A/N…Told you so! Yes, one reader even admitted to skipping the A/N at the beginning of the last chapter to get to the citrus…but she had the good grace to go back and read it…after! There is more citrus in this one…and after a bit of conversation with another author, it may actually be more LEMON than LIME…so, I'm putting ~888~ before and ~888~after the FRUIT, and you can skip it if you wish…it won't kill the plot if you skip over it…on the other hand you can now skip right to it…if that's what you'd like, and skip those plot details that come before and after the loving…Still reads quite nicely in the 1/2 page format...the buttons are up in the upper right of the page...
…Chapter Five…
…Edward…
Bella and I were sharing soft, sweet kisses and I felt the tension starting to escalate between us again when a voice started shouting at us from outside Bella's door.
"Sister mine…you better get down here and talk to us. There are decisions and plans to be made and besides, the rest of the family wants to meet your mate!" A voice I recognized as Alice's came through the door loud and clear. It occurred to me that I could hear an echo of her words in my mind. Her voice was accompanied by something that sounded like monks chanting…weird.
Bella shrugged and started kissing me again. I wondered if the door was locked and if so, whether a small, spiky haired vampire would be able to crash through it.
"Don't make me send Emmett in there after you two. You've got an eternity of lifetimes to make out…and other things. Come on, Edward, your future Father and Mother-in-Law want to make your acquaintance."
Bella moved slightly away from me and we both gasped as we stared at each other in shock. In-laws? Marriage? Until death do us part? Forever and always? White dresses and tuxedos? Garters and bouquets?
Honeymoons…ah, now there's a thought.
The idea of marriage hadn't entered my mind as anything more than a passing consideration, ever. Yes, I figured that I'd get married some day. But suddenly I wondered if that could be the answer to our separation anxiety, to our need to touch and be touched.
I tried the idea on for size. Married to you, my soul-mate. Married to the one person who is the center of my universe. Married and able to be with that person—you--all the time…all day…and all night...
Bella was already passing at school as a seventeen year old. The legal age to get married in Washington is eighteen. I'm not sure where that piece of trivia came from, but I also knew that you could get married at seventeen with a parent's permission. What would my parents say? I'm seventeen, but would my parents sign a waiver so that I could get married? That was an interesting thought.
I glanced up at Bella's face when I heard the shock in her mind at the thoughts that were running through mine.
Are you crazy? We can't get married! You are a JUNIOR in high school! Bella's mental voice was a shout and it almost hurt inside my head. I heard squealing from outside the door.
So are you! Well, you're pretending to be a junior and seventeen; you're really forty-one. A cougar for sure…The look she leveled at me made me backtrack. Let's take a minute and really think about this…married…being able to be together, really together…Could that work? I had my fingers twined in hers and I could feel the tension in her body. The relief we had felt just minutes ago was no longer in evidence.
I focused on her mind to see where my suggestion had led her. She was flitting from one idea to another so quickly.
Oh, gosh, could we really do that? No, no…we can't, if we married, we'd really want, and need, to consummate our marriage…so we'd still need one to three years to work through that. You do still have school. And I'm not sure that even your stamina, as a seventeen year old human man-child would be enough to undertake how much I'd need you to be with me, really be with me. Vampire and newly mated, you know.
Her frustration at the thought of what could be, and her thoughts of the ways that she wanted to be with me, almost brought me to my knees. It also trebled the need to be connected to her again. I slipped my hands beneath her shirt, cupping her shoulder blades in my hands, to get more skin contact and tucked my face into her neck.
Before we could act on the need to be together, the door was knocked off its hinges and Alice was standing there, her hands on her hips, scowling at us.
I now knew that the door wasn't strong enough to stand up against a small vampire. I'd have to remember that and not cross her at any point in the future.
"Come downstairs now. You two are all over the board in your emotions and decisions are being made and then changed too quickly for me to keep up." She beckoned to us and I saw that her threat to get Emmett to pick us up and drag us downstairs was not a vain one. She would do it and he'd help her. It was actually quite odd to see the vision of that play out in her mind.
The mental sound of chanting was still going on in the background of her mind.
