6
BETROTHED
We continued to walk through winding corridors and then finally we arrived at our apartment; he opened the door.
"Did you and Edward marry?" he asked.
"Yes and we were going to school in Dartmouth in the US," I answered.
"You and Edward love each other," he asked.
"Very much," I said.
"Aro plans to marry you too, you are honored to have two such men make love to you." He said smiling.
"Two days ago, I didn't know what plans Aro had for me and if I had known prior to coming, I would have refused to come; it isn't my nature to make love to two men," I said.
"Aro is very persuasive and he succeeded?" he questioned.
"Yes, he made love to me several times with my consent," I didn't see any point in denying what had happened.
"He conquered you then and I see his mark," he pointed to my breast.
"Yes I love him very much," I said smiling.
"Where is Edward's mark?" he asked.
"Here on my neck, this caused me to change," I said as I pointed to the bite mark.
"So Edward's venom ran through you," he asked.
"You have other marks I see?" he pursued.
"This one on my other breast is from Caius."
"He took you?" he asked surprised.
"Many, many times; he, Felix and Jane tortured me constantly for weeks, if I had been human I would have died," I said.
He looked stunned, "They did that to you?"
"I guess it was the photograph of me, the Cullen's sent to Aro which triggered this response in them," I said sadly.
"What is this one on your hand?" he asked.
"James bit me there," I said.
"He took you too," he was amazed that someone else might have done that.
"No, he tried to kill me while I was still human, he lured me to a room and threw me around, breaking several bones and then bit me just as the Cullen's came to rescue me. Edward didn't want me to change and so he sucked the venom out of me, but I still have his mark," I concluded, if Aro comes back and I haven't done my school work, he will be angry with me," I added.
"Yes I'm sorry to keep you, I'm sure we shall meet again, goodbye for now Isabella," he said and left.
I had just sat down at the computer, when Aro came.
"I have a few minutes to spare, so allow me some pleasure," he said and pulled me into the bedroom, "Come to me, quickly,"
I came to him and he made love to me, then he said as he dressed, "We will marry in the spring, I have already started the arrangements, there is a church close by and the priest will marry us, I will invite many of my friends and acquaintances, we will allow them to feast but I will feast on you." He said happily.
"I'm not used to big weddings," I said unhappily.
I had avoided a big wedding with Edward and now Aro in his flamboyant style was forcing me to do it again.
"You will do it for me," he said, I sighed, "Edward said you had a tendency to be stubborn, I hope that sigh wasn't a no," he continued.
I didn't answer, "It appears Edward was right," he said grimly.
"Isabella," he said pulling me around to face him, "I made love to you, I conquered you, I own you and I left my mark on you. If I say, I want this, I will have it and you will give me what I want; that is all," He kissed me hard on my lips, a demanding kiss, and then he left.
I sank to the floor dejected and tried to sort out my feelings, I'm not sure how long I sat there and then phone rang, it was Alice.
"What's wrong, Bella?" she asked.
"Nothing anyone can fix," I said unhappily.
I thought you were happy, according to Carlisle, that is?" she asked.
"This whole thing has become too confusing to me, why couldn't I just have Edward instead of this complicated mess. I was very happy, living in my beautiful house with Edward and suddenly I am having sex with Aro and everyone thinks it's great, a wonderful thing, even Edward." I poured out my frustrations.
"I thought you love Aro?" she asked, confused.
"I do very much, but he's even more controlling than Edward," I said, "I'm tired of being controlled, my little small wedding was almost more than I could bear and now I'm to be married to Aro and he wants to make it a huge affair and invite all his friends and acquaintances. Alice I don't need another wedding, he didn't even ask me, he told me he plans to marry me so I will have his name; not only that he insists on calling me Isabella." I said.
Alice laughed, "Poor little Isabella and you already went to your happy place this time."
"Of course I should never have expected any sympathy from you, Alice," I said.
"No because he will get his way, he's making you happy, so deal with the control, if you comply you will be much happier," she said.
"I guess so, thanks for listening though, maybe that's all I needed,"
"But Bella, aren't you so excited to belong to Aro as well as Edward," she gushed.
"I still haven't comprehended all this yet but Carlisle talked to me today and I feel much happier about the arrangement," I said smiling now.
"Is he good to you?" she hedged.
"If you mean, does he make me feel good in bed, the answer is absolutely, he and Edward are just as good to me; they don't make love exactly the same but it has the same effect on me, I love making love to both of them," I giggled.
Alice laughed, "You are so open about your sex life."
"It's the best part of every day and night, and now I'm doubly happy, what more can a girl want," I said laughing.
"I'd better let you go; I just wanted to listen to your reaction once you got over the shock," she said.
"Yes thanks for the warning, all your planning and no underwear," I said.
"Bye Bella, love you," she said.
"Love you Alice, bye," and I hung up the phone.
I looked at the time and realized it was late and I still hadn't started on my school work, I rushed into the other room meaning to work on the computer but was surprised because Aro was sitting down on a sofa and ran to him instead. I took a liberty and sat on his lap, I was still naked from making love earlier and he moved his hands over my body, stimulating me.
"So you love making love to me," he said.
"Absolutely," I said smiling.
