"Let the honeymoon begin." Edward said. It was a simple sentence but it had me shaking at the knees. I tried to calm myself down before I had a panic attack. It wasn't easy but I managed.
"Okay. Sure. Honeymoon time." I looked up at Edward and lost myself in his warm topaz eyes, and they held in them more passion than I thought possible. And it was all for me. The world started spinning and we weren't even kissing yet. This was going to be an interesting night.
"Breathe, Bella. You don't need to faint. Especially not tonight," He was stroking my back. "Everything will be fine my dear wife. No matter what."
"Oh, I'm not worried about that. Not really. I'm just, well, nervous in general. I mean it's my first time, its your first time too so that's good…" he put an icy finger on my lips. I stopped.
"Don't think Bella. Not tonight. Just feel, enjoy the moment." How could I not when he was staring deep into my eyes? My heart gradually calmed down enough for me to be comfortable. I started toward the stairs but Edward stopped me.
"I don't think so." He said, and in one graceful movement had me in his arms. We were being strangely traditional. Not that I minded—I quite enjoyed being in his arms. He carried me slowly, deliberately up the stairs to our room. Wanting to prolong the moment I suppose.
Once we were in the room he set me down gently. I lost my balance—of course—but he caught me before I hit the ground. I was going to be a clumsy vampire. The room felt different. Perhaps it was because of what was going to be happening—hopefully—in the not too distant future.
Edward held me close. "Just feel, Bella." His icy lips on my ear made me shiver. My stomach was doing somersaults again. My breath quickened, as did my heartbeat. I looked up and before I could react his lips were on mine, moving frantically. He pulled the pins out of my hair letting it cascade down my back. Edward's fingers laced themselves into my hair and he gently pulled my hair back so he could kiss my throat.
"Wow." Was all I could manage. He growled very sexily into my neck, sending shivers down my spine. Edward moved back up to my lips and I took the opportunity to slip his jacket off. I moved away from his lips toward his ear. He moaned when I sucked on his earlobe. I made a mental note to remember that.
"You…are…very good." Edward managed to gasp. I growled in his ear. I didn't realize I could growl. He pulled me closer. I moved down to kiss the hollow of his throat. I swiftly removed his tie and slowly began to unbutton his shirt, kissing his chest after I undid each button. He began to pant. Apparently I was very good.
I pulled his shirt out of his pants and slid it off him letting my nails graze his arms. He shivered.
"Not fair. I have less clothes on than you. I think I need to change that." Without moving away Edward began to unbutton my dress. He started to slip it off when I tensed up. He had never seen me in anything less than a t-shirt and sweats.
He stopped. "Bella, what's wrong?"
"It's not you. I just…you've never seen me…without clothes on." I looked down and felt the blush creep to my face.
"Is that what you're worried about? You silly girl. You are the most beautiful, the most sexy woman on this earth, clothed or not. Never doubt that." He tilted my chin up so I had to look at him. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was telling the truth. I smiled.
"Now, where was I?" He looked me up and down. "Ah yes. Right there." He swooped down, kissing and licking my collarbone. I moaned. I couldn't help it. Before I could blink Edward pushed my dress to the floor.
He admired my nearly naked body. "Mmm. I like what I see. I like it a lot." I was wearing a white lace bra and a matching thong. I had to admit, Alice had good taste. Edward pulled me close once more. "You have no idea how amazing you look." He breathed. I had lost the ability to speak coherently. I reached down and undid his belt, then pushed his pants down. It was surprisingly easy considering my extreme nervousness.
I guided him toward the bed and he pulled me down on top of him. I squirmed in excitement. I leaned down to take possession of his mouth again. He moaned into my mouth and I couldn't breathe anymore. I didn't mind.
Suddenly I was on my back with Edward straddling me. His icy body made me shiver but it wasn't because of the cold. He planted tiny kisses along my shoulder to my throat when he stopped.
"Don't move." He leaned over me, eyes closed, trying to control his natural instincts.
"Do you want me to—"
"No. I'm better now." He kissed me again, just as forcibly as before. I heard the sound of ripping cloth. I realized that I was now naked. So was he. My heart and breath were joined in the same erratic rhythm.
"Oh. Wow. That was—wow." I was still unable to form a coherent sentence. My head was on Edward's chest, my fingers tracing circles on his stomach. He chuckled, swirling his fingers around on my back.
"It worked, love. Very successfully." His voice was smug. He had every right to be smug, I thought.
"Told you so." I mumbled.
"Yes you did. Are your hormones satisfied?" He teased.
"For now." He growled seductively at my answer.
We laid on the bed for awhile, just being in each other's company. He pulled the blanket over us when I shivered. It wasn't long before I was dreaming.
