'Remember diamonds are created under pressure so hold on, it will be your time to shine soon' – Sope Agbelus
~ Rosalie ~
(flashback)
When Rosalie Hale was thirteen, she experienced a catalyst-like event that altered the course of her life and her behaviour – an event, although seemingly small, she now believes that eventually lead her to become the 'Ice Queen'.
Her recently appointed best friend, Natalia, gently tucked a strand of Rosalie's soft blonde hair behind her delicate ear, and her small wrist lingered by her face in a way that had her heart rate skyrocketing to what felt like dangerous levels.
The sun was creeping higher in the summer sky, and the birds sang their sweet songs hidden in the surrounding trees of the famous Central Park. Rosalie and Natalia had found themselves in a rare moment of true privacy, their chaperones believed to be out of sight and the park was delightfully empty at such an early hour. Not even dog walkers could be seen nor heard and the girls loved it.
Natalia was of Chinese decent, born of a high borne immigrant family of new money who'd moved to the States a generation or so ago, and with her gorgeous hazel eyes, delicate freckled face decorated by a soft, uncertain smile – Rosalie was (unknowingly at that point) absolutely smitten by the girl.
A girl who perhaps also felt out of place in a city, a country, that didn't care enough to understand her – not only her Chinese heritage and customs, but her, the girl and woman who she longed to be underneath it all. Natalia was a square peg, and the unforgiving world she lived in, a very round hole indeed.
Comparatively, Rosalie was as popular as you could be, her prestigious last name ensured that she'd never need concern herself of any other alternative. She was beautiful, respectably charitable, rich beyond reason, her blonde hair shone like luxury gold and her violet eyes sparkled in delight whenever she observed the clear jealousy from her peers. And so they sparkled frequently .
Yet, Rosalie was lonely. Her 'friends' would sooner rather stab her in the back if they could get away with it, and her family… well, they held their only daughter to such an unobtainable high standard that it left her constantly trying whatever means to reach it. Even if it meant standing on the backs of others, she would do it, to keep her banker father and relentless social ladder climbing hungry mother at bay. Familial love was an abstract concept to the youngest Hale, at least the blood relative kind.
So, Rosalie was ruthless even at the impressionable young age of three and ten. She was a snake, a viper, and she'd do whatever it took to stay in her families good graces, because the alternative – the black and purple bruises and verbal abuse – were not pleasant. So she was poisonous and she would take no prisoners. She was a Hale , and that meant something in her small, shallow world.
When Natalia's father befriended her own, and she was encouraged by the serious man to make Natalia feel welcomed in their town – Rosalie jumped at the opportunity to impress her stoic father. She could easily lead the scared girl into a false sense of security, packaged under the guise of friendship, at least certainly real enough to please her father. A man with an insatiable hunger for more .
And Natalia's family had money by the boat load – indeed, because they owned several cargo ships and vital successful businesses. Their reputation may lack wealth in their small elite circle but they did have money, and if they couldn't offer status, her father would always settle for more money. She may be young, but she was observant in her silent presence and soft smiles.
What she didn't envisage however, as she continued to see the girl, and giddily relished her fathers praise, (shown in his elaborate gifts and smirks) was that she would develop an actual and genuine attachment to Natalia. It happened so quietly that neither girl were prepared for the unexpected joy the other would entice from their burgeoning relationship.
And as they stood alone in the quiet park, mere months of growing their fondness for one another, Rosalie felt the first stirrings of something sweet and sickly in her stomach. A fluttering almost, and as Natalia smiled up at her, her face impossibly close, her tongue darting out to wet her lips nervously as her beautiful eyes traced Rosalie's own mouth – Rosalie Hale was enthralled.
For what Rose didn't know, given her age and inexperience of the world, was that like called to like. While Rosalie is perceived as an over polished jewel in sea of over polished jewels – how she longed to finally be free to shine. To not have to worry about what dress to wear or what to say at her fathers dinner parties. To have a real hug from her mother, or to freely explore the flutters in her stomach caused by Natalia…
As their lips met tentatively and briefly, so quickly to blink would be slower – Rosalie shone so brightly, and freely, she feared she'd burst into tiny stars. It was so euphoric, she felt like she was floating and her toes silently, sinfully, curled.
But everything that dared to shine could easily be eclipsed in their unforgiving world, even the sun, the most powerful thing in their solar system, and every day, the stars are hidden away. For this was New York, and here, she could be strung up and killed for such a brazen act of debauchery. Her eyes widened briefly as her mind caught up with her wild heart.