Bella sighed and pulled me by the hand towards the door. As we passed Alice, Bella stuck her tongue out at her. I heard her think, She's such a brat sometimes, she could have given us a few more minutes…
"Let's go, maybe they can help us make some plans." She paused as we reached the landing at the second floor and kissed me on the cheek. "Their minds are clearer than mine. All I can think about is that I want to take you somewhere a little more private and have my way with you."
Her words, which she whispered into my ear, were overheard by the family waiting downstairs. Someone started whistling and hooting before we made it to the bottom of the stairs. Maybe you should have thought that to me instead…
Trust me, Edward, they are all going to love you as much as I do. Actually they probably can't love you as much as I do, because I love you beyond the last star in the heavens and back…
I could hear the truth in her words and it made me stand tall. Bella loved me, I could handle anything, at least I hoped I could.
The hooting continued as we stepped to the door of the living room. Oh, yeah, this was going to be fun. I was meeting Bella's family for the first time, when they all knew that we were mates and that we had been connecting on some levels
My face was hot and I took a deep breath before she led me into the living room.
All of the confidence that had filled me because I knew that she loved me quickly left when I realized that I really was meeting the parents and the siblings of the woman I was going to marry at some point…the woman who is my mate. It didn't occur to me to be scared that I was also meeting a very large group of vampires until Bella asked if I was worried, but I told her that I wasn't, I just wanted them to like me.
I recognized everyone around the room from Bella's reveal. Judging by the looks on all of their faces as we entered the room, they all knew exactly what we had been up to over the past couple of hours. Emmett was grinning ear to ear and giving me two thumbs up.
I suddenly got a sense of everyone's thoughts. Emmett was thinking of some of the ways that he was going to be teasing us.
It abruptly became overwhelming to hear everyone; it was like being in the middle of a tornado of sound. I could only catch bits and pieces because there were seven of them.
Bella's thoughts were the clearest…I know they are going to love him and maybe they really can help us figure this out. I have to be with him again…and it needs to be soon…
…A vampire and a human mated…that hasn't happened before that I can recall, but we are going to have to make this work…for Bella's sake…I wonder if I…
…He's so handsome! Just look at how her eyes are sparkling. Oh, this is truly a mated couple…another son…she's giving me another son to love…
…His emotions are all over, so are hers for that matter…the lust I felt earlier is just simmering below the surface, I don't know how they haven't given in yet…
…Well, at least he's supposed to be smart, maybe he'll be able to keep our secret, but not if he's going to be jumping her in the middle of class…I remember how hard it was to wait until Emmett came out of the change to mate with him…
…Wow! Good thing Jazz caught and held back that spike of lust. That first taste of it was enough to get me going. I bet Jasper won't be able keep it up…keep it UP! Having a newly mated couple in the house is going to be fun…I bet Rose is going to be ready any second now…and that's when his (Emmett's?) thoughts took a turn into x-rated territory. Getting those visuals was not helpful in my current situation.
And finally, Alice had given up on the chanting and was now critiquing all of the students' clothes from her first day at school. I think that was worse than the chanting had been.
Bella was looking up at me, concern on her face. I briefly wondered why when I realized that I was dropping to my knees. All of the voices in my head, overlapping, filling me to the brim were just too hard to take. They were pulling me under, a crushing, tumbling torrent of thoughts, images.
I was becoming lost in their minds, and I rapidly discovered that the makeup of vampire minds was immense. They could think of many things at one time. It was like being in a huge never ending warehouse, full of clear boxes filled with memories and thoughts racing from one thing to the other. I kept trying to focus on just one thought, just one thing to anchor me to something, anything. I knew that I had to find the exit so that I could escape, but there was just too much going on and I felt like I had to look at everything.
Suddenly I could feel cool hands on my face, forcing my head up. "Look at me, Edward. Open your eyes and look at me." Please, love, look at me…come back…
Bella…I needed to look at Bella. If I could focus on her, only her…maybe I could find my way out…I'm trying, my Lady…I'm trying…
A light began shining in the middle of that vast warehouse of thoughts and memories. It was spotlighting a trail made up of all things Bella. I walked along the lit path, smelling her scent just like it was the first time, seeing our first meeting in Biology, our first touch, our first kiss, our first intimate connection.
