24
ARO'S GOOD AND BAD SIDE
Fortunately our bed was huge because now four of us lay there; we had a new strategy to help Sarah. Aro would concentrate solely on Sarah for the most part but he still needed some release time with me. It turned out to be a perfect night for me and Aro made great progress with Sarah.
"I think it's good you're here Edward, Sarah and I are finally breaking down the barriers," Aro said, "The rest of the week should ensure she is prepared for Saturday night."
In the morning Alice had a slip for me to wear for the fitting which covered a much larger baby pack, I thought I looked huge. The wedding gown was off white and the skirt gathered under my breasts, the bodice had boning which pushed my breasts up and together so they looked huge and there was very little bodice covering them; the bodice had a very low scooped neck which barely covered my nipples, the shoulders of the bodice gathered up into a thin strap which crossed over my bare back before attaching to the back of the skirt. The gown was made of thick, heavy satin and a train of the same hung from the back of the skirt; it was covered loosely with off white lace the whole gown was covered with an over gown of pale pink chiffon, off the shoulder with huge puffed sleeves and open in the front which showed of my breasts and my pregnancy, the back ended in a train to cover the satin and lace. The 'neck' of the chiffon gown was attached to the bodice of the under gown and it was placed just so, the dress felt very heavy and the boning was very uncomfortable, on top of that the chiffon itched my skin.
Renee arrived as the fitting was about to end.
"My goodness, this gown is very revealing," she said.
"This is what Aro wants, he wants to show off the fact that I'm pregnant and I guess large boobs go along with it, personally I would rather walk down the aisle naked, it would be much more comfortable," I said.
They took off my gown leaving me in my slip and Alice quickly put one of my gowns on and made me lay on the bed; Edward and Aro walked in together, I jumped off the bed and ran over to them while Alice rolled her eyes at me. Renee stared at the tall man she had seen in her dreams, he smiled at her and she was hooked by his charm and charisma.
"Am I to assume this beautiful woman is Isabella's mother?" he pretended to be astonished, "No wonder Isabella is so beautiful to have a mother like you, I honor you for giving me this beautiful daughter who I worship; she gives me great pleasure and now she gives me my child who I expect will be as beautiful as the two of you."
Renee smiled in response.
"The pleasure of meeting you is mine," she said.
"You are aware of course that Edward and I equally love Isabella and are intent on making her very happy," he said.
"You already made me happy Aro,' I said.
I put one arm around Edward and one around Aro; I could tell my mother was still amazed by this unusual relationship.
Aro spoke again, "This marriage will make Isabella a very important woman even though she is still a child and she has already been learning some diplomatic responsibilities, she will spend a great deal of time by my side working hard as she has already been doing; she charms everyone who meets her. Edward has bought her a home close by here at the beach where she will live with him plus the baby and the five year old; there will be plenty of help for her so she won't be too overwhelmed. She will spend a great deal of time with me here as well and I will visit her home as much as possible to be with my child; anytime you want to visit our little family, just call Isabella and I will have Vicente arrange your passage, there will be spare rooms at Isabella's home for you to stay. Of course at the moment we could only offer you hotel accommodation because her home has yet to be furnished, I believe Esme will take you over there later today to view the home and maybe offer some input as to the interior design. Isabella needs to rest a great deal as the pregnancy is difficult for her and she's already delicate, so she can't accompany you, Carlisle is her physician and he lays down the rules for her; we obey because we want everything to turn out well," he stopped.
Renee was obviously trying to take in all that, I think she was stuck on how important her daughter is now and 'diplomatic responsibilities'.
Aro turned to me, "You aren't being obedient young lady, and didn't Alice tell you to lie down?"
He picked me up easily, to Renee's astonishment, and laid me down on the bed; I put my arms around his neck and wouldn't let go until he kissed me, he finally had to break away.
"Not now Cara, I wish Sarah would behave like that, maybe you could encourage her, my dear, I believe she wants to discuss last night with you."
He went back into the other room and I heard Renee start with her questioning, I listened for a short time but then fell into my rest mode.
The next time I became aware of the conversation, I heard Esme's voice, she and Carlisle had arrived and they both came in to see me.
"Well Bella I see you survived your separation from Edward," Carlisle said.
I smiled, "I don't know if I can forgive you for making me stay here, I still miss my home and Jenny and Emma, even Aro can't substitute my need for Edward," I said.