"Do not do that ever again, it is perverse" Rosalie angrily whispered with poison as her hands shook in terror. It crippled her to see Natalia's fearful, regretful face crumble, her own light diminished as Rose suddenly flicked her hair over her shoulder, turned around, and briskly walked away from the first girl she cared for other than Genevieve – but this was somehow different, only Rose was a little too young to understand.
Maybe Rosalie and Natalia were square pegs but Rose will be damned if she didn't force herself into the round hole that was her parents world.
Later that week, she overheard Natalia's father speaking to her father over a cigar and she paled at the hushed words.
"I'm sorry friend, I must take my leave. I thank you for your friendship these last months" Natalia's father said, his voice deep and husky.
"Nonsense, you needn't leave, we like you here, you're family is good to this town. Just put your wife in her place, never let a woman tell you what to do!" Her father bellowed with a low laugh.
"My wife is my partner Mr. Hale. If she is not enjoying her life here, it is my duty as her husband to correct that." The man said, his voice stern and Rosalie couldn't help the bitter taste of jealousy as it coated her tongue like smoke and she clung tighter to the banister on the wide, hidden staircase.
"Pfff, what of our girls? They've grown fond of one another" Rosalie held her breath at her fathers blatant desperation.
"Ah, indeed. But I think it's time my dear Natalia makes new friends" the man diplomatically replied, though Rosalie felt she heard sadness in his tone. Rosalie tuned out the gentlemen as her father grew more and more desperate until his guest finally excused himself.
Rosalie didn't register the tears that fell down her face or the bile that climbed her throat as she sat in shock. The door to the office opened and Natalia's father sped from the room, he tipped his hat to the servant that offered him his coat and as he turned he made eye contact with the young Hale.
"Be kind to yourself, Miss Hale" he said quietly, with a small sigh, his wise eyes the same colour as his daughters, before he dipped his head and left.
Rosalie's heart hurt; usually her blatant cruelty didn't affect her, but Natalia's betrayed eyes and clear influence to have her family move – it hurt in her chest. Her lip quivered and, to stop herself from blubbering on the staircase, she ran to her room, and promptly flung herself into her pillows as she cried and cried and cried until sleep beckoned her into its oily arms.
~
~ Present Day ~
Rosalie had kissed many people since that day with Natalia, and never once did her toes curl or her heart-rate skyrocket. Of course, for the most part, her heart could not physically do so. Although her coven members swore that their hearts mimicked the fluttering sensation whenever they shared special moments with their mates.
Rosalie thought that they were damn fools.
Isabella made a small noise in the back of her throat as she tugged Rosalie closer with her deft fingers, forcing Rose back to her present more pleasurable circumstances.
Isabella's strong arm snaked around Rosalie's back and slowly tickled down her back leaving a trail of sensitive skin behind, even though their clothes still separated them.
Rosalie didn't even register the gasp that escaped her lips when Isabella tantalisingly licked and nibbled at her bottom lip, requesting entrance. Or their shared moans as she opened her mouth and their tongues met and began to twine and dance together as though they were made to do so.
Rosalie suddenly felt bolder as she allowed her own hands to wonder from their vice grip atop Isabella's heaving chest. With each inch she explored – the strong shoulders and arms, the slim waist and over her taut, muscular abdomen – Rosalie felt the slick heat gathering between her legs increase.
Her hot centre throbbed as Isabella's own hands found purchase atop Rosalie's ass and Isabella growled as she squeezed the firm flesh and the surprise of the primal noise had Rose moaning into Isabella's hungry mouth.
When Rosalie pulled away, Isabella chased her swollen lips with her eyes closed and the hands on her ass tried to pull the retreating body back to her. It surprisingly thrilled Rosalie to see the evidence of what one kiss did to the woman, her chest heaved as she sucked in and exhaled breath after breath, her lips were swollen and pink and her skin had a flush to it that made her look so god damn alive . Rosalie thrilled at the sight, and the vampire in her raged at her to take more.
As Isabella's beautiful brown eyes finally fluttered open, her confused gaze met Rosalie's significantly darker molten orbs. Isabella adopted a self satisfied grin as she gently took Rosalie's hand and twined their fingers together. The unexpected sweet act had Rosalie moving before she even realised it.
She couldn't help but smirk as she moved closer and quickly latched onto Isabella's neck with a bruising kiss, the slight suction had Isabella groan so loudly that Rosalie felt the vibration against her lips and it shot a wave of pleasure throughout her whole body right down to her curled toes.