A wolf howled in the distance. I knew that howl, I would know it anywhere. "Jacob, where are you?" I couldn't find him. The howling grew louder. I noticed that it was different. Less human somehow. A russet wolf appeared in front of me. "Jake?" The wolf just looked at me. I knew it was him. Why didn't he answer? "Jake? Answer me!" The wolf—Jacob—didn't seem to recognize me. Like it wasn't Jake, just a regular old wolf. It turned and sauntered off.
"Jake, what's going on?" I realized that I was awake and I had asked that question aloud. "I'm so sorry Edward! I didn't mean to. I didn't want to." I sat up and buried my head in my hands.
"It's okay, love. I understand." He sounded hurt.
"I heard him at the wedding is all. His howl didn't sound right. It wasn't human." It sounded strange but I knew Edward would understand what I meant.
"It's all right. I shouldn't have sent him the invitation but I would have wanted the choice. And now he's run off."
"Edward, please. Like you said, it's you and me tonight." I looked at the clock. "This morning."
He perked up. "You're right." I vowed to myself that I would get over Jacob before I became a vampire.
"Let's take a shower, my dear." Edward suggested. A shower sounded lovely. He picked me up and carried me into the bathroom. Edward turned the water on hot just like I liked it.
That was the best shower I'd ever taken. Edward and I cleaned each other quite thoroughly. I enjoyed playing with the slick soap bubbles on his chest. He enjoyed that as well. The mixture of the hot water and his cold skin made me shiver with delight. He backed me against the wall and entered me ever so gently. I sighed with pleasure. He slid in and out until neither one of us could take it any longer. I yelled out his name as the pleasure exploded through me.
"Oh Bella," He sighed against my neck. "You are amazing."
"I'll be even more amazing once I'm a vampire."
"Mmm. I don't think that will be possible."
We stayed in the shower until the water turned cold. I was falling asleep in his arms by the time he carried me back to the bed.
"Sleep now, my Isabella Cullen." He began to hum my lullaby. I faded out into a dreamless sleep.
I woke with a start. I could smell something cooking. 'What's Charlie up to?' I thought. Then I remembered I was on my honeymoon with Edward. So Edward was cooking. I sniffed. It didn't smell like anything was burning. I got up, stretched, and looked around. I didn't feel like parading around naked. I spotted a blue robe hanging by the bed. Silk, I was sure. It was gorgeous, embroidered with green vines and yellow flowers. Alice did good.
I put it on and walked downstairs into the kitchen. I managed to startle Edward when I came in. He dropped the spatula he was holding.
"Oh! You're up! Good morning, Mrs. Cullen." He looked at the clock. "Good afternoon, I mean."
"Good afternoon, Mr. Cullen. I love you." I looked at the stove. "You're cooking?"
"I love you too. I thought you would be hungry. Especially after last night." He grinned and looked me up and down very slowly and deliberately.
"I like the robe," I said casually. "Alice has good taste."
"Alice didn't pick it out, I did." He smiled.
"A hand-me-down?" I asked, knowing the answer.
"Nope. Brand new. Very expensive." He eyed me cautiously.
"I guess I better get used to it," I sighed. "I give up. Buy me all the expensive stuff you want. I don't care anymore." Secretly I was hoping the reverse psychology would work.
Edward beamed at me. The reverse psychology did not work. He looked almost as happy as he did when we said "I do." Almost. He stirred and flipped my food in silence, wrinkling his nose occasionally. He set a plate in front of me. French toast and scrambled eggs. It looked delicious and it tasted delicious.
"So where did you learn to cook?" I asked.
"I've watched you long enough to pick up a few things. Esme helped as well. And—" his mouth twitched. "I watched the Food Network."
I snorted out the bit of egg I had in my mouth. I couldn't hold it in. I laughed until tears streamed down my face. Edward's mouth twitched into the crooked smile that I loved. He laughed with me. I calmed down enough to finish my food.
"Did I do okay?" He asked.
"Better than okay! That is the best breakfast I have had in a long, long time." That made him smile.
"Good. Oh by the way, Alice is on her way back. We're taking you shopping." I frowned.
"You said I could spend money on you Bella. And besides, I'm not spending the money. You are." He handed me a piece of plastic.
"A bank card? For me? Why?" I was confused.
"Because what's mine is yours. We're married now so we share things like money." He saw the look on my face. "Please don't worry about the money. It's not like you could spend it all."
"How much?" I was horrified at the thought of all that money being in my hands, even though I knew I couldn't spend it all.
"Honestly I don't know. We've never come close to running out. This is our personal account. Carlisle regularly puts money into it so the account never runs low."
I sighed. It was impossible to get out of it. I didn't want to argue. I might actually enjoy having an unlimited supply of money anyway.
We went shopping. It was horrible. Alice tried not to let me pick out anything comfortable, but I threw a fit until she relented.
"You're going to be a vampire. You need to dress like one." She explained.
