Chapter 9: The Morning After

I was vaguely aware of a slight haze lifting from my brain. Everything seemed fuzzy to my beleaguered senses. Through it all though, something was familiar. Cold. Ice cold. Edward! He was holding me. I was waking up again. Another day...another morning waking in my loving Angel's arms. I sighed once more. I sighed a lot while Edward was around in general, but especially so when he held me. Those strong arms – so gentle around me. He cradled me tenderly. Right now I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

My senses were becoming more alive now. I could hear Edward's steady breathing. It was somewhat hypnotic. Edward did not tehnically need to breathe, but he did anyway. The main reason, was so he could more easily blend in with humans. Someone might notice if someone in the same room never took a breath. Another important reason was that it was required in order for his incredible senses to work at their best. He needed to draw breath in order to smell and taste the area around him – to be able to instantly survey his surroundings. It was just another seemingly over the top advantage that nature's most powerful predator – the vampire, had at their disposal. Edward continued to breathe in and out in a steady rhythm. Actually, I'd never seen him tire. He could run at his fastest speed for hours, and still have the same steady breath. I lost myself listening to his breath for a minute. In...out. In...out. With each expelled breath, more of his vampire scent filled the air. It intoxicated me, honestly. It was amazing – even the simplest things about Edward, like how he breathed - filled me with a sense of wonder.

I could hear birds chirping outside too. It must be early morning. I groaned in my head. The weekend was over; I'd have classes this morning. It wouldn't be too bad though, Edward and I shared several classes together. I brightened at the thought. Being with Edward definitely made school more tolerable. Not that I didn't used to enjoy school though. I'd always been a bit of a bookworm, and got good grades. But compare sitting in a library studying, or listening to a teacher give a lecture on trigonometry to laying in bed with Edward all morning, and I'm sure you can see how school would suddenly seem unappealing.

I felt colder than normal. I shifted slightly. My exposed nipple ran across Edward's skin, and I fought a gasp. I was still topless I realized immediately. I guess my bra, or pyjamas didn't make it back onto my body before I fell asleep. My mind reviewed last evening in quick order. Returning home with Alice...Edward asking what I'd bought...me showing him...Edward's inner battle...his hungry eyes...and...oh! Mmmmm. It was all so clear now. Edward laying me down, pressed on top of me...his hands, and mouth and tongue working over my face, and down to my breasts. I sighed aloud again, at this recollection. My mind ran through my amazing orgasm, and then me collapsing into Edward's arms, sobbing with joy at how he made me feel, and how much I loved him and he loved me.

I opened my one eye slightly. I gazed at Edward. His eyes were focused on me. A smile spread on my lips as I opened my other eye.

"Peek-a-boo...I see you..." I said softly.

Edward raised his eyebrow, and then laughed at my silliness.

"Do you know what I see?" he asked me playfully.

"Nope..." I replied.

"I see you Bella. Only you. Now and for always..." he whispered softly. His golden eyes gazed into mine as he spoke. I loved it when he said things like that. Edward had a way of speaking, that was not like most other people I'd ever known. I guess it goes back to his 1901 upbringing. But when he talked like this, my heart felt like bursting. I wasn't as eloquent as him, but Edward did know exactly how I felt about him.

I stole one of his lines, in reply. "You are my everything Edward" I replied.

His smile widened as he recognized his own words in my speech.

"As you are to me..." he said as his finger traced a line up my cheek.

We stayed silent for the next few minutes...just laying with each other, and enjoying the sensation of being together. A glance at the clock told me I would have to begin getting ready for school soon. Edward would have to leave soon as well. He'd have to return home and change his clothes for school. An idea crossed my mind then. What if I hid some of Edward's clothes in my room. That way he wouldn't have to leave me in the mornings and change! It sounded good, but I dismissed it after a few seconds. If Charlie ever found them, he would probably shoot Edward for stealing his daughter's virtue. Not that a bullet would hurt Edward though, but you get the idea. Charlie finding out Edward was spending nights in my room was definitely not a good idea. I grimaced at the thought.

