DISCLAIMER: The characters do not belong to us, although we would love to have Edward. They all belong to Stephenie Meyer, but we are willing to purchase them if she ever decides to sell.
Author's Note: This chapter includes one more lemon and it is setting the groundwork for the events to come. This story as a whole will definitely take Edward and Bella to places that you may not have expected. While we plan to stay true to the characters, we will not be following every rule and outline setup by Stephenie Meyer. Just trust us and we promise you an exhilarating ride. Enjoy!
Bella and I spent the rest of the morning and afternoon in my room. We talked for hours it seemed, discussing the places I had been during my time away from her and all the things I had seen. She couldn't remember much of what she had gone through; she could only say that trying to think about it made her feel empty. That was okay, though. I had seen enough from Alice's mind to know quite a bit of what had happened.
My wonderful, angelic, danger-magnet had become friends with young, volatile werewolves. One of those mongrels had even fallen in love with my Bella; so much for my love having a normal human life. And now I had taken that life. I had been so certain I would be incapacitated with the guilt of such a selfish act, but, in all honesty, I only felt relief. She was my equal, she was safe, and she was mine in every, single way.
As I laid out my soul to Bella, I made sure she understood that I was lost for so long without her; that no place felt like home. I explained to her that even if I hadn't received that call from Rosalie, I would be with her now. Having barely been able to hold onto my notions of safety, I had already been on my way back. There was no way that the world held any meaning for me without her.
It was strange to me that in all my time as a vampire, I had never felt a sense of urgency about anything. Never had I felt that time even mattered. Then Bella had come into my world, turning it upside down, making everything right. Now we were together in a way that would assure that neither one of us had to be alone. And that assurance was one of the greatest benefits of Bella's change since just walking across the room to change out a CD was torture to me; as soon as I was no longer touching her, I felt her loss to such a strong degree. And I could tell she felt the same by the way she followed me around the room.
"Edward, I think I should take a shower," Bella sighed, touching her knotted hair.
I chuckled at the way her nose scrunched up. I took a hold of her and pulled her into my lap. "You are welcome to take a shower, love, but I would like to point out that I find you absolutely mouth-watering just as you are."
She giggled, hiding her face against my neck. "You can't possibly mean that."
"I do mean that," I assured her, kissing the top of her head. "But a shower is probably a good idea. If nothing else, it will keep you occupied while I hunt."
She pulled her head back, tracing the purple skin under my eyes. "You do look a bit hungry."
I growled low in my chest, getting her to giggle again. "I'm not sure what I'm most hungry for, love."
"Edward," she sighed, her smile still filling up her face.
I chuckled, kissing her cheek. "You shower, and I will return with dinner." I had gone out twice before, each time getting her something different to see if she preferred one over another. So far, she had fed on rabbit and deer, and seemed to like the deer more.
"You are too good to me," Bella said, pressing her hands against my cheeks.
"Impossible," I whispered, kissing right above her beautiful, newborn eyes. I stood up, pulling her with me. "Enjoy your shower."
"Enjoy your hunt," she chuckled, turning toward the bathroom.
Her perfect hips swayed with each step, entrancing me and forcing me to forget what I was supposed to be doing. I noticed she had stopped walking, but only because of the way she was giggling.
"Edward, go hunt," she laughed.
"Right. Hunting," I said, forcing my head to turn toward the door.
She laughed again as the bathroom door clicked shut.
I shook my head, trying to clear out the thoughts about my goddess. I made my way downstairs, stopping only to bring Carlisle's old hunting flask with me. I knew it would make bringing Bella's meal back all the easier.
It was overcast and there was a thin layer of fog looming through the trees. The afternoon was quiet and for the first time in a long while, I felt I could relax. As I made my way through the woods, I decided to have a little fun with this hunt.
My senses were so heightened that I felt like I could hear the tiniest noise in the trees. Listening closely, I picked up on the sound of a creature grazing. I stopped where I was, sniffing the air to determine which type of animal it was. It was a stag, and as I ran toward it, it began to run in another direction, more than likely trying to avoid me, as if that was possible.
I lived for this—I was a hunter and this animal was my prey. Picking up the pace, I leapt through the air, crashing down with my full weight on the stag and breaking its neck simultaneously. I fed until I had my fill, and realizing that this kill was large enough to feed Bella as well, I reached for the flask and filled it to the top.
As I disposed of the carcass, I listened attentively to make certain I was still alone. Giving myself over so completely to my instincts, I sometimes tuned out the rest of the world. In all the time we had lived here, we had rarely had visitors, but with Bella being so vulnerable in her newborn status, I wanted to take all the necessary precautions.
I began running back home, satisfied that it was safe to do so. I had gone no more than a few strides when I heard it. It started off as just the smallest whisper, but then increased in volume. I could sense no one nearby; I had to get home to Bella to make sure she was safe.
I picked up the pace, worried for my Bella, and then abruptly stopped when I heard my name. It had been said so clearly that the source had to be a few feet away from me. I reached the front of the house and I could now hear humming in my head. I opened the door, thinking maybe my family had made it home. But that wasn't right—I would know that if it were them. I would feel that.
