AN- So, most of my readers agree with me, in that the double POV is more fun. Unfortunately, because of a recent computer crisis, I just don't have the time or patience anymore. : ( Maybe once I get a decent computer (one that I have to myself, not this one, which I can only use after 9:00 pm) For now, I'm doing Edwards POV for this practice session. It's the one I had halfway finished when my laptop broke down. Besides, I'll be the first to admit his thoughts are alway more, shall we say vivid? ;P
ps thank you for all your continuing reviews and support. I haven't been as good at replying, because whereas I can still check my email during the day (ie, I can point and click) I can't use the keyboard to respond. Please don't think I'm ignoring any of you!
Practicing on Edward.
EPOV
It seemed as though we hadn't been to our meadow in ages. Alice had kept Bella mercilessly busy with last minute wedding decisions. We now had only four days. I had thought I would have to beg Alice to let me have some time with Bella. She, of course, had seen me ask her and told me I could have the morning, before I had actually started to speak.
I, of course, still spent every night in Bella's room. The soft whisperings and sweet kisses of night were amazing. And holding her while she slept, I would cherish forever. But I had been aching for this, our meadow.
Out in the open, with the sun shining, I could breathe. I could relax and just be. I could just be with Bella. I lay with my head in her lap. She was running her warm fingers through my hair. They felt like sunbeams dancing along my scalp. Occasionally she would remove one hand from my hair to trace the features of my face, softly brushing my eyes, my cheeks, my lips. If I could sleep, this would certainly be my favorite dream.
"Edward," Bella whispered.
"Mmmmm?" I responded dreamily.
"Are you ready?" She asked. I knew immediately what she meant. There was no way we would miss this opportunity for practice. Who knew when Alice would give Bella another break?
"Always," I smiled, opening my eyes to look at her beautiful face. The sun glinting off my skin cast rainbows on her. "What shall we try today?"
"Well, I've had some time to really think about this," she smiled down at me. "And, the whole point is to help you stay in control, right?" she asked.
"I suppose so," I wasn't sure where she was going with this.
"Then we should be practicing on you, seeing as we're not so good at control when we practice on each other." She said, still smiling.
"And that means what, exactly?" I asked. I still wasn't sure where she was going, but was quickly starting to believe I would enjoy it.
"That means I get to touch and kiss your sparkling skin, while you lay there and concentrate on not bursting into flames." She smiled wickedly at me. Where was this coming from? I'd never seen Bella so confident. I wondered if Alice had put her up to this.
"Was this Alice's idea?" I asked before I realized I didn't care.
"Actually, no," she said, blushing. There's the Bella I know. "I told you, I've had a lot of time to. . . think about this. I did ask Alice if it would be a good idea, though."
"Oh?" I asked, both amused and relieved that Bella had thought to ask Alice. "And what did she say?"
"As long as you take me back when you're supposed to, we'll be fine." She responded.
"So, we have until two o'clock." I said. Alice had given me very specific directions.
"Apparently."
I began to sit up, and Bella slid out from under my head, but put her hands on my shoulders, restraining me.
"Oh, no you don't. I was serious about you just lying there. If you touch me, I'll never be able to pay attention to your reactions. I mean it, you stay there and concentrate on behaving yourself." She was smiling radiantly at me again.
I smiled back at her, "Your wish, my command." I lay back and put my hands behind my head, closing my eyes.
"Ready?" she asked, whispering into my ear.
"Always," I repeated.
Gently she kissed my ear, then she placed her hands on either side of my face. She brushed her lips against mine and let her breath out, filling my head with her scent. I smiled, breathing deeply, and sighed. She caressed my cheeks and face tenderly. Then she trailed her fingers down my neck and started to unbutton my shirt. My eyes opened and I raised my eyebrows.
"Do you trust me?" she asked softly.
"Yes," I replied without hesitation.
"Then close your eyes and relax." She commanded. I smiled and closed my eyes again.
She slowly undid the buttons of my shirt, trailing her fingers along my chest and stomach. She slid her warm hands under my shirt and pushed it apart. If my skin could have goose bumps, I would be covered in them.
She drew in a sharp breath, "Edward, you're skin is dazzling."
I smiled, "Would you like sunglasses?" I asked, teasing.
"God, no," she answered me seriously, "I'd rather go blind than not see you as you are."
Does she really see me as I am? Could it be possible for her to really know me, monster and all, and still love me as she does?
Bella, as always, sensed my sudden change in mood. "Do you want to know what I see?" she asked quietly.
"Yes," I whispered, afraid of the answer.
"I see a sparkling, magnificent, diamond skinned creature," she began. Was she really still blinded? "Who has done horrible, monstrous, and ugly things." She continued. My brows knit together. No, she does know me. "And who repents of those things everyday by the life choices he makes." I am trying to.
