Alice… Ready and Willing

I shifted my weight, again, so that I was nestled in Bella's arms. Automatically she pulled me closer and kissed me, a few soft pecks on my lips. My hand drifted down to her hip and I traced her soft skin slowly. She exhaled lightly when I reached the curve of her backside. I never wanted to stop touching her.

What we had just experienced had been everything Zafrina told me to expect. She'd told me that once I was able to really be with my Match- once Bella and I were finally able to make love to each other- it would be the single best experience of my life. She said that I would never be able to leave Bella again; my love for her would only multiply, that I would yearn for her touch every minute of every day, that I would do anything and everything to make her happy. Making Bella come and having Bella make me come had changed everything. Zafrina was right.

At one point I had been mildly curious about what drinking the Amah really felt like, but now I truly had no desire to find out. I would never grow tired of the way Bella could make me feel, all on her own. I did not realize until I heard the way she sighed my name as her climax consumed her, just how much I loved her. I was hers now, body and soul. Every inch of me belonged to Bella.

After a moment, I bothered to look around. It was hard to take my eyes off of her body, but I could tell Fire had been here under the Queen's orders. He often did her biding. He did belong to Diana and my mother, which I could explain to Bella now that she was better informed, but mother and Diana and Tanya typically only used him for one thing. The rest of the time he was under the Queen's control. My sleep torch was lit and there were trays of food on a golden cart from the Palace.

I think Bella could have sustained me forever, but I was famished and knew she had to be at least a little bit hungry. I looked up the fraction of an inch to meet her eyes, her perfect, gorgeous brown eyes, those mahogany pools I simply wanted to drown in. My small movement encouraged her to look back at me.

"Are you hungry, Angel?" I knew that was a monicker Zafrina and Kate had applied to me, but now it just seemed fitting for Bella. She was my Angel now, heaven sent to make me whole.

"Yeah, I am," she replied. She didn't seem to mind the nickname.

As hard as it was to move, I slid to my feet and pushed the serving trays over to the side of the bed. Bella sat up, crossing her legs under her body and pulled the sheet around her, covering her breasts. I could have gazed at her beautiful, naked body all day, but she still looked so amazing. Her tousled hair shimmered a little in the torch light. Her lips look so soft and worn, all the more eager to be kissed. And Bella, she looked happy. I smiled at her and a little to myself as I unfolded the cloth that accompanied the food.

"These are stain proof, I suppose you would say,?" I told her spreading it on the bed in front of her.

"Oh," she said with a little smile. She looked so happy. It made my heart flutter.

I uncovered the trays and turned to her.

"I'll just have whatever," she said lightly.

I grabbed a bowl of fruit and handed it to her and then sat down with a small platter of bread and cheese. Looking under the trays I saw that the Queen had sent over some water for Bella and I and a pint of the Amah. I wondered for a moment if it would interest Bella this time around.

"Uh- the Queen sent over some of the Amah. Would you like to try it now?" I asked, trying not to sound too hesitant. I didn't want my feelings to influence her decision.

"Do you want to?" she asked. Maybe I wasn't as convincing as I had hoped. I bit my lip, not wanting to lie. "Cause I don't, really. Maybe later."

"Okay," I said smiling. I poured us each a small cup of water and handed one to Bella. I found it nearly impossible to keep from watching her lips while she ate. It took every part of my self-control to concentrate on my own food.

After a few moments, a few long agonizing moments, my eyes met Bella's. She giggled a little, chewing on a grape.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I wanna do that again," Bella said with a smirk, her skin flushing a delicious pink. So was utterly beautiful. I leaned forward over the food and kissed her softly on the lips.

"We can do that as much as you like, as often as you like," I told her.

"Good," she replied, scrunching her nose in the most adorable way.

We sat for a few minutes more, eating slowly. I truly had no idea what to say. There were many things running through my mind. I wanted to touch her. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted wrap my arms around her and run my fingers through her hair. I wanted make love to her over and over again. And I wanted to tell her how I really felt. I wished I'd had the courage inside of me. I had done so much to keep Bella, but I didn't know if I was ready to tell her what I was thinking. I was too afraid to come out and say the words I love you.