Relief washed over me. The rest of the voices were nearly gone, just a hint remained, rather like the babbling of a gentle brook. In a blink I unexpectedly stood in the middle of a meadow filled with wildflowers. It was a lovely place; the quiet was soothing, the only sounds were a gentle wind and a creek babbling and burbling its way around the grassy space. A deep sigh left me at the peace I had found and I didn't want to leave, but Bella was calling me.
Wrapping the serenity of the meadow around me like a sheltering cloak, I opened my eyes and looked up into Bella's worried ones.
I'm back…thank you, my Lady. Bella's fingers slipped behind my head, touching my scalp with the pads of her fingers. She drew me close and kissed me softly before resting her forehead against mine.
"What happened?" I asked out loud when we moved apart. Her family was still in the room, standing very quietly, watching us. Their mental voices were muted now, nothing clear getting through to me; they sounded like the brook in the meadow.
"Oh, Edward, I'm so sorry. One of the side effects of us becoming mates is that you are sharing my ability. Mated couples can hear each other, I've told you that already, but my gift is that I can hear others, everyone in fact. I've never been able to keep them out. I've learned how to block everyone to a degree, but I've never been able to tune them out entirely. And now you have a portion of that gift too. I'm so sorry…" She rested her cheek against mine.
What made it go away then? I can barely hear them...I closed my eyes and could still see that springtime meadow. The only thing that could make it more beautiful would be Bella standing in it with me. Suddenly she was there with me, holding my hand as we stood in the soft sunshine.
Where are we? Bella was looking around, confusion in her mind. OH! I can't hear the family. It's quiet here…
What's happening? What are you talking about? I opened my eyes, keeping the meadow in the back of my mind. I was surprised to find that we were still in the living room; the meadow had looked and felt so real. I stood up, holding Bella's hand in mine.
"What's going on?" Jasper asked. "First you were overwhelmed, then you were at peace and now you're confused, but still peaceful?"
"I heard you all in my head, which is weird, since I haven't even met most of you. I got lost inside all of your thoughts. I focused on Bella and found my way back out. But then I was in a meadow and I could barely hear you anymore. Bella joined me. I still can't hear you very well at all. Your voices are very soft, just a murmur actually, but much easier to bear."
"And I can see us in the meadow, and I can't hear you all very well either, it's like a distant echo of your voices…" Bella looked over at the tall, blonde man. I recognized him from her memories. This man was her creator, her father, Carlisle. He was also the new doctor at Forks General.
When I looked at him he stepped forward, holding his hand out in greeting. "Edward, I'm Carlisle, welcome to the family. Nothing like jumping in with both feet, hm?" His hand was cool, just like Bella's, but a sense of reassurance came from him and wrapped me in a feeling of comfort.
"How about we introduce you to everyone and then we can see if we can come up with a plan to help you both." He turned and introduced me to each family member, starting with his wife, Esme.
She came and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly. I returned the hug with one arm, not wanting to let Bella's hand go.
Stepping back and cupping my face with her cool hands Esme welcomed me. "Edward, I can't thank you enough for putting that sparkle into Bella's eyes. Rest assured, my brilliant husband will be able to help you both with this situation."
Everyone else just nodded to me from where they stood and sat around the room as Carlisle introduced them. Bella pulled me over to the loveseat and sat with me, tucking herself into my side and keeping our hands clasped. I briefly wondered how her family would feel about us sitting so intimately together, but then I decided that since they had all found their soul mates, they probably knew that it was next to impossible for us to be much farther apart.
"You didn't eat any of the snacks I left for you, Edward. Can I get you something before we start?" Alice asked.
I didn't think that I could eat anything but did ask for the rest of my bottle of water. Before the words were completely out of my mouth she was standing back before me with the bottle. "Here you go," she handed it to me with a grin before she went and sat on Jasper's lap. I wanted to pull Bella into my lap too, but decided to try and hang onto a modicum of decorum, for a while anyway. The tension was rising in us both again. I drank the rest of the water in the bottle and set it aside. I tucked Bella closer to my side.
Carlisle was standing near Esme's chair, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. "First, I think that congratulations are in order. Finding one's mate is definitely an occasion to be celebrated. Some vampires, and some humans for that matter, will never find that one person that is their other half, their soul mate." He smiled at us both and everyone murmured their best wishes.