Then her lips were to my ear again. "And I see a man," she whispered, my body thrilling to her words and voice. "Whose unconditional love of a weak, foolish, danger magnet like me," she traced a heart over my left breast, "Makes him truly beautiful."
She laid her hand over my heart and pressed her lips to mine. I pulled one hand from behind my head and tangled it in her hair, holding her to me. Could there be a more merciful angel? I truly loved her with all my undead heart.
After a few blissful minutes of kissing, Bella gently took my hand from her hair and pulled away. "Watch yourself, Edward," she said, beaming at me, a little breathless, "You're breaking the rules."
I laughed and placed my hand back behind my head. "Yes, ma'am." God, how I love this woman!
Bella put a hand tenderly to my face, I leaned into the warmth. She slid it from my face, down my neck, to rub my chest. Then she placed both hands on my chest. She leaned forward and moved so that she was straddling my hips. I lifted my head and looked at her. She looked back at me and lifted one eyebrow in warning. I smiled, shaking my head and lay it back onto my hands. They are her rules. I wove my fingers together, locking my hands behind my head, just in case.
Bella leaned down and began kissing just under my jaw line. Her warm lips felt marvelous. I sighed again. She smiled against my skin. She moved down my neck and kissed my collar bones, moving slowly from one side to the other, pausing momentarily at the hollow in my throat.
My body was tingling. I was usually so wrapped up in kissing Bella, I had never had her lips against my skin for so long. My hands were straining to pull from behind my head. But I would follow her rules. I was enjoying them thoroughly so far.
Bella sat up and ran one hand from my stomach to the back of my neck. While pulling on my neck, she slid her other hand around my waist to my back. I got the message. Keeping my hands firmly behind my head, I sat up and looked into her warm, brown eyes. She smiled at the effort I was making to follow the rules.
She took my wrists and pulled my arms down to my sides, giving me a look that clearly said they were to stay there. I smiled at her. She was absolutely enchanting. She smiled back at me, then brought her lips to mine. She applied pressure to the back of my neck, again clearly communicating I was to stay put. I had no objections.
Her hands glided from my neck to my chest. They ran from my chest, over my shoulders and down my arms, peeling away my shirt. I moaned softly into her mouth. She ran her fingertips up and down my back. I actually shivered. She smiled against my lips. Bringing her hands back to my shoulders, she gently pushed me back down. The grass tickled my bare back. Not as much, however as her fingertips tracing the muscles of my chest and stomach.
Did I say my body was tingling? That doesn't describe what I was feeling. It was more like the feeling I had during a storm, when lighting was about to hit nearby. It was a gathering and building of energy, with an electric current to it. As Bella's hands and lips roamed my torso, the tension and desire continued to build.
My hands pressed against the grass on either side of me. Bella's lips came near my navel. My fingers silently tore deep gouges into the ground. I was beginning to struggle for control. I should say something. Bella's lips made their way back up my chest. Her warm hands continued to roam, butterflies dancing across my shoulders, down my arms, over my chest.
As her mouth reached my neck again, my head arched back, the tendons straining. My every cell was supercharged with the static of the rising storm inside me. I need to say something. Bella's moist lips reached my ear and her teeth pulled at the lobe.
Lightning struck. Bella was on her back in an instant, my body pressing hers into the ground. She gasped, her eyes wide with shock. I covered her sweet mouth with mine and kissed her desperately. I needed her. I needed to feel her soft skin beneath my lips. I pressed my hungry mouth against her throat, reveling in the warmth of her blood that flowed beneath the skin. My skin was on fire from her touch. I needed to touch her back. My hand began to slide down her throat. . .
"Combustion!" Bella cried out with the last of her breath. It came out hoarsely, but I heard.
I was frozen for an instant. An image of Bella flashed before my eyes. It was our first time in the meadow, as she smiled shyly, tracing the palm of my hand, afraid to come any nearer. It was the picture of innocence.
I rolled off and lay gasping and panting beside Bella. I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying mightily to regain control.
"Edward," Bella whispered in concern, "are you alright?" I felt her lean closer to me. Please don't touch me, yet! As if she heard my plea, she remained still.
After a minute I was able to regain some control. I reached a hand out, offering it to her. I wanted her to know I was alright, just struggling.
She clung to it with both hands, sighing in relief. "I thought I had finally pushed you right into insanity that time," she whispered.
I smiled weakly, still trying to get breath. "Not quite, love. Close, very close, but not quite."
"Good," she said, I heard the smile in her voice.
She began to trace my palm, which brought back the image I had seen. I sighed, finally able to relax some. My breath began to regulate.
"That was very informative." Bella said calmly.
I opened one eye to peer at her, "Pardon?"
She laughed lightly and I relaxed even more at the sound. "I was looking for signs that you were going to lose it, but I didn't know what I was looking for." She began to explain. "Once I realized you had already lost it, I could see them in hindsight." She laughed again.