I kept my eyes on my hands, fiddling with a small bit of an apple.

"Alice, I wanted to ask you something," she said sweetly.

With the sound of her voice, she immediately had my attention. "Of course. Please ask," I replied.

"Why did you cause the storm? I mean I'm glad you did, especially now," she smiled, looking at me through her lashes. "But what made you do it, then?"

I knew I would have to explain this to her at some point. I took a deep breath.

"Your birthday is in two days time and Diana had planned for her week stay to coincide with that day. She had planned to come to your house on your birthday and simply tell you everything." I gave her a moment. Her smile had faded and her eyes grew wider. Her hand was still, a piece of bread dangling from her fingers. I swallowed, ready to continue. I had to explain it all now, get it all out there, but I hated what this new knowledge of her mother and her father was doing to her.

"From what I did know about you, I knew you would not be pleased with Diana arriving at your door. I know- I know it was selfish of me, but I wanted you to like it here. I wanted to meet you and I knew if Diana did it her way, there would no chance of her convincing you to follow her back."

"You're right," she looked down, her eyes growing dark. I quickly, but carefully, moved the trays back on to the cart and the cloth out of the way. Then I slid closer to her. My hand automatically went to the side of her neck and gently tried to soothe her there. She looked up at me then.

"I thought if I could get you here for at least a few days before Diana was allowed to return you would get a chance to see for yourself what she was offering. She found out you were brought here early and she asked the queen to grant her permission to return. The Queen agreed, but added two days to the next calendar."

Bella thought for a long minute then mumbled under her breath, "I wished the Queen would never let her come back." I wished I had some words of comfort of Bella. Diana had sacrificed much for her, but she had also hurt my mother deeply with her initial decision to leave. I know Diana was serving a great purpose on Earth, but now with my Mother's heartache only compounded by the tears I saw threatening to fall from Bella's eyes, it was hard to feel anything for the Princess.

"And Bella, it was not her who rescued you from the storm." Maybe I shouldn't have told her, but she had the right to know.

"What?" she was angry now.

"Another one of the Amazons, Kebi, did. The queen sent her when she found out what I had done."

"Did you get in trouble with the Queen or Diana?" she asked, her tone suddenly flooding with concern - for me. My heart tightened in my chest. She really did care for me.

"No. Mother spoke to them on my behalf. She made them understand - at least that part. She knew how badly I wanted to be with you. She knew how I would feel about you once we met," I told her.

"Alice, I - ah," I gazed at her carefully. "It's nothing. I just wish we didn't have to meet that way. I wish it could have been easier, for both of us."

"I know, Bella. But I am so happy to have you here, with me now."

"I am not going anywhere," she promised. My love for her boiled in my stomach, blocking my throat. I swallowed, forcing it back down, giving myself a chance to think, a chance to process what I really wanted. But I already knew what that was. In this moment and every moment since I'd met her, I'd wanted Bella and nothing else.

I pulled the sheet down, exposing her breasts. I ached to touch her perfect pink nipples. She swallowed a little, then started to move towards me. In a catlike motion, she smoothly brought herself up on all fours, her hands on either side of my thighs, our lips inches apart.

"I think I want you to show me more of what you know, but go slow. Okay?" she purred. My heart took off at the idea of Bella wanting me to please her more. I nodded, then slowly brought my right hand up to her breast. Our eyes held as she let me gently tease her nipple with my fingertips. She inhaled a quick breath through her nose then licked her luscious pink lips.

"I want to kiss you," she confessed. Her eyes drifted down to my lips then back up to meet my gaze. My fingers were still occupied, rubbing her breasts as gently as possible. I wondered if she could tell just how much I loved her, just how much control I was exercising.

"Bella, Angel. I'm yours...forever. You can kiss me whenever you want. And I think you should know that I want to kiss you too." I confessed, right back.

