Lunar Ascension

Chapter 12: Bliss

Disclaimer: All things in the Twilight universe belong to Stephenie Meyer and her publishers. The song and lyrics belong to the band and their representatives. Any other copyrighted material included in this story belongs to their rightful owners. Cheers ma dears! Rated M.

**Warning: Citrus ahead, please navigate with caution... As Sabi says, if you're too young to smoke I don't wanna know...**

Like a moth she moves to the red light
Her blood warms and boils there
She skims the sweat like a new milk
And pops the buttons off her wet blouse
Skin of the Night by M83

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked, as he leaned into me. His eyes were on my lips, dark blue and hungry. For a moment I wanted to slap myself for saying it, but I had to know.

"I've thought about this since the moment I met you, Leah. I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

With that, he closed the last of the distance between us and pressed his lips against mine.

I wasn't sure what I had been expecting, but it was nowhere near the explosion of live wires through my body that occurred. With his lips against mine the whole world melted away around us until it was just him and I tangled in one another as our lips moved together. My hands, which up until that point had been clutching my lower abdomen, braced his neck and held him to me. It felt more right than anything I had ever experienced in my life.

Every part of my being responded to him as his tongue swept along my bottom lip. I didn't hesitate to let him in, I was mesmerized by the softness of his lips and the reverence of his touch as he nudged me gently onto my back. I'd always been the aggressor when it came to sex, I liked to be in control, but with Travis I found myself giving into him, I let him take the lead and willingly followed always needing more.

He was amazing, his hands knew where I needed him and as he slid between my legs I felt a profound understanding that he fit there, better than anyone I had every been with. We were both still semi clothed, but it didn't matter, just having him there eased the pain that had riddled my body. I wasn't sure we were going to be able to take it slowly, but having given in to him, my body seemed satisfied with the anticipation. Just knowing where this was headed gave me a reprieve from the ache, and let me fall into the physicality of it.

When his lips left mine and traveled down the column of my neck, I let my hands tangle in his hair. His breath was like fire on my skin, fire that penetrated my soul but never burned; it held us together as his hands explored my body and traveled over my curves. I'd been lying to myself for too long, I'd been denying myself this perfect union because of my own painful memories. I'd been a fool.

When his hands reached the edge of the shirt, his pushed it up gently. I knew he was trying not to spook me, but it was pointless. I was ready to rip the damn thing of myself so I could feel his skin against mine. When I moved to grip the edge of his shirt he stilled, and pulled back to capture my eyes.

"We're doing this my way, beautiful. Let me take care of you."

"Travis . . ."

He put one finger over my lips cutting me off from what he probably assumed was a protest. It was anything but, I was more than willing to give myself over to him, I wanted him to have control and teach me what he liked. I wanted him to guide my body so we'd come together. I needed his touch, and I needed him.

"Let me do this," he said again, and all I could do is nod in response. We had the rest of our lives together, these first moments I would relinquish to him.

He peeled the t-shirt from my skin and pushed upward, his palms brushed against the skin on my stomach as he did and I found myself bowing from the bed and into his touch. As the last shed of material I was wearing brushed over the tips of my fingers, he discarded it into a pile above my head, forgetting it's existence.

He let his eyes roam over my body as I laid bare below him, I'd never been bashful about my body before, and I sure as hell wasn't going to start now. The look he was giving me sang with approval but I ached for his touch. I could see his excitement through his pajama pants and fought the urge to reach out to him. He was the ringmaster.

Without a word, he leaned into me, the cool metal of his viper bite was the first contact with my skin as he circled my nipple. My teeth penetrated my bottom lip as I held in the moan of pleasure that soared through my body. I'd never thought much about his piercing before, but I had never been more pleased about anything in my life as he worked the metal over my skin. When he finally relented and covered me with his mouth, I almost lost my self control. My hips bucked against his body, and the moan fell from my lips like a song of encouragement.

He worked slowly, his lips worshipping me as his tongue made languid circles around the skin he was working on. In fear of hurting him, my hands moved to the sheets below me, clawing at the fabric as my body reached for him. I was content and yet desperate for more, I was calm and falling apart at the seams. Everything I felt worked in gentle contradictions I was certain only he could ever create within me.

