Chapter 7

Touching my head to the door, I close my eyes and sigh deeply. When I exhale, it's like I'm ridding my mind and body of all the pain and I can start anew. I could be in my own little world where nothing can touch me. I am untouchable and unstoppable.

"Is everything alright Bella?" Carlisle asks. I come back down from my high and it just dawned on me that I wasn't really alone. I laugh, awkwardly giddy with relief and closure.

"Everything is finally alright Carlisle. I'm finally freed of Edward's hold over me." I smiled and walked away from the door. Carlisle walked up and pulled me close to him. I could feel his nose buried into my hair. My arms gravitated around his neck and I inhaled his scent. I never realized how warm and deeply, yet strangely erotic his unique scent was.

"See, I told you that you would be able to let go. We deserve happiness Bella, we deserve to love again." Carlisle whispered in a throaty voice, his mouth lingering beside my ear and we were still holding onto one another. Carlisle's arms slid from my own to cup the side of my face and my neck. We separated minimally and looked at each other. It felt like we were both gazing at something we've been searching for and finally found.

Time stands still but moves in a blur at the same time. We lean close to one another and our lips meet and it all feels like some surreal fate. His hands tangle themselves in my hair and I pull him towards me in a desperate need to be closer to one another. As quickly as it had begun we broke apart, both wide eyed.

"Wha- what just happened?" I intelligently asked. The distance between us increased quickly. Carlisle took movements to decrease that distance.

"I don't know, but I'm not sorry that it happened Bella." Carlisle took me in his arms again.

"This can't happen Carlisle, it's just wrong on so many different levels." I pushed back out of his arms.

"Why is it wrong Bella? Tell me." Carlisle stared into my eyes, brows furrowed with intensity. Turning away, I walk over to his desk, idly twirling a pen thinking of where to start on why it was more than wrong.

"Carlisle, I barely got over Edward. And to move on to his father nonetheless, that would just be distasteful. And Esme, Esme hasn't been gone long, that was like losing my own mother. And…um.." Carlisle spun me around and lifted me onto his desk.

"Sounds like a bunch of excuses to me Bella. Distasteful? Don't you think what Edward did to you was the most outrageously distasteful? It's been three months since Esme's been gone. God knows I love and miss her and always will, but she wouldn't want either of us to be alone if we had a chance to be happy. I love you Bella. Everything about you I can't get enough of. After that kiss, you can't claim to feel nothing more than a platonic love." Carlisle prodded, running his hand down my neck and collarbone. Letting my true feelings wash over me, I grab his shirt and pull him closer to me, ravishing his lips once again. He easily picks me up and carries me to the large couch across the room. Laying me down gently, I stop him momentarily.

"All-wise Carlisle is right yet again. I do love you."

A cocky smile forms on his face and Carlisle quickly removes his shirt and starts on mine. His hands touching everywhere on my skin, I shiver at the contact. His lips go on a journey from my mouth to my neck and eventually to their final destination. Landing on my breasts, Carlisle starts sucking causing my back to arch. Moving my hands, I reach his pants and unbuckle them. He kicks them off and takes mine off as well.

"God you're beautiful Bella." Carlisle sits up for a moment in admiration. If I were human, I would surely blush.

"Yeah, thank the vampire in me." I chuckle somewhat semi-consciously. Carlisle is the first person to see me so exposed and so vulnerable. Carlisle turns my face towards him so he's looking directly at me.

"You were beautiful before Bella, and I honestly didn't think you could be any more so. Glad I was wrong."

He brought my neck up to his lips, kisses filled with need and passion fueling them. I feel his member tapping at my leg, completely aroused. Without further hesitation, Carlisle lifts my leg to his hip and whispers, "Are you ready, my Bella?"

Realization and embarrassment hit me like a ton of bricks. I was still a virgin. Edward had the reasonable yet frustrating excuse of not wanting to hurt me when I was still human. But all the time we were still together when I had gone through the transformation, he hadn't touched me or made the slightest intention of doing so. It confused me at first, but now it was painfully clear why.

"What's wrong Bella?" Carlisle asked, sensing my trepidation. How was I supposed to tell him? And would he even still want me, still want to be the one who took away my 'innocence'?

"I, um. I'm still…I haven't done this before Carlisle." I whispered, not wanting to have to reveal the fact that Edward didn't even want me in any way.

"Bella. Look at me." Carlisle ordered and I complied. "There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, it just makes this even more special. Never think that I don't want you Bella. It's no longer a question of want, but a matter of need." Carlisle reassured me.

"Okay, I'm ready."

It seemed to be over just as soon as it began. I can't believe that Edward held out for so long if it was like this. Letting my head fall back, I my panting slows. Carlisle moves to the side and spoons me, wrapping his arms around me and holding on to mine.

"That was amazing. It was…"

"Beautiful. I've never felt so complete." Carlisle nuzzled his nose into my hair. A smile filled my face and I closed my eyes content. Maybe there was an happy ever after, after Edward. We spent countless hours wrapped up in one other's embrace. I could of stayed this way for the rest of eternity. But my thirst had other desires. And from the looks of it, so did Carlisle's.

"We should go hunt, sweetheart." Carlisle sat up, still holding me. I nodded and we started getting dressed. Thinking about everything that had happened, my eyes widened in worry.

"Carlisle, what about the rest of the family? What are we going to do? I mean I guess they heard but, I don't know." I rambled.

"Don't worry so much Bella. They love us and they just want us to be happy. Though I can't speak for Edward, but I think it's high time he sees what he has lost." The way he spoke, I could tell he was proud of our relationship. Carlisle walked up to me and rested his head on mine.

"Okay, you've convinced me." Walking out of his study, we almost immediately run into Jasper and Alice. Alice's hair looks similar to that of a troll and Jasper's isn't far from hers either. Alice is smiling broadly and Jasper is looking really tense with a knowing gaze.

"Um…what's up guys?" I try to act casual. Too bad I've failed to mention Carlisle's arm wrapped possessively around my waste.

"I knew it! I didn't see it, but I knew it!!!" Alice squealed obviously pleased with this development.

"How? I mean the door was closed!" I rack my brain futilely. Jasper smiles like there is some secret joke.

"The study is sound proof, not emotion proof. I don't think I've ever felt that much lust even from Emmett and Rosalie."

"Well that's saying a lot!" Carlisle chuckled. I had to laugh through my embarrassment, as plausible as it was. A door slammed, and silence reigned over the room. The vampire stood before us angered and bewildered.

"How dare you touch her Carlisle!" Edward roared with such intensity. We were all too shocked at his enraged behavior to even anticipate his launch for Carlisle's throat.

((AN: I've decided….there is only 2 or 3 more chapters left. Maybe just 1. Well, review! Please and thank you!))

3 SweetXSacrifice