Her lips turned up into a positively seductive smirk "Well why aren't we kissing then?" she asked. My fingers were still caressing her nipple.

"I have no Earthly idea," I giggled. I leaned forward closing the gap between us, but the moment our lips met, Bella's hand came up to my shoulder and she lightly began pushing me back. Part of me thought she wanted me to be in control, but I thought too that she was testing herself, testing the limit of what she felt comfortable enough to do.

I watched Bella, gazing at her hands and her lips, wondering what she intended to do. I lay back, propping myself on my elbows. Bella slowly and light trailed her fingers down the side of my thigh. Gently she slid my legs to the center of the bed, straddling my thighs.

"Who taught you how to touch me like that?" she asked quietly.

"Zafrina and Kate. Is that okay?" I asked nervously. I didn't know what conclusions she would draw from my answer.

"Mhmm," she nodded then looked back down, gazing at my body. I exhaled, relieved.

Then, I was patient. I wanted her to touch me everywhere, with her hands, with her lips, but I had to let Bella set her own pace. I knew I would draw much pleasure from her no matter how she touched me, and whenever she wanted me to I would please her right back.

After a few moments Bella's eyes settled on my breast. I couldn't help the way my hips squirmed a little on the bed, my thighs rubbing together. Bella's lustful for gaze was making me so wet. I was aching for her to touch me, anywhere.

She lifted her left hand slowly and ran her fingers tips over my breast. I swallowed, straining to keep my eyes open. Her touch was perfect, soft yet delibrate. She was purposefully taking it slow. Our eyes met and I could tell she was enjoying teasing me.

My pussy was throbbing, growing wetter and wetter.

She inched a bit forward, bringing her face closer to mine. We both watched my nipple as it began to swell even more under her fingertips. Bella dipped her head forward then and slowly ran the side of her tongue around my nipple. I couldn't control it. My head fell back between my shoulders as soft whimpers escaped my lips. It felt so amazing. I never wanted her to stop.

My eyes closed and let myself bask in the sensation. Bella brought her other hand up to my right nipple and began stroking it gently. All the while her tongue still proceeded slowly drawing lazy, excruciating circles around the other. Her pace didn't change nor did the sensation, but the anticipation did. It pulled at my insides, dragging my hips upwards to Bella's sweet core. I moaned, annoyed and aroused, when our bodies did not make contact the way I wanted them to.

Something told me to open eyes and when I did Bella was gazing at me, my nipple still secure between her lips. Her brown eyes held me for a moment before she spoke. "Baby, lay back," she purred at me. My stomach did a backflip. Her words, that one simple word, Baby, my heart sputter and my pussy twitch violently. She owned me. Completely.

I lay back, resting my head in the sheets as Bella climbed further up my body. She swallowed for a moment, a hint of nervous in her expression, but after a moment it disappeared. She'd made some sort of decision.

Her lips went back to my left nipple then and I sighed and moaned uncontrollably. Feeling my hips thrust up again, Bella gently used her knee to part my legs. I welcomed it, eagerly. The soft part of her leg just above her knee and the wider expanse of her thigh pressed up against me with just the right amount of pressure.

She proceeded to slowly move her leg up and down my body, spreading my wetness around. The movement across my lips was driving me insane, my arousal consuming me.

"More," I panted, my eyes unable to open.

She slid down my body a little further, pressing her wet core into the identical spot on my body. Our legs intertwined created the perfect amount of pressure, the perfect kind of friction. I wanted to move but before I did, Bella began moving her hips in a deep forceful rhythm. I moaned again, wrapping my arms around her back, pulling her closer.

Bella rocked into me with quick, rough thrusts, much harder than a few hours before, but I loved the sensations. I loved the harsh moans it was forcing out of me.

"Come, Baby. Please." Bella begged, panting against my lips. How could I not give her what she wanted? I shifted my hips a fraction of an inch and arched into her next few thrusts willingly. The slight change caused my thigh to rock into her pussy even harder, sending us both spinning, whimpering each others names. I came harder than I thought possible, coating myself and Bella with every drop of my wetness and me with hers.