" Fuck" Isabella cursed and Rosalie's smirk widened as she felt Isabella's fingers tug her closer and slide down to return to her round ass. Rosalie revelled in the sheer elation as Isabella's need grew so exponentially that she felt herself being lead backwards towards her cabin that they'd forgotten.
She kissed and sucked on her inviting neck and her gums ached with her refusal to let her fangs drop, her vampire hummed with anticipation. Would she finally crack with this unbearable pleasure, the need to puncture Isabella's neck was almost too much to bear. Would she finally taste human blood? She wondered worriedly (admittedly, also rather giddily).
Isabella hummed seductively, either stupidly unaware of the apex predator currently latched onto her neck, or was she simply ignoring the instincts that should be shouting at her to run? Rosalie, for once, didn't care.
"I need your, ohh fuck Rose" Isabella gasped as Rosalie licked up her no doubt bruised throat.
"What was that?" She asked with a grin.
"I said I, mmmm" Isabella groaned as Rosalie licked and sucked at her earlobe.
"I didn't catch that…" Rose husked into her ear and delighted in the feeling of Isabella's body as it shivered against her.
"I need your lips" Isabella said with conviction, and Rosalie was helpless to stop the girl as she pivoted their bodies and promptly roughly pushed her against a wooden column at the base of the steps that'd take her to her front door.
Rosalie didn't have time to think as Isabella's soft lips were suddenly pressed against her own. Hard. Their bodies aligned together like missing puzzle pieces, magnets that searched for one another. Rosalie didn't dare overthink the swirling emotions that were desperate to overwhelm her, instead, she allowed herself the thrill and unexpected joy of being pressed so wonderfully against this beautiful stranger.
"Oh stars Rose, you're so," Isabella nibbled Rosalie's bottom lip, her pools of dark chocolate eyes bore into Rosalie's body, and she whimpered as Isabella kissed at her throat, "fucking beautiful" she whispered against her lips. Rosalie smiled unabashedly as Isabella's fingers slid down her hard body and rested at her hips. Rose knew she was beautiful, but having Isabella say this, with her hooded eyes and swollen lips – it did filthy, unspeakable things to her mind and body.
Isabella pulled away and as they stared at one another, lips thoroughly kissed, necks damp with their wet kisses, chests heaving and eyes blazing with need. Rosalie swallowed the gathering emotion in her throat as Isabella slowly tucked a loose strand of blond hair behind her ear and her hand lingered for a few seconds, enough for Rosalie to greedily take in her scent and commit it to her memory.
She was frozen in her spot, resting contentedly against the wooden beam. Isabella smiled softly until she placed both of her hands against Rosalie's face and achingly sweetly, kissed her with everything she had.
"Inside, now" Isabella commanded after what felt like years but it must've been a few minutes. She eagerly lead their joined bodies towards the stairs, and usually, Rosalie would glare and argue at such a demand – but instead, she nodded as she was lead backwards and up the stairs all the while, Isabella kissed her fucking senseless.
Rosalie hadn't noticed how her toes had curled several times during their impossibly slow ascent to her door, slightly tripping up a couple of stairs nor during the tantalising time leading up to the moment her hand found the cold door handle.
She turned her body to unlock the door and smiled as Isabella wrapped her arms around her body and hungrily kissed down her neck, her warm body pressed into Rosalie's back.
She was so distracted as she opened the door that she missed Isabella greedily breathing in her scent at her scent glands below her ears. If she had noticed, she'd have thought it an odd thing for a human to do.
Instead, she swiftly turned and pulled the brunette into her sanctuary and carelessly began unbuttoning the woman's tattered shirt.
Her inner vampire thrilled at the husky smell of Isabella's arousal and the sight of her desire filled eyes as she continued to kiss up and down Rosalie's neck, to her collarbone with renewed vigour.
"Where is your room?" Isabella mumbled against her neck, her eyes darting around the open plan space, and Rosalie breathily laughed and rolled her eyes.
"It's up those stairs, it's a loft set up – I like the view" Rosalie shrugged nervously as Isabella tore her mouth from her ministrations and her eyes searched for the strong ladder that lead to Rosalie's huge luxury bedroom. Her brown almost green eyes greedily drank in Rosalie's body like she was the last river in the desert. Rose shivered.
"I think I'll like the view too…" Isabella half- smirked and she licked her lips. Rosalie's answering smirk and eye-roll had Isabella gripping her by her clothes and she gasped at the desire that shot through at the dominating action and happily allowed herself to be lead towards the stairs.
And if asked, Rosalie would deny it with everything she had, but she knew the truth. She knew, that in the short time kissing and teasing Isabella, a complete stranger, Rosalie Hale had never shone brighter.