Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.

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!!WARNING!!

Because I'm paranoid, the rating for this chapter is an M rating. Consider yourself warned.

Enjoy.

Chapter 8: Touch

When we returned to my house, Bella informed me that she was going to take her much needed shower. I watched her thumb through my collection of dress shirts from the closet without objecting.

"Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Saks Fifth…" Bella called out the name brands as she fingered through them.

"Versace?!" She exclaimed throwing me a disapproving glance.

"What? I like their silk. It feels nice," I defended.

Bella waved the shirt at me, "Do you know how many third world countries you can feed with this shirt?"

"I'll write a check and give it to charity," I said hoping to calm her a little and it did.

She pulled a blue dress shirt from my closet and flitted to the bathroom in a single second. I held out a big, fluffy towel to her before she closed the door.

"Thank you," Bella sang.

I leaned against the bathroom door thinking about how Bella would be undressing herself right now. How she would work her delicate, little fingers to pull her t-shirt off. The way her long hair would fall back down in a curtain of shimmering silk…

'Get a grip, Edward,' I scolded at myself.

All I needed was a nice, cold shower. But I don't see how that would help when Bella's constant presence fuels my desire for her. Frustrated, I yanked my t-shirt off to toss into the hamper when the bathroom door cracked open.

I turned to see Bella chewing on her bottom lip with hesitation.

"Hey," I said noticing she was still dressed.

"Hey," She replied with eyes dancing across my naked chest.

"I'm sorry. I was just-" I began to apologize for my being half-naked.

Bella cut me off by yanking me into the bathroom with her and slammed the door shut.

We both stood there for a good minute before Bella turned her back on me and slowly began to peel her shirt off. My body froze in place as I watched her hands glide past her waist, back, and over her head. As a gentleman, I knew I should've looked away and walk back out that door. How could I when the only tempting person to me was undressing herself? I can't. God, Bella, what are you doing to me?

With a small whoosh, she let the shirt fall to the floor. Then, reached behind her to unclasp her lacy, black bra. My insides began to burn a scorching fire as Bella tugged the straps from her shoulders.

I was raised so much better than this, to respect a woman, to honor her, but how do I follow through when my hands ached to touch her? If only just for a little while. Bella began to unzip her jeans and slipped out of them before removing her matching black boyshorts.

My lungs suddenly felt constricted and uncomfortable. It took me half a millisecond to realize what the problem was. The air was trapped in my lungs, because I was unintentionally holding it there. Quickly, I exhaled and forced myself to continue breathing.

Bella gave a brief glance over her shoulders and stepped into the running shower.

My mind wondered off to something Bella said earlier. I believe it was about how she couldn't express her emotions to me. Did she think this would be expressing that exact emotion she was talking about? Did she expect to feel something for me this way? That somehow, someway her thirst was going to disappear once I stepped into the shower with her.

She was sadly mistaken, but how can I not give her what she wants? If my touch could somehow pull her-the real Bella, the one not overwhelmed by her thirst-to the surface, then, why wouldn't I do it? I wanted her to experience a fraction-if not everything-of what I feel for her.

A minute later, I found myself standing naked behind her with an arm wrapped around the small of her waist. Bella leaned her back against my chest bringing her hips closer to my pelvis. I dipped my head to kiss her shoulder up to the curve of her neck and lingered there. The soft skin brushing across my lips made me recall the sweetness of her blood. I can still taste it on my tongue as I trailed across her neck.

Bella moaned several content sighs that set every nerve in my body ablaze. I gently kissed her temple and moved to retrieve the bottle of shampoo. She shifted in my arm, apparently, trying to turn around. I held her back firmly against my chest.

"If you turn around now, I can't guarantee you that I won't take you right here against the shower walls," I warned against her ear.

My husky warning must have frightened her, because she obediently stood there waiting for me. I poured shampoo into my hands and lathered her hair up. The action made me feel like I was the world's most adoring husband and I didn't mind it at all.

Bella held out a body loofah as soon as we were finished cleansing our hair. I let my left hand brush across her bicep to her forearm, and steadied her hand to pour out a fair amount of body wash. I couldn't resist taking the loofah into my hand. Bella's flaming eyes met my golden ones with a passion that burned through her skin and into mine. I ran the sponge up her arm, over her shoulders, across her clavicle, and down each supple breast.

As much as my hands, lips, and tongue begged to explore every inch of her skin. I knew I couldn't go on. Bella deserved much more than the shower walls. She deserved a bed of roses, candles, and a calm atmosphere. Maybe we can continue this when Bella is more in control of what she wants. This was too much too fast.

I placed the loofah back into her hands and kissed her cheek.

"Stay, Edward. Please?" Bella pleaded.

She had no idea what she was asking for. Not now.

"I can only have so much self-control before my honorable intentions vanish," I stated hoarsely.

I kissed the side of her head before stepping out. Bella proceeded with her shower by the time I left the bathroom.

My mind was still reeling from our little intimate moment when I finally managed to find a pair of gray sweatpants. I really needed to calm my nerves before I jump her bones when she emerges from the shower adorning only my dress shirt. So, I took a moment to gather my belongings to leave for Forks.

I walked downstairs to retrieve some of my things, but the piano caught my eye. There were stacks of score sheets on top of the smooth polish. Music that I was writing for Bella before I decided to pursue her. I fingered through them and found that most of them were filled with angry notes. Why was I so angry with her? Maybe because I wanted to spare her life and knew I couldn't.

A set of scores in G minor fell out from the stacks and I scooped them up. I played the notes in my head and recalled that this was my half-written lullaby for Bella. Intrigued, I planted myself on the piano bench and played through the already written half. Before I knew it, Bella was sitting beside me dressed in my blue shirt. I noticed the hem rested high on her thigh and my fingers tripped over the keys ruining the peaceful melody of the song. That was different...I never had that happen before. Yet, instead of feeling frustrated, I welcomed her distractions more than anything. She made me feel alive after so many centuries of lonliness.

Bella giggled from my mistake, "You write music?"

She grabbed a stack and quickly thumb through them without much interest.

I nodded, "You inspired that one."

"Will you play it again?" Bella asked eagerly.

I closed my eyes and let the music sweep through my silent home once again. My fingers danced across the notes as I tried to write the other half of the song in my head. Bella leaned against me and I was surprised when I suddenly found all the right notes to complete Bella's lullaby. The last pitch resonated in the air at my triumph.

"Thank you, Edward. It's beautiful," Bella whispered.

I shook my head, "No, thank you."

To be continued…

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For3ver Immortal