"Well I'm not sorry I made you stay here, I think I had no choice but to make that decision and you did survive," he said.
"You're too mean to me Carlisle," I said.
"Well soon you'll be in the home stretch even though it's going to be much more difficult, I'll come Friday and put the chips in you and Sarah; we'll leave after the wedding but be back hopefully in time to help the baby out," he said.
"What happens if you don't make it here?"
"Alice and Rosalie will be here and they will have instructions on what to do, Sarah doesn't want to survive so we don't have to try to save her, we just need to concentrate on the baby and you; it will probably be bloody so hopefully my helpers will be able to handle it and you won't get sick from the blood, Edward will come back with me unless school gets out before the baby decides to come, in that case he'll arrive before me. It may be best if Aro is not present for the birth because of the blood, I don't think you'll want to see him feeding off Sarah," he said.
"I won't want to but I won't condemn him for it, I've already reconciled that he drinks human blood and if I ever have to see him do it I will try to be strong; at least I know that he is selective, I did talk to Heidi plus Sarah doesn't want to live, I'm sure he has a hard time with her as Edward did with me when I was human," I said.
"I know for a fact that he isn't particularly attracted to her as far as her scent and physical attraction, you are the only woman he cares about; he considers Sarah necessary to achieve his goal but he needs you to arouse him," Carlisle said, "Well now Esme wants to talk to you so I'll leave you for now."
"Did you enjoy your new home, Bella?" Esme asked pleasantly.
"I love it," I said enthusiastically.
"Well while your lying here resting, I want you to look at some pictures and Edward will bring a lap top so you can look on line, but I want some input from you on the children's rooms and the master bedroom; I asked Jenny and Emma about their rooms and you must have seen that Jenny likes ballet. This house has a large kitchen because you may have to do some entertaining, the kitchen usually will be used by Emma to make human food for her and Jenny and we're not sure what the baby will prefer yet, if you do entertain, Edward or Aro will hire a chef to prepare the food so it won't be something for you to stress about; most of the entertaining will be at the castle anyway. I'm going to take Renee over there now and I'll be back later to pick up your ideas, Edward will help you because he's not going any where," she concluded.
She gave me a hug and left and I started to look at the pictures.
"Do you need help love?" Edward came into the bedroom.
"Yes, I'd love some help" I said.
He lay near me but started kissing me, soon he was inside me and we laughed as we tried to look at pictures without separating ourselves. Aro brought Sarah in and then left because he was in a hurry. Sarah noticed our love making, even though neither of us was naked.
"Do you two ever stop," she said pleasantly.
"We only just started but no we never stop if we can help it," Edward said.
"We're actually picking out our furniture for our bedroom but we have to get in the mood," I joked and we all laughed, "I suppose we should choose an extra large bed like this one in case Aro wants to spend the night, what do you think?" I asked.
"Yes of course he'll be spending the night but he may be walking the baby to get her to sleep," Edward joked and we laughed again.
We finished making love but Edward lay on me and the baby kicked.
"I don't think the baby likes to be squished," he said, "I felt that."
We laughed.
"I want you here no matter what the baby thinks," I said to Edward.
I looked at Sarah.
"Sarah, Aro told me you wanted to discuss last night, is that so?" I asked her.
"Yes," she said, "I noticed when you kiss Aro, he responds to you and kisses you back, he doesn't do that to me with as much passion and I want him to, how can I make that happen?"
"You must force your passion on him, make him respond, do everything you can to give him pleasure and don't hold back; make him cry out," I said.
"Will you show me?" she looked at Edward.
"Edward and I are already aroused," I said.
"Let's show her anyway," Edward said, "I can stand some more passion from you love."
I kissed him and he pretended not to respond, I kissed him intensely but he didn't respond.
"You can do better than that love," he said.
I attacked him everywhere then and he became more passionate with me, I made him cry out and then he kissed me intensely.
"You witch, you sorceress," he said in between kisses.
We made love and had already forgotten Sarah was observing us, it wasn't until we were finished that we became aware of her again.
She laughed, "I think I can do that and I will tonight."
We then got down to the business of choosing furniture and we let Sarah join in; we soon had a list of furniture and toys to stimulate the baby's learning such as carousels, etc. Next we worked on Jenny's room.
"If she loves dance so much, maybe she'd like to take lessons," I wondered, "Maybe we could a ballet practice barre in her room, what do you think?" I asked Edward.
"I love your ideas and yes we'll talk to Esme," Edward said.