When his tongue finally traced between the valley of my breasts and he lowered himself further, I was certain my body was going to ignite in apprehension. I was fighting myself to keep still as his hands and mouth venerated my skin, when his lips pushed against the flesh of my abdomen, I found there was no holding back. My body released in a wave of pure pleasure that had me bowing from the surface of the bed as shivers ran down my spine and spread below my skin, even my toes curled in reaction.

"That's what I like to see," Travis whispered against me, as his hands coaxed my thighs further apart. I wanted to open my eyes and look at him, but I was so lost in my own pleasure, that the closest I could offer was my hand.

He took it gently in his and guided it between my legs until it brushed against the damp sensitivity he'd created. When I moved to press harder he removed my hand replacing it with his mouth making my entire body shudder with pleasure. He worked just as slowly as he had before, he licked and nipped, sucked and flicked. When he penetrated me with his fingers, I found myself once again falling apart.

He was everywhere, but not close enough, he moved with his slow precision and teased yet another climax from me as he worked. The aching in my body seemed to deplete with every orgasm, but it still wasn't enough. I needed him with a desperation I had never felt in my life.

"Travis," I mewed as he started his ministrations yet again. I pushed myself up on my shaky elbows, trying to get his attention. He didn't stop, he just raised his eyes to meet mine in between my shudders of breath. "I need you."

He nodded, making his viper bite ride the line and nudge my sensitive nub of flesh which had turned into a bundle of nerves, and I could see the smile in his eyes as I dropped a couple of choice expletives and collapsed back on the bed. He licked me one last time before he sunk his teeth into my thigh. I had tried to stay quiet, but it was impossible when he pulled shit like that. I'd never though someone biting me could be that sensual, but once again, he was proving to be a master.

He sat up and discarded his shirt before leaning over me and nuzzling into my neck with panting breaths. I loved the heat of his breath on my skin, I loved the way it fanned out and ran through my hair making it sensitive to being close to him. He was still wearing his pajama pants, but I knew that would take less than a second to fix, if he would let me.

I tested the waters, my hand running down the defined muscles covering his body and appreciating every inch he seemed to give me. He was more magnificent than I could have ever imagined, and I even found a couple of tattoos I was hoping to spend some time examining. My fingers were just penetrating the waist of his pants, when he decided to be chivalrous.

"How are you feeling?"

"Never better," I mumbled, sucking my bottom lip in between my teeth. "I want you, Travis. All of you. It was stupid to wait like this, and we can talk about it all later, but . . ." I pushed my hand further down and gripped his well formed girth in my hand. ". . . We can talk about that later."

His forehead fell onto my shoulder as a shuddering breath fell from his lips. The sound excited me, his pleasure was my pleasure, and as I worked my hand in a long slow stroke, I found myself trembling with him.

I used my feet to push down the flannel as far as I could so he was exposed in all of his glory. As I looked down I realized magnificent wasn't an accurate enough word to describe him. He kicked off the pants before I could even attempt to finish the job, and his arms shook with his own weight as I used the leverage to pump him a little faster.

"You keep that up, and you're not going to get your happy ending," he panted into my ear. I couldn't describe what the shakiness of his voice did to me, but there was no way I could resist another stroke.

His teeth latched onto my neck as I released him from my grip and made more room for him between my thighs, I could feel the blunt head of him against my thigh and I raised my hips to accommodate him. I gripped him and guided him toward me as my other hand clawed against his back.

We both stayed frozen and unmoving as we committed the moment to memory. Our breaths mingled between us heady and lingering. It must have only been a moment, but the anticipation made it feel like a lifetime. It was only when our eyes met that he finally moved, pushing deep inside of me so my body arched and my breath fell out of me in a small gasp. Even he seemed stunned into silence. He stilled deep inside of me, his breath brushing my cheek as his eyes grew wide.

He pulled back slowly, his hips moving in a slow unhurried rhythm at first. We moved together, our bodies welding and fusing as he filled me. He was driving me insane and he knew it, but he took his time, slowing as I felt him hardening inside of me.

He was making love to me. It took me a moment to figure it out in my lust hazed mind, but it was there in front of me, in his touches, his kisses, the way his eyes darkened as they met mine. It was filled with every emotion I had been too afraid to say out loud, each rock of his hips screaming I love you as he pushed deeper and deeper within me. I moved in time with him, hoping that he would hear the same thing in my caressing hands, and buck of my hips.