Once I was inside, I knew instantly that only Bella was in the house. Her scent wasn't as strong as it had been before, but it was still uniquely hers. We were still alone, yet the voice was still resonating clearly in my head. I was completely baffled for the first time and didn't know what to make of the situation.
I focused intently on that "voice", finding it to be both strange and familiar. What was going on? Not having the answers was filling me with worry. Needing to be near Bella again, I sprinted up the stairs and opened my bedroom door. She was just coming out of the bathroom, and the sight of her safe and sound instantly calmed me. I sighed softly, unable to speak momentarily. Bella was audibly humming the exact same song I had heard in my head only moments before. It was her! How could that be? I had never been able to hear her thoughts before.
Bella's smile disappeared the moment she looked over at my face. "Edward, what's wrong?" she asked, taking a step toward me.
I was still in shock, standing in the open doorway.
"Please, please say something!" her thoughts begged.
"That!" I blurted out, pointing.
She looked around the room, trying to discover what I was pointing at. "Edward, please. You're scaring me for the first time ever," she sobbed, her confusion increasing.
I gave her my crooked smile as I strode toward her. She wore only a single article of clothing—one of my old tee shirts. It covered her just to her mid-thigh, showing off those long, beautiful legs of hers. I couldn't help but wrap my arms around her waist, holding her close. Without saying a word, I kissed her full on, devouring her soft lips with mine.
"God! How does he do that? Even as a vampire, I am no match for that smile of his." Her thoughts were clear as a bell now.
"I should say the same for you, Bella," I replied in my head, still kissing her. I wanted to know if she could hear me as well.
When she abruptly stopped and snapped her head back, I knew she had heard me. "Did you say something, Edward?" she asked, startled.
"No, love," I teased, grinning at her. "But I did think something and I believe you heard it."
"Don't be ridiculous, Edward! How could I hear you? I'm not telepathic for heaven's sake!" she said incredulously.
"Oh, my sweet, absurd Bella. You're a vampire now, love. There are bound to be certain changes in you," I said out loud. "I believe this is just one of the many discoveries we are in for," I added in my thoughts, smiling to myself.
Bella's wide eyes caused me to chuckle as I walked her back toward the sofa, handing her the flask, indicating it was time for her to eat.
"Edward, I heard you! Your lips didn't move, but I heard you!" she sobbed, sitting down on the sofa. Her brows furrowed together as she took in this new discovery.
"Drink, love. Then we will talk more about this," I encouraged, removing the top from the flask.
As soon as the aroma crashed into her, her nostrils flared and her red eyes darkened. She lifted the flask to her lips and hungrily consumed the thick, red liquid. Drinking was much easier for her now, and I knew she would soon be ready to hunt for herself.
I sat next to her, resting my arm against the couch, right behind her shoulders. I waited patiently for her to finish, watching as she took in the last sip of her meal and licked her lips, looking up at me.
I smiled reassuringly at her. "Bella, are you alright?"
"I think so. I'm just…This is just…unexpected," she replied, closing the flask and setting it between us.
"It's perfectly natural for you to have some sort of gift, Bella. You were so unique as a human and I have always expected that you would be unique as a vampire."
"Really?" she asked, smiling up at me.
"Really," I assured her, leaning forward to give her a kiss. Before my lips even reached hers, she shot up and ran out of the bedroom. I could hear her giggling as she ran downstairs.
"Up for a game of hide and seek, Edward?" she called out, still giggling. Her new voice was sultry and sexy, causing me to shiver just from the sound of it. "I think I should test out my new abilities, don't you?" Bella teased with her thoughts. Even the voice in her mind was sexy and stunning.
"Should I count to ten, or just try and find you?" I thought, smiling at her playfulness as I waited to see if she had heard me.
Her soft giggle confirmed that she had definitely picked up my thought. Making my way out of the room, I realized the house was now completely dark.
"Just come and get me, baby," she giggled. This was, of course, too easy since I could pick up her scent without any difficulty, but I was rather enjoying her new, flirtatious side.
"Hmm, where, oh where, could my Bella be?" I asked. Her scent had already given her away, pinpointing her location as the living room. I played along, peeking into a few rooms to allow her to think I was unaware of her location. Her sweet scent swirled around me, growing thicker as I walked into the living room and headed for the couch.
I smiled wide as I walked around the large piece of furniture, knowing I would soon have her back in my arms. I suddenly paused, realizing she wasn't there—the only sign of my Bella was my shirt.
"That minx!" I thought. She was attempting to seduce me again; and succeeding quite well. "Oh, Bella! I think I found something that belongs to you!" I thought, hoping she could hear the smile in my mind.
"I have more of your belongings with me, Edward. But you have to find me first," she replied seductively in my head.
I picked up the shirt, holding it to my nose, and took in her sweet bouquet. She was making me mad with desire—that, of course, was her point, but I was shocked at how quickly she had changed from my shy, sweet Bella into this confident, sexy woman. Not that I minded a single bit.
It puzzled me, and filled me with pride, that she so easily threw me off her scent. Bella's capabilities so soon after her change were truly astounding. Carlisle would certainly be intrigued by this.
