wrung the fingers of his hands the way he used to do when he was a little child.

"Good." Esme looked at her husband as if expecting he would continue the reprimand. "I'll leave you both alone."

Edward watched her leave the room with respect and awe.

"You looked like a five-year-old, Edward." Carlisle stood by his side smiling, both men still looking towards the door Esme had just crossed.

"She's got a temper," Edward whispered to Carlisle. "Are you sure she is sixteen? She reminds me so much of my mother."

Carlisle smiled a little. She is extraordinary. She isn't only my wife; she is a friend, a lover...

"…and a future massive pain?" Edward smirked. "With all due respect, of course, Father." He chuckled before Carlisle grabbed one of his ears in a playfully reproachful way.

Crossing my fingers that you enjoyed this one.

You have my word that next chapter will come out sooner.

Thanks for reading, your comments are as appreciatted as Carlisle in Romeo's clothes. Yum!