Before long it became too much to take. Both of us moved faster, our breaths becoming full blown pants and our moans tangling in the space between us. I gripped his shoulders with curled fingers and met him with the same amount of love and enthusiasm he was giving me. The rush off the ledge seemed to be upon me the moment his hand curled around my thigh offering him deeper penetration.

"Travis," I moaned, his name felt like satin as it fell from my lips.

"Stay with me, beautiful," he whispered as his lips crashed against mine. I could feel him hardening with each thrust and I was so close that I was running headlong for the void I knew held nothing but pure, ecstatic pleasure.

I tried to hold off, but it rushed over me in waves, which set off the chain reaction to him. Both of us cried out as we came together hard. Our bodies, damp with sweat shook with tremors of pleasure. It was the most significant, and powerful orgasm I'd ever experienced in my life.

He fell to the side and pulled me into his body as he dropped kisses on my hair and cheeks. His hands seemed to run over my skin checking whether or not I was actually there. Neither of us spoke as we fought to gain our breaths, we didn't need to. Our bodies had said everything for us.

Even with the best intentions, I couldn't stay awake. With the restlessness of the previous night and the toll the aching took on my body, I found the comfort of his arms and the lack of pain was like a drug much better than the morphine I had been considering. The darkness enveloped me in it's embrace and I didn't even try to fight it.

Waking up in the cocoon of Travis' arms was just as healing as falling asleep in them. I knew he was awake the moment my eyes flickered open, I could feel his thumb running gentle circles on my stomach.

"Hey, baby, you're awake," he hummed into my neck with a contented sigh. "You were out for the count. How are you feeling?"

"Amazing," I grinned, spinning in his arms to I was facing him again, my bones cracking as I stretched out like a contented cat. "I'm sorry I crashed on you. I just couldn't keep my eyes open."

He pressed his lips against mine before answering and I found that my legs moved of their own volition to tangle with his. After the sex we'd had, I doubted anything would ever be close enough for me anymore.

"It's fine, you had a rough night. But can I just say wow?"

"Yes," I laughed, my fingers tracing his jaw. "Me too, I've never . . . I mean . . . We're good at that. Together."

"I'd definitely agree with that. Is that part of the imprint? Or all us?"

"Us," I answered without having to think about it. The imprint made the connection, the rest was up to us. Nothing made more sense than that to me right now. When I finally let myself go, and let myself think about how I felt about him it was the only thing that seemed real to me.

"Then I am totally impressed with us."

"Oh me too, and I meant what I said, Travis. I don't want to fight this anymore. You've been so patient, but it should never have been that way. I was blind, and stupid, but mostly I was selfish."

"No," he frowned. "You were being you. You were thinking about everyone but yourself. I was never going anywhere, so it didn't hurt me to wait. In fact, I think I got lucky, I got to see parts of you I wouldn't have if we'd jumped right into something. I love you for who you are, Leah, and the sweet, caring woman that had to make sure everyone was happy is part of that."

I pressed my lips against his, but I couldn't help the laugh that followed.

"What's so funny?" he asked, pulling me closer and snuggling in.

"If any of the packs heard that coming out of your mouth, they'd think you had the wrong girl. Bitter bitch was my M.O. for a long time."

"I think you were entitled to that. Just like Zach was entitled to his attempt at revenge. You were hurt, everything you thought was secure was suddenly thrown out the window. It wasn't a three month courtship, that was an engagement, there's a huge difference."

I nodded and curled in closer to his chest, just listening to him breathe as our fingers twisted and danced together on his stomach. I found that I was finally letting myself think about the future. I could get used to this, lying in bed with him all day and just talking with an excuse to snuggle. I would have no fear of him leaving me or imprinting, well no more than a regular relationship.

It was weird for me to think about having someone there for me. I'd spent so much time believing I would be alone, then when I met someone I imprinted on his brother. It seemed as though I was destined to be miserable, but in that moment, wrapped in Travis' arms in post coital bliss, it all seemed worth it. It was a price I paid to have him, and I wouldn't have changed anything if it meant I didn't have this moment with him. When both of our stomachs seemed to growl, I understood that this time together was coming to an end for now. Knowing that it wasn't the last time it would happen seemed to be the only motivation to move.

We both dressed slowly, mainly because Travis was all hands and wouldn't let me get further than picking up a shirt before telling me he wanted to admire for a while longer. After almost fifteen minutes of that I actually, physically wrestled him for my clothes, which only seemed to motivate me to get naked again.