"This does present us with a dilemma, as I'm sure you both have noticed. Once a match is made, mates are compelled to consummate the relationship. It's almost like a mating imperative." I felt a blush start up from my neck to my cheeks. Carlisle noticed and addressed the issue. "Please don't be embarrassed. I can say with 100% accuracy that we have all been where you two are right this minute."
The couples around me smiled at their mates and nodded their heads in agreement and understanding. I could feel a surge in the lust that I was already sensing between Bella and me. Carlisle glanced at Jasper and suddenly the heat inside me was cooling down a little. Bella nodded her thanks to Jasper. I remembered that she had shown me in her reveal that Jasper could feel and manipulate emotions. I was grateful to him right now.
"There was a difference with us though. We were all vampires when our matches were made. We had the opportunity to give into the desire that came from the compulsion to be together in every sense of the word." Carlisle paused and I wished that I could read his mind at that moment, but part of me was still in the meadow and I had a sneaking suspicion that that was keeping the thoughts of those around me at bay. Bella squeezed my hand and nodded slightly at me when I looked over at her.
Yes, I think that our visit in this lovely meadow is keeping us out of everyone else's minds…I like it. I can think of some tests that I'd like to try. But let's save that conversation for later, after we find out what we can do about our situation.
I nodded at her and focused back on what Carlisle was telling us.
"I'm sure that Bella has told you about the intensity of the first year or two after our mating bond is made."
"Three years…" I couldn't believe that I actually said that out loud and in a hopeful voice, but the laughter from everyone but Bella let me know that I actually had. Ugh, kill me now.
No, I'm not killing you now…but if Carlisle doesn't have a plan for how we are going to get through this, I may have to take matters into my own hands…Her mind went to places that made me groan. The heat was rising again. Jasper cleared his throat and once again I felt a slight easing of the pull that was drawing me to Bella. Her tension also eased and I heard her sigh in relief. This time I nodded my thanks to Jasper and he smiled in return.
"Yes, one to three years. Of course, Emmett and Rosalie were hard to be around for about five." Emmett smirked around the room and lifted his hand like he wanted Rosalie to give him a high five. She just rolled her eyes and looked away from him. But I did see the corner of her lips raise in a small smile.
"The problem is that you cannot just disappear for a year…or three. You have strong ties to your family and the community. You are a minor." Carlisle's face was solemn. "We have just moved here, and had hoped to be able to stay for at least five years. But, do know that if we needed to do so to help the two of you, we would."
I hated the idea that this could cause them to leave. Bella heard my concerns and addressed them. We've moved for other reasons in the past, and if that's what we have to do, we will…don't worry. Let's just keep listening. I think he does have an idea. I could leave the meadow and see, but I'll just wait until he actually tells us his plan.
Bella's words gave me some hope that we could make this work and I relaxed a little.
…Bella…
The only time my mind had been this quiet was when I was miles from everyone. I don't think that I have ever been more shocked than when I found myself in the middle of a lovely meadow with Edward, with the voices of my family very nearly silent. I realized that this was just one compartment in my mind; that the rest of my being was aware and able to keep up with the conversation with Carlisle. It was rather like the part of my mind that can hear everyone was set aside, waiting in the meadow, with Edward. I could hear his mental voice there with me. That was more soothing than anything else could have been.
When he had gotten lost in everyone's minds, I could see him in a big space, filled with all of our thoughts. He had made his way out of their memories, but then he had found his way into the meadow. When he was there alone, I hadn't been able to hear him. That shocked me, a lot. He's my mate and there is nothing that should have kept me out of his mind so completely.
I had been afraid until he had spoken out loud to me, then he had taken me into the meadow with him and I could hear him again.
Interesting. I immediately thought of several experiments that I'd like to try to see just how he was shielding us. But as I told Edward, we needed to listen to Carlisle right now. I had no idea how we were going to be able to wait before acting on our mating desires. It was starting to hurt again, badly. Maybe we should just let go…and change him.
"Edward, I have no idea if your parents would sign a waiver to allow you to marry Bella at this time. If that's all it would take, then we'd get the paper work done for you to marry her right now. But you only met today and in their eyes they aren't going to think enough time has passed, trust me on that. They see you as a junior in high school and Bella the same. And we can't tell them the entire truth. Like the fact that we are vampires who mate forever and that once the match is made, time and age doesn't matter.