We decided on shelves for appropriate books for her age, a desk for her studies with a computer but no TV because we wanted her to be around us when she wasn't studying or sleeping. We decided a TV in our room would be appropriate with a DVD and CD player; we wanted soft music to play when we were making love. We also decided to put a TV in the nursery but it would be high up so the children would need an adult to turn it on, we intended it to be a stimulus to learning and we chose a queen size bed for Jenny because sometimes we would want to lie with her at bedtime if she was sick or needed us to read to her or just talk. We picked out the sheets for her bed, towels for her bathroom etc. All the bedrooms had a bathroom; eventually we were done and Edward called Carlisle.
"Can I take Bella and Sarah for a drive? I promise to keep her in the car, nothing strenuous," he said, then pause…,
"Of course I'll let Aro know and we'll be back when he needs her, he's trying to get as much of his affairs straightened out before Saturday so he won't feel he has to rush back to her, I know exactly what he's thinking…, pause, "Yes ok, thanks Carlisle."
He hung up and immediately called Aro; Aro was apparently relieved and thanked Edward.
"I'll call you when I'm done," Aro told Edward.
We left the castle and enjoyed the rest of the day, that night Sarah was ready for Aro and did exactly what I told her to do, he returned her passion and he needed to call me over in a hurry so he could release.
"Very good Sarah, I think we're ready for our wedding night," he said and sounded relieved, "Thank you Cara, I know you helped."
The rest of the night was pleasant for me as was the previous night but I was nervous knowing I had one more night before the wedding and the 'baby' was kicking very hard.
Carlisle came in the morning with his table with the stirrups, Sarah and I took turns as he placed the chips; suddenly we both felt what the other felt and we hugged each other. Aro took me out to feed after Carlisle had left, then Alice helped me dress and she and Edward then left with Sarah.
"I want you to come with me Cara, I have something to ask of you," Aro said.
He took me up to the tower in the castle where I remembered from the first time I met him; except for the furnishings the room was completely empty, low lights burned and it was peaceful there unlike how it was the last day I was there.
"Will you shudder as you remember, Cara?" he asked.
"No, I won't shudder because I have a better understanding of who you are, I told you I accept you in every way," I said.
"Will you still accept me if I drink human blood in front of you?" he asked.
"So long as you don't force it on me, I'll do what ever you ask of me."
I was however terribly afraid and trying not to show it.
"After we're married Cara, you will see that often I'm so busy, I don't make the community feast, I always ask them to leave me a human to feed on whenever I'm free, after I feed I want desperately to make love to you in this empty room. If I need solitude this is where I come and where you will find me if I call for you. I intend to do this now to ensure you are truly committed to me, you must know every side of me if you are to be my wife," he was firm.
"Yes Aro," I said, I'll try to do as you ask, even if I get sick."
"I won't spill a drop of blood, so if you get sick it will be because you abhor me," he said.
He rang a bell and Vicente came in with a girl who obviously was a prostitute and she needed a fix.
"Let's get this over with," she said and then saw me.
"Who's she?" the woman asked.
She backed away.
"Come to me," Aro said, "This girl won't interfere, she is just here to observe."
Holding on to my hand, he beckoned the woman to him and she came, he held her close, caressing her face and smoothing her hair with his free hand; he looked into her eyes capturing her gaze and her arms went around his neck, she would have kissed him but his mouth instead moved to her neck. One quick snap and she realized he had bit her but she seemed unable to move as the venom started flowing through her body, Aro kept his mouth on her neck and drank her blood as it flowed from her then as the blood was removed from her body she crumpled in his arms and then collapsed on the floor beside us. I was reminded of my deer and pulled my hand from his, kneeling on the floor beside her body, I stroked her face; tears filled my eyes and I grieved for her. Aro watched my reaction and then knelt beside me to kiss me but I pulled away.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I want to make sure there's no blood left in your mouth before I kiss you, I don't want to get sick before our wedding," I said.
He rang the bell again and Vicente came in, he asked for a glass of water and a bowl to spit into.
"Please dispose of this," he pointed to the body.
When Vicente returned with the water and the bowl, he proceeded to rinse out his mouth; he kissed me then and made love to me passionately. My eyes were still full of tears and I still grieved the woman but I responded to his passion and couldn't stop loving him.
"Thank you my darling for understanding my needs, I won't subject you to that any more than I need to, my love, my wonderful Cara," he said.