"I think I should make love to you again, do you agree," he said quietly.
"Yes Aro, whatever you want to do," I said meekly.
"Do I detect a note of compliance now," he said.
"Yes Aro, I talked to Alice," I said.
"Of course Alice is very strict with you, I forgot," he smiled.
"She's ok; she just makes me see reason."
"Very good," he said, now I think we should retire to our bed, even though it is a little early."
I remembered I hadn't done my school work, "Aro I didn't do my school, I was just going the computer, when I realized you were sitting here," I said wondering if he would be angry.
"So after I left you initially, I saw two or three clients, then I came and made love to you before going to meet with two or three more clients. I would have preferred you to be with me constantly, but instead I allowed you time for school work which apparently you didn't do; do you think Edward will be pleased? Explain what you were doing, young lady?"
"Alice called," I said, "I talked to her."
"That was later, I heard the end of the call," he persisted.
"I spoke to Demitri for a while, he saw me when I came here the first time and was interested in what had happened to me since then, we talked for quite a while and then I excused myself so I could start my school work, I had just sat down at the computer when you returned and we made love," he looked at me angrily.
"I seemed to recall telling you not to discuss anything with any one and the moment I relax and allow someone, with whom you are able to communicate, bring you to our room, you discuss with him things you have been told not to, what shall I do with you?" he asked.
"I suppose you could beat me or send me home and never want to see me again," I said.
"Is that what you would like, for me to send you home?" he asked.
"No Aro, I would like to stay."
"Should I beat you then?" he asked with some amusement.
"I don't think you would," I said.
"Don't tempt me," he said, but smiling now, I will talk to Demitri in the morning and maybe I should beat him," he added.
I was alarmed, "No Aro!" I exclaimed; it's only me you should be angry at."
"What, you would protect Demitri?" he said surprised.
"I don't want to be the cause of any one else to die or suffer any pain, I would rather you beat me first," I was emphatic.
"We'll see then, but I still intend to talk to Demitri, in the mean time, what to do with you," he thought for a minute and then said, "From now on you will remain with me constantly and you will bring your work to my office, tomorrow I will have Vicente take everything over there, and for my part, I will have you close to me; now for the other part of the riddle, what were you doing after we made love, prior to Alice's call?"
"Nothing," I said truthfully, "I was thinking and I didn't realize the amount of time I sat on the floor."
All the time we had been talking, he had been fondling me and kissing me and he grew impatient.
"We are wasting time talking, when I want to make love, let's continue this conversation in bed," he picked me up and made love to me before continuing his questioning.
"So if you spent so much time thinking, you must have a lot to tell me?" he enquired, "Now I need to know your thoughts."
We were in the usual; 'you'd better tell me' position.
"I wasn't happy about having a wedding, let alone a large wedding, I tried to avoid a wedding with Edward and now you're making me go through with it, I'm not used to being told, you must do this or that, and since I became a vampire my freedom has been greatly limited. I understand why I must comply with most things but you won't even let me talk to the maid unless you're there to censure me. Alice constantly watches my every move and I know that's why she called because I was moping. She told me it was a privilege to be loved by you and many women would like to be in my place at this moment, even Edward wants you to love me. I'm still confused why you would want me, a married woman, who is very happy with what I already have, now you've made love to me, I can't stand to be away from you, you mesmerized me and now I can't live without you," I finished.
"I wanted you before you were a married woman, I should have taken you sooner and you would never have had Edward but I let you have him too, now I must be content to share you because I know your feelings for Edward and I wouldn't want to make you unhappy by stealing you away from him completely, I do have that power. This is my concession because I love you; your concession is that you will marry me as I wish and be compliant as I wish until Edward and I feel you're ready to be independent. Your behavior today is questionable, if you want to be friends with Emma, then you must allow me to observe how you interact. Most vampires use humans but do not interact in a friendly way, especially when they are servants; you are different and maybe that's why Edward and I love you, we will take things one step at a time, are you satisfied with my explanation?" he ended.
"I told you, Alice talked to me and she always makes me see things in the right perspective, I'm ok now, I accept your concession because it makes me happy, that you won't tear me away from Edward, I could never be completely happy without him and now I can't be happy without you either. I miss Edward very much but I know I'll miss you when I'm with Edward," he kissed me and stroked my hair.
"You'll soon be used to living with us both, but you need to use your wiles to bring Edward here; I need him as much as you do and Alice too. In fact if I could persuade all the Cullen's to reside here it would make it all the more convincing for me to have to share you and I think it would be better for you too." he said.
"You realize of course, Alice knows what you want and she has spoken to Edward," I said.
"Yes I'm aware of Alice's ability, but I'm also aware of your powers of persuasion my dear," he smiled.
"I would never try to persuade him to do what he has no desire to do, but I will talk to him and if the idea appeals to him, then I will try to persuade him," I said.
"Edward has never let me into his mind but I will know yours and therefore, his; you will persuade him because you are a very persuasive creature.
We made love through the night and as each hour past, my mood changed to bliss and I felt honored that I was wanted by this important man among vampires, he constantly called me his queen and he truly revered me as I him and he knew I would comply to all his needs because I had Edward too.