I had to get ready now. I left Edward's embrace, and stepped out of bed. I suddenly felt very naked. Usually when I left my bed, I was wearing pyjamas. Now, all I was wearing was the light pink panties I'd worn yesterday. My cheeks flushed as I looked for my bra. Edward sat still, not moving. My cheeks darkened even more as I felt his eyes on my exposed chest. He didn't say anything, and I was too embarassed to speak. Sure he had seen my breasts yesterday, and experienced them first hand with his lips, and tongue...but that was in the heat of the moment. It was easy to lose any sense of modesty when your brain shut down and you gave in to your body's aching desires. Now...exposed to him, but with my raging hormones under control for once, I felt shy.

Ahh...salvation! I saw my bathrobe on the floor, and scooted over to it. I pulled it over my body, and felt relief instantly. Now at least, my body was covered. I looked at Edward. He still had not moved. What must he be thinking about my embarassed performance only a moment ago? I didn't want to think about it. I decided my best course of action would be to head to the bathroom, and leave the awkward silence behind me.

"Human moment..." I called to him as I picked up my bag of toiletries and made my way to the door. I heard him speak then, and it stopped me in my tracks. I turned to look at him

"Bella..." he began. "I love you more today, than I did even yesterday..." he finished simply.

I smiled at his loving confession. It put me at ease instantly. I ran back to the bed, and kissed his icy lips. "Thank you Edward." I said between kisses. Then I made my way to the bathroom with a big grin on my face. Edward always knew not only just what to say, but also exactly when I needed to hear it. It was another in a long list of things that I loved about him.

I brushed my teeth completely, as usual. All the while my mind was thinking of Edward. I couldn't believe what had happened last night. I shivered once more as I remembered the hungry way in which Edwards eyes devoured my half naked body. I sighed then, recalling the way his hands and mouth had expertly worked over my breasts. I frowned a bit then. Edward had told me he had never been with another woman. I believed him. I knew he wasn't lying about that, so technically last night would have been the first time he'd made it to second base as well. But he was so good! The way he made me feel, and the way my body responded to his every caress, and lick, and kiss...was unreal. Apparently, Edward really was good at everything! I'd often teased him about it before. It seemed with minimal effort, and a little thought Edward could accomplish almost anything with ease. This was just another example. Of course, being 108 years old, I suppose he would have had time to pick up a few tricks in the 100+ years he'd been on earth. I, however, didn't have the luxury of decades in which to pick up such things. I was completely new at this, in every sense of the word. I sighed. Edward had made me so happy last night. He made me feel so loved. He made me feel like the sexiest woman alive as he touched my upper body.

I gazed at myself in the mirror. Would I be able to make him feel so loved, so wanted, so happy? Would he feel the same amount of pleasure as he'd given me, when it was my turn to....reciprocate? I watched my features blush in the mirror. My face was scarlet now at the thought of "reciprocating" the heavenly feelings Edward had given me. My breathing increased at once as I remembered the way Edward's erection had felt against me last night through his clothes. Another chill went through my body as I wondered what it would be like to remove Edward's clothes completely, and stare at his uncovered body for the first time. Just the thought of it made me swoon with longing. I put my hands on the vanity to support myself. The image of a naked Edward in front of me in all his glory was leaving me a bit unsteady on my feet.

But another thought had my face crestfallen in an instant. I was sure I'd never be able to make Edward feel as good as he had made me feel. And I didn't want my first time with Edward to be a bungling, accident prone attempt at pleasure. I needed expert advice. And not the school girl type gossip I sometimes heard in the Forks High locker room as I changed into my gym clothes. I was dealing with the idea of making a vampire feel sexual pleasure, so there wasn't a human on earth that could help me with tha! For that, I would need the advice of vampires. A smirk came across my face. Maybe I should stop by the Cullen house after school? Well, I had promised myself to spend more time with Alice after all...

A/N: This chapter has been edited. I made some minor language changes, and a few minor text additions. I'm sorry I posted an unedited chapter at lunch time, but since I didn't update yesterday...I figured I would post what I had so as not to keep anyone waiting any longer for an update. Consider this new version a final version. Thanks for reading.