I held on to her, kissing her perfect lips as she slowed her pace, our clits still gently brushing against each others bodies.

Sooner than I would have hoped, Bella broke the kiss and slid down my body a little. She nestled both of her legs gently between mine.

"I'm sorry," Bella panted against my chest. "I got carried away."

"Please don't apologize. Please feel free to get carried away as much and as often as you like."

"I think I just might," she laughed a little. I loved this new and different side of her. She was still figuring herself out- what her role was here and she still wasn't one hundred percent sure what to do with me, but she was trying. I felt the self-effacing air about her start to dwindle. She didn't seem so hesitant or nervous anymore. She took control and I loved it. I loved her, even more.

I wanted her to make love to me again, but it was really late, or early and I had a feeling the next day would be filled with more challenges for us. We still had to deal with all that Bella's decision to stay meant and we still had to deal with Diana.

I moved a bit and she followed my lead back under the sheets. They weren't necessary for warmth, but I think she was accustomed to being covered. I could see no problem with that, as long as we were in each other arms, here, together.

Bella turned again to face the wall. I didn't mind that either. I wanted her to be comfortable. I wanted her to get a peaceful night's sleep, or at least what was left of the night. I wrapped my arm around her stomach, pressing my breasts into her. She scooted back as far as she could, pressing herself into the curve of my lap. I knew she could feel the wetness against her backside.

I knew the morning would come. We would wake and there would be things I had to do. But I didn't care for any of those things, any of those necessary tasks. I wanted to lay like this, play like this with Bella, my perfect Angel, forever.

The sound of Luna's voice woke me early in the morning.

"Alice," she whispered.

I opened my eyes and smiled to myself a little. Bella and I had switched places in the night. Her soft arms were wrapped tightly around my waist and her cheek was gently nestled into my neck.

"Hi Luna," I whispered back. I didn't want to wake Bella unnecessarily. "What is it?"

"The Queen wants to see Bella."

I sighed heavily. Our little peace of heaven interrupted again by royal formalities. I turned my head a little and Bella readjusted sliding back a little. "Bella, Angel. Wake up."

She sighed, smiling. "Do I have to?"

"Bella, the Queen needs to speak to you," Luna repeated.

Bella's eyes flew open and she stared at Luna. "I can understand you."

I kissed her on the forehead. "I told you once you decided to stay, you would be able to hear all of the animals."

"Right," she said slightly confused. Her eyes slid from Luna to me. My teeth grazed the inside of my lip as she gazed at me hungrily. I felt a whole new knot tie in my stomach. I considered asking Luna to leave.

"Luna, tell the Queen we'll be right up," Bella said softly. She titled her head up then and kissed me deeply. A soft whimper escaped from my chest. I couldn't help it. Kissing her was so wonderful. I could have spent all day in bed with her doing just that.

After a moment of us being extremely rude, Luna spoke again. "Uh - Bella. The Queen would like to speak to you alone."

"Yeah, that's not going to work," she said against my lips and went right back to kissing me. I giggled as she lightly tickled my side.

"Bella, she was very insistent that you come alone."

Bella broke the kiss then, her face flushing red. "Luna. Alice is gonna come with me. I promise I will tell the Queen I am the one disobeying her orders, not you." She kept her voice calm, but she was still rather angry.

"Luna, do not worry please. I will have Mother speak to her if she grows truly upset." I assured her.

"Okay," Luna said. She trusted me. Even though the Queen was not known for her even temper, I would never let any harm come to her. A moment later Luna flew out the window, giving Bella and I few more minutes of privacy.

"We should prepare to leave. If the Queen is kept waiting too long, she'll send Cru and then Mika."

"Who is Mika?" Bella sighed, sitting up.

"Her eagle." I couldn't contain my giggle. I had only seen Mika a few times, but she was a full grown bald eagle, ridiculous to use as a messenger bird. She couldn't even fit through some of the smaller archways.

Bella stared at me, then huffed a small laugh. "Figures."