"But if you got married tomorrow, that doesn't help the problem with wanting to immerse yourselves in each other for an extended period of time." Carlisle started pacing back and forth in the living room. He was working out the logistics as he moved from one side of the room to the other.
"Even if they allowed you to marry, I'm sure that they wouldn't want you to quit school to spend a year or three getting to know each other carnally. So we have to come up with a plan to allow them to get to know Bella, to see that you love her and that she loves you. They need to see that you both are not throwing your lives away, that you are both in this forever. Unless, of course, we just fake your death, and let them think you are gone. By not faking your death, you have many more options available. If you were dying right now, there would be no discussion, we could change you and just walk away from Forks. But changing you right now, well, I have some hesitation about doing it that way when there is a choice. We have to come up with a good plan."
Bella, the way the pain is building, I'd take that option right now…Edward's voice mirrored the way I was feeling. I took a glance at him and saw the strain on his face. To help get a bit more of skin on skin contact, I slipped one of my hands beneath his shirt and pressed my arm around his side, flat against his ribs. I also tucked my face into the curve of his neck.
Carlisle stopped before us, a look of compassion on his visage. He knew the stress that we were both feeling. A quick look at Jasper's face, and Alice's for that matter as she shared her mate's gift, showed me that the only reason we were still able to sit here with them, was because Jasper was keeping us in check.
"Please don't be embarrassed at my next comment, but I wondered if the barrier aspect of using a condom would keep you from falling into the mating frenzy. I'm sorry to say that I don't think it would provide enough of one and with operator error and the chance of it breaking, it's not worth taking the chance." I could feel the heat from Edward's blush in the silence that followed Carlisle's comment as if it were a roaring fire.
"Dude, Bella's Dad is actually telling you that he thought you could get it on wearing a raincoat! Wicked!" Emmett's incredulous voice rang through the room.
"Emmett, where are your manners?" Esme's voice was shocked.
Edward was looking down at the floor, trying to will a hole to open and swallow him, so he didn't see Rosalie smack Emmett on the back of his head and glare at him for his comment.
He looked up when Emmett howled in pain. Rosalie had perfected that smack over the course of several decades of inane remarks from her husband.
"Emmett, please remember that if and when Edward is turned, he will be stronger than you and he will exact retribution from you for any and all things that you may say and do from this moment on." Rose was glaring at her husband. "And I am making notes so that he does not forget a single thing and he can demand reparation for each and every one of them from you while he is a very strong newborn. I will ask him to start by ripping off your…" She dropped into mental communication with Emmett. Whatever she said made a huge impression on him, because he looked shocked. At that moment I was very glad that I was not privy to their thoughts.
"You wouldn't really ask him to do that, would you, Rosie?" His eyes were wide as he gazed at his wife.
She looked him in the eyes and said simply, "Yes."
Emmett took a deep breath and said to Carlisle, "Go on, I won't say anything else."
"Thank you, Emmett. I think that we will all appreciate you keeping your comments to yourself right now." Carlisle turned back to us. "Turning you now would alleviate your immediate problem, but it would also bring a whole lot of trouble down upon us all. Bella has told you that the number one rule of Vampires is to keep the secret? And you are willing to do so?"
Edward nodded, that yes, I had told him that, and yes, he was willing to keep the secret.
Carlisle accepted his promise and continued, "Edward, what time will your parents expect you home tonight?"
Edward took in a deep breath, trying to focus on Carlisle's words. "We eat dinner at 7. I need to be home by 6:45," he said, his voice strained.
"Okay, that gives you about an hour and a half to find some…relief. And then we can talk again." At the word relief both Edward and I groaned just a little.
"Carlisle, I suggest we let them find some…relief…right now." Jasper's voice was nearly as stressed as I felt. "It's all I can do to keep their pain levels below shattering, and I think that's only because Edward is shielding them in some manner."
"We are going to go hunt, and give you some privacy." At Carlisle's words everyone but he and Jasper got up and left the room. "Bella…"
I peeked up at him from where I had my face tucked under Edward's chin. "You are going to have to keep some control in this situation. I suggest you take turns finding relief…" My embarrassment at this state of affairs was long gone, replaced by overwhelming need and I nodded at him in understanding.
"We'll talk after we return. I have some ideas on how to keep you two in close proximity and that should help. We'll talk when we get back." Carlisle was already out the door.