I didn't respond in words but I gave myself to him and we stayed there a long time making love and the passion flowed between us.
After a while he smiled at me.
"Come, I intend to spend this day with you and we can be passionate elsewhere," he said and rang the bell for Vicente.
Vicente saw me naked for the first time and his eyes were drawn to me.
"Vicente have Alice come and bring a brush, Vicente!" he exclaimed realizing what distracted him, "Cara please replace your gown," he said smiling.
Vicente pulled himself together and then left; Aro pulled me off the floor but continued to mesmerize me and kiss me until Alice arrived. Alice tutted when she arrived, but fixed my hair for the second time, however; I smiled at her apologetically.
"Thank you Alice," I said.
"Would you keep me away from the birth of our child Cara," he asked suddenly.
"No, of course not, I didn't even suggest that; Carlisle thought it best but I accept whatever your needs are," I said.
"Thank you again my love, I promise I will show restraint but Sarah asked me to be the one to end her if she didn't die after the birth of our baby, I did say I would and she trusts me to do that; I also told her I would change her if she decided not to die so I must be there, I owe her that much," he said.
"I owe you so much more Aro," I said, "I will do this for you of course, my love."
He pulled me out of the room; we left the castle and were soon driving, he took me to a very lonely spot by the edge of the sea and we sat nestled together on the rocks watching the surf pounding against the rocks and listening to the gulls singing their songs. We kissed and sometimes made love.
"Do you like this part of me Cara?" he asked.
"There is no part of you I dislike even when you're angry with me," I said.
"I'll probably be angry with you a lot when you're stubborn my love," he said as he kissed me.
"I'll still love you and won't try to change who you are because that's who I love," I said.
"What's the best part of me?" he asked.
"That's easy," and I touched the part nestled inside me.
"That's all you love?" he teased.
"No of course not but it's the best part of you," I said.
He pulled off my gown so I lay on him naked.
"Do you care?" he asked.
"Whatever you want, I'm yours," I answered, "What's the best part of me?"
"Now that's very difficult to answer," he said, "I really can't decide what I like best."
"I think I know what you like best," I said, "You like my boobs best because you want the whole world to see them," we laughed.
"What are we going to name our baby?" I asked.
"Do you have something in mind Cara?"
"Yes," I said, "What's the name of your mother?"
"Carlotta," he said immediately.
"Did you love her?"
"Yes Cara, very much," he answered with a far away look in his eyes.
"Then that will be the name of our baby," I said determinedly.
"But what if it's a boy?" he asked.
"Then of course he will have your name, Aro," I said.
"You honor me again Cara," he said.
"I always want to, my love."
"I have never in my entire life met a girl who is so giving, so honest; I knew the moment I first saw you there was something about you if Edward would rather die than live without you and I felt the same way from that moment. You were in my thoughts, my dreams and even though you were afraid, you touched me and tried to protect Edward; I talked to Marcus later and he felt your energy, Caius felt only contempt for you but he obviously wanted something from you. When I made love to you the first time, you allowed me in without fighting me and now you actually do love me," he said.
"I loved you when I first looked into your eyes and you kissed me, I couldn't stop myself from loving you; it was like falling in love with Edward, it happened immediately."
"If my existence were to end, I think you would genuinely miss me," he said.
"But it won't end," I said smiling.
"I have many enemies Cara and the time will come; I'm expecting it," he said.
"No Aro, you're a wonderful gentle, man and if they would get to know you they would love you as I do."
"If only our existence were so simple, Cara," he said and suddenly he looked tired.
"Don't be depressed on our wedding eve, Aro please make love to me again," I said.
He did again and again as if his life depended on it and my own too.
Dusk crept upon us and he looked at the time on his phone.
"We should return," he said.
"Even though I want to be with Edward, I could stay here with you and ask this day never to end," I said and kissed him.
"It makes me very happy to hear you say that Cara, but this day must end because tomorrow is our big day and I want very much for you to bear my name as well as my child," he said.
"Are you going to continue to sleep with Sarah after tomorrow night?" I asked.
"I doubt if I need to Cara," he answered.
"What if she wants to?"
"I can't continue to show love for her which I don't have, even if she cares for me, she's always been aware of my motivation," he replied.
I suddenly giggled.
"What Isabella?" he asked.
"Carlisle put those computer chips in us today and I wonder if she's feeling as good as I feel," I said.
He laughed, "Maybe," he said.