We took our time getting dressed. Not because Bella was annoyed with the Queen and Diana, but because I couldn't stop touching her - in ways that would not facilitate a speedy departure. And Bella couldn't seem to stop kissing me. I tried to help her into her robe, but her lips kept finding mine, stilling my hands at her waist or over her breast or as they brushed past her shoulders.

"Maybe I should put on my own sandals," she whispered against my cheek.

"I agree," I said. A small squeal boiled over as Bella pinched me gently before going to grab our shoes. Once they were tied we started walking to the palace, fingers intertwined.

Bella was quiet again, letting me lead the way. I wanted to ask her what she was thinking, but I knew she might want this time to have her thoughts. If Bella cared for me the way I thought she did, she'd open up when she was ready.

Finally we reached the main archway. Bella stopped and pulled me a little bit closer. I swallowed the nervous ball of energy rising in my chest. Her eyes were clouded with worry.

"I love you," she said, then pursed her lips cautiously waiting for my reply. My heart should have taken off running. I'd waited 19 years to hear those words, but the furrowing of her brow was saying too much. She was upset and afraid.

"Bella, I love you too." My free hand stroked her cheek.

"I just know that every time I talk to the Queen or Diana its going to be bad news or some shit I don't want to deal with." I was little shocked to hear her swear. Not that it bothered me but it simply further highlighted how upset she was and that did bother me.

"No matter what happens today, I just wanted you to know that. I know it's only been a couple days, but you've changed my life completely and I love you." The tears brimming her eyes forced mine to the surface. I grabbed her then, wrapping my arms around her as tight as I could. She hugged me back with just as much force. I never wanted to let her go.

"I love you too," I whispered. "So much."

She released me after a moment and I placed my hands on her face scanning her eyes, looking for a sign that she was ready to face the Queen again. She gazed back and after a brief moment nodded. My hands dropped back down to hers and our fingers intertwined again.

I led Bella to the Queen's main receiving room. Mother was there with Diana and the Queen. She smiled slightly at Bella and me, a smile she gave me when she wanted me to be brave. I inhaled deeply and squeezed Bella's hand.

"You wanted to see me?" Bella asked.

"Yes Bella. Good Morning. Good Morning Alice. I trust you slept well." the Queen replied.

"Good Morning and yes we did," I answered politely.

"And I trust you saw the food that was sent to you."

"Yes, thank you." Bella replied. Her tone was quick and impatient. The Queen chose to ignore it.

"Well since you brought Alice with you, I will tell you both. Bella you are to return to your father today to say your goodbyes. Diana will take you" I felt Bella stiffen beside me. "And when you return I have arranged for you and Alice to move to your quarters here."

"Why? What's wrong with Alice's room?" Bella asked.

"Her quarters are designed to accommodate one person, not two. But if you would rather reside away from the palace I will arrange that instead." She paused for a brief moment, glaring at Bella. No one had ever talked to the Queen like this before, but Bella was her granddaughter and Bella had every right to be angry. "When you return you and Alice will be bound and Zafrina will begin your instruction."

I leaned over quickly pressing my lips to her ear. "Being bound to your Match is similar to being married. We'll have our wedding when you return."

"Oh," she said to me with a slight nod, before addressing the Queen, but mostly Diana this time. "Alice isn't coming with me to see Charlie? Don't you think he would like to meet her?"

"Bella, Alice can't go to the mortal realm," Diana replied.

"Why? You all made an exception for Kebi or whatever her name is. She came and got me, right? Well this is sort of a big deal, you know with me leaving Earth forever and all. My father might want to meet her." Bella was seething, gripping me tightly. I didn't want to anger the Queen anymore than I already had, but I would journey with Bella to see her father, if she wanted me to. I would go anywhere for her. I squeezed her hand, again.

Diana and the Queen looked at each other for a moment, engaging in silent conversation. Bella pulled our fingers still intertwined, behind her back, pulling me closer still.

Finally Bella spoke again, breaking the intense silence. "I'm not going anywhere with you unless Alice comes with me."

She glared directly at Diana.