"Bella, I won't let go of my control until I'm at the tree line, that should give you time to get upstairs," Jasper said then he was gone too.
Bella…now…Edward's voice was pained…it hurts so bad…or is it good? I can't even tell anymore…
Come on love…let's get upstairs…I stood and he didn't need any encouragement to get to his feet. Hand in hand we raced to the stairs and up.
We had reached my door when I felt Jasper begin to slowly release his control over our emotions. Not taking the time to set the door back on its hinges we flew towards the bed, stripping our shirts off as we went. It took all of my will power to keep my jeans on, but one of us had to keep our heads and it was going to have to be me.
Edward and I were suddenly out of the meadow; I was totally in his mind and he was in mine. Our combined need…and pain…and lust hit me like a tsunami and I dropped to my knees. Edward had just stripped his borrowed pants down and off when he turned and saw me kneeling on the floor.
In two huge strides he was standing before me in all of his naked glory, and he was magnificent. Muscled and toned, with a hint of summer tan still coloring his skin; he was breathtaking. He reached to help me up off the floor, but I stopped him. An idea was forming in my mind when I realized what our positions now were; me kneeling at his feet, him standing over me.
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Edward, love, wait…let me help you, let me help us...I glanced at his straining erection as I slipped my hands around his thighs and gently tugged him closer. Come here…I've never… but I think that it might satisfy our need to be intimate…
Bella…I've never either…I mean, you can't…Wait…His mind lost all coherency the moment that I slipped my lips over the tip of his cock. He tried to step backwards, stuttering out loud about how I couldn't--shouldn't--do this, but I held his legs firmly and took him deeper into my mouth. I ran my tongue along his length as I did so. Bella…ah…that's…wait…what about your teeth?
I saw the memory of my concerns about his tongue in my mouth that I had shared with him, of the venom mingling with his blood.
Not to worry…I'll keep my lips over them…trust me, I don't want to harm this portion of your anatomy…I've got long term plans for it…and for you…Relax, love, I'll take care of you…I want you to hang on as long as you can…I know it's going to be hard…Shards, it is hard, you taste wonderful…I found that I was having nearly as much trouble focusing my thoughts as he was. The feelings swirling through his mind were mingling with mine and the instinct to do more was barely being kept at bay by our current actions. The intimacy was helping the ache we both felt, but I wanted more…Since we can't have the other kind of penetration, this might just help us both. You are inside me… I'll go slow…I've never done this before either…let me know if I do anything wrong…or right…
Edward had woven his hands deeply into my hair and he was conflicted as to what he wanted to do. In the small portion of my brain that wasn't engulfed in the need to mate with him, I found some amusement in the fact that he was worried that this wasn't going to be enough for me. He thought he should be doing something more for me and, yet, my mouth on him felt so good that he never wanted me to stop.
Please, Edward, just let me do this for you…doesn't it feel good to you? If you feel better, then so will I. I felt a wonderful sense of freedom from the pain that had hammered us just minutes before as my mouth slowly moved up and down his length, savoring the taste and feel of him. I certainly do feel better…I couldn't help the moan that escaped me then and I felt him shiver in delight at the sensation. That encouraged me to repeat the sound again.
He gave in at that moment because he felt the respite that such intimate contact brought him too. I felt acquiescence in his mind as he gave himself over to me completely. His fingers twined tightly in my hair and his hands guided my head into a steady rhythm…It's not going to take me long, my Lady…so good…ahhhh…
His mind flooded with ecstasy as the first wave of his orgasm built inside him, causing his back to arch as he pushed himself closer to that edge.
Sharing the feelings of his imminent release through our mental connection, and the massive amount of skin on skin contact we shared, triggered my own intense emotions. Grasping his thighs tighter, I groaned around his shaft as he pushed deeper into my throat, filling it completely. I swallowed and immediately felt him experience the movement through our intimate bond.
We can take more time…next time… I thought just as he thrust one more time and ejaculated into my mouth, the warmth of his seed spilling down my throat. Our minds were blended so closely that it was hard to tell where I ended and he began. My groan as I felt his feelings compounded our sensations and we both fell deeply into a mutual orgasm.