I laughed as well, closing my eye again. "Is that so?"
Still laughing softly she said, "Yes, though I must admit, if I hadn't been so thoroughly enjoying myself, I would have seen them sooner."
I smiled, shaking my head at her. She was the one enjoying herself?
I felt her hair fall around my face as she leaned over to whisper in my ear. "Would you like me to show you what I learned?"
So much for the breath I had finally caught. Her scent was surrounding me like a heavenly cloud. "That may not be the best idea, right this second." I said still grinning.
Bella pulled back and looked me right in the eye. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes," I answered automatically. She began to lean closer. "It's me I don't trust."
She pulled back again. "Edward," she scolded, "that is the whole point of all of this. You need to trust that I can and will help you." She gave me a severe look. I could only smile back at her, it wouldn't come off my face.
She softened, "Edward Cullen, do you trust me?"
"Yes," I whispered. With all my heart.
She smiled and put one had to my cheek. "Let me show you what I learned."
I took a deep breath and sighed, nodding my head and closing my eyes again. I was really going to have to concentrate this time.
Bella began by leaning back and taking one of my hands in hers. She gently traced patterns on it. I can handle this. Then she tenderly kissed my palm, I was already wound pretty tight, and it surprised me. My other hand pressed hard against the grass.
"One," Bella whispered softly, taking my hand from the ground and rubbing it gently with hers. She placed both my hands on my stomach and ran her hands up and down my arms. I relaxed again.
Then she straddled my hips again and my hands flew back to the ground at my sides, a resounding thud echoing through the meadow. Bella held perfectly still for a moment. I took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. She leaned down and kissed my stomach, her hair brushing my sides and chest. My fingers dug into the grass again.
"Two," Bella whispered. She pulled my hands from the gouged earth and interlocked our fingers. Raising our hands above my head, she lay against me, her head under my chin. She took slow deep breaths, and I could feel her heart beat against my chest. It was excited, but not frenzied. The regular rhythm calmed me some.
Bella turned her head and pressed her lips to my neck. She kissed up, down, and along my jaw. When she reached my ear, she was careful to use her lips first, then her tongue and finally, her teeth. I gasped, my head snapping back, neck straining.
"Three," Bella whispered, she sat up and gave me time to breathe, rubbing my shoulders. I couldn't decide if these ups and downs were more or less torturous.
Bella leaned forward again, our lips met and I caught fire. Her tongue entered my mouth and I moaned. My hands gripped her hips tightly. She released my lips and I was panting. Her lips grazed along my cheek to my ear.
"I love you, Edward Cullen," she whispered softly. I love you, Bella! I couldn't speak, I couldn't move. She lay against me for a moment, cheek to cheek.
"Four," she said, smiling. She gently took my hands from her hips and placed them on my stomach again. She moved and was kneeling at my side. "It seems you lose the ability to speak." She began to gently run her fingers through my hair as I lay paralyzed, save my shallow breathing.
"Five is combustion," she informed me. She moved to sit with her legs crossed, my head in her lap again. I lay there, helpless, taking deep, shaking breaths.
"God, Bella," I panted, when I finally had enough breath, "Spontaneous combustion isn't the only way to kill a man."
She was immediately concerned, "Was it too much? I'm sorry. I shouldn't have. . ."
I opened my eyes and place a finger to her lips, "No, Bella, for gods' sake, don't apologize." I smiled foolishly at her, "It was," there weren't words. I settled for, "Amazing. Let's just not try that again until after we're married, okay?"
Bella smiled in relief, "I think I can wait four days." Four days. The grin on my face got even wider. She laughed.
I reached up and put a hand to her beautiful face. She leaned into my touch, smiling down at me. The love in hers eyes was radiant. There was also pride in herself, and some lingering excitement. I started to pull her face to mine.
My pants began to beep. We both jumped and then started to laugh. I sat up and pulled my phone out of my pocket.
"Is it Alice again?" Bella asked.
"No," I said, "I didn't want her to have to watch us all afternoon," I was slightly embarrassed for some reason, "So, I set the alarm on my phone."
Bella laughed and kissed my cheek, "Brilliant," she said, "I'm sure Alice doesn't want to look any more than we want her to."
I laughed as well, "I guess it's time to get back, before I catch fire." I stood and helped Bella to her feet.
"We wouldn't want that," she agreed. Then she kissed me briefly on the lips before turning to walk toward the forest, still holding my hand. "At least, not for four more days."
This woman would be the death of me yet. And oh, what a way to go!
AN- I hope this chapter turned out as well I wanted. I didn't have the time I usually spend, but I really wanted to get it done. I hope no one is disappointed. Sorry I could only do it from one POV, but I think I covered it pretty well. Thanks again for all the well wishes to my broken laptop. It's slowing me down, but nothing can stop the obsession. As I'm sure many of you understand. ;P