I closed my eyes, focusing on my surroundings. I heard the slightest movement of the heavy drapes in the music room. "Gotcha!" I thought.
I moved stealthily from the living room and slipped into the music room without a sound, noticing the entire room was cast in the soft glow of the moonlight streaming in from the large windows.
"Hi, handsome," Bella whispered aloud from behind my piano.
I circled her, growling playfully, keeping the sound low in my chest. She was completely nude, her hair covering just enough of her beautiful breasts to leave something to the imagination. Not that my dreams could ever equal the reality of her beauty. Her pale skin was bathed in the moonlight, making her absolutely ethereal. Her eyes were still that newborn red, but in this light there was a depth to them; one that only comes with control. My Bella was no run of the mill newborn, that was for sure. And she was completely unaware of how rare this was. I was not about to fill her in just yet—I was enjoying this too much.
"Hello, love," I cooed, making my voice sound smooth and velvety, just the way she liked. "You are quite the trickster, throwing me off with that shirt in the living room."
"You know, you had just missed me," she replied smiling, her fingers toying with a strand of her silky hair.
"I believe you mentioned having something else that belongs to me," I teased, giving her my crooked grin as I made my way around the far side of the room.
Bella remained motionless, smiling and completely breathtaking, as I circled around behind her, taking in the vision before me. This was a woman—no longer a girl, no longer clumsy, no longer even human. This was a goddess and she was all mine.
"You are looking at it, mister," she said, biting her lip softly. "I am yours…Forever, Edward."
It took the last of my dwindling self-control to keep from rushing her and devouring her instantly. I didn't want to frighten her with the depth of my desire for every inch of her. But there was definitely too much space between us.
I closed in on her in three long strides, grabbing her waist and pulling her to me. She gasped as I gripped the back of her neck, bringing her soft, little mouth closer to mine. Her eyes transfixed me, keeping my gaze locked with hers for a long, intense moment. I finally tore my eyes away from hers and kissed her hard, exploring her mouth with my tongue, wanting her to know this was only a preview of what was to come.
Her arms were around my neck instantly, pulling me tighter against her with her newborn strength.
"Bella," I sighed, nibbling on her chin. "My Bella," I added, moving to her neck, licking the spot that had made her all mine.
"You know, Edward, I like this side of you," she said into my ear in a breathy voice. She took my earlobe between her teeth and nibbled, pulling out a long, loud groan from me.
"What side is that?" I finally managed, barely able to control myself.
"This possessive, fervent, intense side of you," she whispered, breathing heavier now. She was holding my head to her neck as I used the position to nip and lick every spot I could reach.
"I love you, Bella. I have to have you…now," I growled, the need for her taking over and ruling me completely.
"Patience," she whispered, lifting my head up.
Her kisses came slowly at first. She placed her soft hands on my chest, taking her time to kiss every inch of my lips and neck; it was my turn to have trouble staying upright. I slid my hands up her arms and into her hair, relishing the sweet taste of her delectable mouth.
My kisses grew more eager, wanting to give her more pleasure. I moved us over to the window that ran the length and width of the room, pressing her body against the cool glass, careful not to break anything. Bella might be indestructible, but the window was not.
The night was so clear behind her that the moon seemed to be in the room with us, only inches away, illuminating her perfect skin. The treetops were bathed in moonlight and I could not think of a better backdrop for making love to Bella.
My pants and shoes quickly disappeared as I picked her up, wrapping her legs around me. I entered her easily, getting a delicious moan from her pouty lips. I traced her neck with my tongue before moving up to suck on her lips, earning me one of her beautiful smiles. I felt her squeezing herself around my length and I moaned loudly, amazed at the level of pleasure being one with her provided.
She held either side of my face and as her eyes locked with mine, I heard her in my head. "Edward, if we spend a thousand years together, I will never forget this moment." She closed her eyes and lifted her head back against the glass, a small smile on her lips.
I focused on how amazing it was to have this intimacy with Bella. This was something that we had never shared with anyone else, and never would. We were closer than I ever thought two people could be and still it wasn't enough.
I picked up the pace as I felt myself close to climax. Bella scratched my back hard, breaking the skin. I gasped, my eyes closing in pleasure.
"Bella. More," I grunted, my breathing heavy.
She was arching her back now, letting me know just how close she was. I moved us to the floor, needing to feel more of her. I thrust as deeply as I could, her nails digging into my back, pulling us both over the edge. As we both shook from the force of our combined releases, I cradled her in my arms, repeatedly kissing her face.
"Edward," she sighed. "I'm so sorry if I hurt your back. I guess I got carried away, but that was…amazing!" she finished, her voice soft and wistful.
"Bella, feel to get as carried away as you need. There are no more barriers, love. More durable, remember?" I teased, sitting up and showing her my back. "All clear."
Her fingers trailed across my back, making sure there was no damage. Even this light, tender touch was enough to make me want her all over again. I laid down, pulling her on top of me and stroked her silky hair. "I love you, Bella."
"I love you, too, Edward," she sighed, snuggling up and resting her face against my neck.