"I don't think the Halloween stores are open yet." I replied. Edward snorted. Alice glared at me.
Eventually we reached a compromise. I could have jeans and t-shirts as the long as they were designer, and as long as I wore a dress or skirt once a week. The volume of my wardrobe increased dramatically. Alice managed to get me alone to quiz me about some things.
"I know you're not wearing that bra set I got you, I can see your ratty old bra strap. What happened to it?"
I blushed a violent shade of pink. "Well…it…erm…ah…it didn't survive the night." I stammered.
She rolled her eyes. "Figures. We'll just have to get you some new ones." Two hours later I had a lot of new underwear. Too much new underwear. Alice said it was because I was a married woman and I should dress nice for my new husband. I didn't think it mattered but I knew if I dressed nice I would look like I belonged with the Cullens.
It took the three of us two trips to get all my clothes into the house. It was ridiculous. Then I noticed the house was empty.
"Where is everything?" I asked.
"They came while we were gone and moved everything to Alaska. You and Edward will stay here for however long and then come join us." Alice explained.
"Okay. Sounds good." I replied.
"Eww. I'm leaving now. I just had a vision of something I really did not want to see. Bye!" She ran out the door.
I turned to Edward. I looked in his eyes and knew that I was in trouble. Deep, passionate trouble. I managed an "eep" before he overpowered me.
Days later, I don't know how many—it was time to leave. We managed to fit everything, including my horrendous amount of clothing, into his Volvo.
"What about the bed? I know I won't need it after but I like it. Can we keep it?" I asked.
"Of course, my love. Consider it done." He kissed my forehead.
A wolf howled, not very far away. Edward froze, his lips still on my forehead.
"Is it--?" But he shushed me before I could continue.
"He's coming closer." So it was Jacob. Edward whirled around, shoving me behind him. A russet wolf meandered out from behind the trees. Edward growled. The wolf just looked straight ahead.
"Jake, is that you?" I was sure it was Jake but the wolf didn't seem to recognize me. It was just like my dream. "Jake, answer me!" The wolf turned and sauntered off. I tried to go after him but Edward held me back.
"He can't Bella. He can't answer you." Edward said.
"That's ridiculous. Of course he can. Let me go."
"Bella, he's changing. I saw his mind. It's not the same. It's—hard to explain. He's—less human." Edward finished.
"What do you mean? He's changing? I don't get it." I shook my head. What was Edward talking about?
"It's another one of their legends. Some people, they decide that being a wolf is better than being human. They eventually lose their human side. They turn into a real wolf."
I was shocked. Jacob wanted to forget about being human? Why? And then I realized that I was probably the reason. I began to hang my head but I stopped myself. I had told Jacob how I felt. I was not responsible for his happiness. If he wanted to forget about being human then that was his choice.
"Okay then. Thank you for explaining." Edward eyed me cautiously, expecting me to break down. "I am not responsible for his happiness anymore. I get that now. Can we go now?"
We were off. Normally it takes a long time to get to Alaska, but not with Edward driving. I swear I didn't blink before we were there. I gaped at the enormous house whose driveway we pulled into. It was a monstrosity.
"Leave it to Esme to find an antique in Alaska." Edward smirked. I looked around and around. Then I noticed something that did not quite fit in. Nestled between Alice's yellow Porsche and Rosalie's red BMW was a blue car. An Audi to be exact.
"Edward!" I growled. "You got me a car?!"
"Don't start Bella. You said I could buy you things. Besides, you need a car—a fast car. So there. Consider it a wedding present."
I couldn't stay mad for long. "Thank you. Can we go for a drive?"
"Not tonight. I want you to be indestructible before you're a speed demon." I laughed. We went inside our new home. Inside everyone was waiting for us.
"Sheesh. I thought you two were never going to show up what with your libidos and all--" Emmett stopped when Edward launched a vase at his head. Esme caught it before it hit.
"Aw, come on Mom. Ruining my fun!" Edward teased.
Esme rolled her eyes. "He's yours now Bella. Good luck." Everyone laughed. Yes, this was home.
All too soon I had to go to bed. I was still human so I needed sleep. Not for much longer though. I was about to bring it up when Edward did.
"About me turning you? Will you allow Carlisle to be in the room—just in case?"
"Of course," I answered. "Whatever makes you happy."
"Thank you. Carlisle doesn't want to give you too much morphine unfortunately. He doesn't know if it would interfere with anything."
"Oh okay. I can deal." Inwardly I cringed. I wasn't much of a masochist.
He smiled, seeing through the lie. "I was thinking tomorrow evening would be a good time."
"Really? You're not going to stall?" I didn't think he would, but I still wasn't sure about how okay he was with this.
"No. You've met my conditions, and I've met yours. The wait is over." He gave me a hug.
"I'm ready." I really was.
"I know."
Tomorrow night. The first day of forever.