Finally releasing him when the tremors slowed in his body, and in mine too, I leaned back and looked up into the gorgeous face of my mate. After throwing his head back during his release he had then curled forward, leaning over me, his hands sliding one to the nape of my neck and the other down to my shoulder blade, holding me tightly as I rested my face against his thigh.
~888~
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Come, love, I need to feel you in my arms…his voice was quiet and much calmer in my mind, reflecting my own mood. I stood and he led us to my bed. We moved into the middle of the soft expanse, holding on to each other tightly, arms and legs twining around the other. You came too…even without me touching you.
Oh, love, you were touching me…I laughed softly as I burrowed my body closer to his…Very intimately as I recall…
I kind of think I should be embarrassed, but I love you and it felt so good…Edward brought his hand up and he cupped my face and kissed me gently. You said you hadn't done any of this kind of thing before either?
I do recall a kiss when I was sixteen, before I was changed. But it wasn't that great...in fact, it was wet and I remember wondering what the big deal was…I can't even remember what his name was…not all of our memories come with us through the change. I could hear his satisfaction over that fact. Your kisses, on the other hand, I will never be able to forget.
Well, why don't we share a few more, just so you have plenty to remember…his lips came to mine…Can I touch you while we kiss?
Oh, Edward, your life has been changed in so many ways today…finding out you have a mate who is also a vampire, one who can read your mind and that now you can hear the mind of everyone around you…finding out that you don't just want sex, but need it at an almost molecular level or you'll be in excruciating pain…and you ask if you can touch me? I wrapped my arms around him tightly. Darling, touch me in any way you want.
Pulling back just a little, he grinned down at me…It would be my pleasure, love. And so began our third round of connecting…
…Edward…
Bella was right; this had been a day full of extraordinary changes for me. I was having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that she was in my life, that she now was my life.
This isn't the way that I thought it would be, that my mate, wife, lover would appear like a bolt out of the blue. I had always thought there were steps to a relationship: graduate high school, go to college, meet a nice girl, get to know her, introduce her to the parents, get engaged and then get married. It seemed like a traditional progression.
As I breathed Bella's scent deeply into my lungs I knew that even though this was not routine or traditional, it was right. Nothing that made me feel this good, this loved, this warm, this happy, could be wrong. I knew that she felt the same. This was the way it had to be for us.
And here she was, wrapped around my body, caressing me, loving me, letting me share her thoughts and filling me with love. Amazing wasn't a big enough word to describe what this day had been like, what my life had just begun to be about.
We can lie here for another fifteen minutes and then we need to get dressed…again. The family will be back in twenty. Hopefully Carlisle will have come up with a plan. Bella looked up into my face while she continued to trace designs down and across my back with her cool hand. Her touch soothed the ache that still wasn't totally gone. But it was so much better than it had been.
"I find myself debating this question in my mind: Why don't we just give in? Make love, become permanently mated, change you and go on with our vampiric lives. We could be having wild monkey sex, making sweet soft love all the time, breaking the headboards and biting pillows." She tucked her body even closer to mine, well as close as she could while still wearing her jeans.
"Have you come up with an answer to the question of why not?" I asked as I drew invisible designs on her back too, just enjoying the sensation of touching her.
"Yes, I have. It's because I want it all for you. I want you to be able to stay with your family for as long as you can; I want you to be able to go to school and get whatever degree you want; and most importantly, at least to me, I want to be right beside you while you do all of that."
I started to interrupt her, to tell her that a lot of that stuff didn't matter to me, but she placed her cool fingertips on my lips and continued in my mind.
I want it all for you, okay? I want you to have it all… Let's just cuddle for a few more minutes and then we can see what Carlisle has come up with. She slid her hand up to the nape of my neck and wove her fingers into my hair. It felt so good and all I could do was agree with her.
We lay there for the next several minutes, gentle thoughts running through both our minds. It was hard to see where my thoughts and hers began and ended, it was a wonderful blending of us both and incredibly soothing.
A/N…Okay, I was going to end this here…plus an epilogue, but Tosha, u2shay (author of THAT GIRL) had some suggestions that were really funny…so, I'm adding Chapter SIX next Monday…and then the epilogue…hope no one minds.
Kris, kejce, added a bit of *flesh* to my lemon…thanks so much, Sweets!
Thanks for reading, reviewing and all the alerts and favorites…I love opening my e-mail!
Kathie