When we finally made it downstairs, I was glad to find only Emmett in the kitchen. Though his slow applause and dimpled grin made me want to slap him.

"What, I'm just saying it was about time," Emmett laughed, ducking as I threw a pan at his head.

"Emmett, I appreciate the support, man, but you're not winning any points," Travis laughed, plucking the cast iron pan from my hands.

"Yeah well, I either stayed in here and face you two now, or go outside and face your wrath there. Seeing as I had nothing to do with what's going on I chose here."

I narrowed my eyes at Emmett. His dimples were on plain view as he grinned at me and I knew it wasn't going to be good.

"What is going on outside?"

"None of my business. I told them it was a bad idea, but you know how Alice and Nessie are when they get a wild hair up their butts 'bout something."

Travis gave me a wink and headed to the back window that looked out over the lumber yard Emmett still had going out there. When his face fell, I pointed at Emmett before rushing to the window.

I laughed, even though it wasn't funny and the look of pure incredulousness on Travis' face only seemed to make me laugh harder.

"Not funny," he grumbled, his hand reaching for the door handle.

"No, I know, I just . . . I can't help it."

Greg and Steve were running around the yard, both of them had blue bows around their ears. Steve, the darker of the two had a baseball uniform on, and Greg, the lighter, had a basketball uniform. Nessie and Alice were running around with them, throwing balls and frisbees.

"They clothed my dogs."

"Yes, baby. It appears so," I said trying to gain and keep my composure. "It could have been worse though."

"How?"

"Think Tutu's and ballerina slippers. Believe me, I lived it and I still have nightmares."

He turned to look at me, his eyes shining with humor. It was something I never spoke about, Nessie had still been young enough to look like a child, and Jacob had begged me to do it for him. Alice had whipped up a huge taffeta tutu and a leotard, they'd painted my nails, put bows in my hair and even tied some custom made slippers over my paws. There was still a picture floating around in one of the Cullen's many albums and I was still waiting for the day I could steal it back and destroy it.

"They dressed you up in your wolf form?"

Emmett snickered from behind me, and I flipped him the bird over my shoulder.

"Yes, and I wasn't even as tolerant as I am now."

"Can we save my dogs? Sans the pictures. They would never live it down," he pouted playfully, pushing out his bottom lip. "I'm sorry they did that to you but have some mercy woman."

I pushed up on my toes and gave him a kiss before nodding my head. "You make breakfast, I'll save the boys."

"Mmm I love it when you get bossy."

"Then you'll love her all of the time," Emmett snickered, making his way to the door. "But this, I gotta see."

I made my way out of the house, and planted my hands on my hips. Renesmee was only two years old, but in every other way she was closer to ten. The half-breed that had saved them from the Volturi had said she would stop aging at some point, but she was still shooting up quickly. She still held all of the beauty she'd possessed as a child, and had the ability to wrap anyone of the Cullen's and the two packs around her little finger.

"Okay ladies," I smiled, pointing at the dogs. "Which one of you is responsible for that?"

The girlish giggle of Renesmee was the first thing to come into fruition, and Alice gave me a smile of encouragement. I took a few more steps toward them, and Renesmee's giggles turned into a squealing laugh.

"You do realize I have to get you back now?"

"Nu uh, no way, Leah," she teased, poising herself to run.

"Sorry, gotta happen, but you do have a choice," I laughed, dancing two steps forward. "Do you want tickles? Or wolf licks?"

"Neither?"

"Tickles it is," I snorted and took off after her. We hurdled the lumber piles, our laughter filling the air. She was quick, and her tiny legs carried her faster than what should have been possible, but I wasn't giving up that easily, as she headed toward one of the taller lumber piles, I took of around it and caught her mid jump. I fell to my back keeping her protected as my fingers pinched her sides. Her laughter turned into shrill screams of of hysteria, but I wouldn't stop.

"You gonna dress the dogs up again?" I asked, tickling her.

"Yes," she screamed.

I continued my relentless tickling until she finally said no. I'd been so caught up in our little game that I hadn't noticed the Cullen's and Jacob join us, all with stunned looks on their faces.

"Ness, why are they staring at us," I asked playfully, placing her on her feet as I stood up. She took my hand in hers and offered me a warm smile, one that was beyond her years.

"Because you're happy, Leah. You're normally very sad."

Wow, talk about a wake up call. Even the munchkin had noticed my lack of enthusiasm. I hated that it was who I'd become in their eyes, but it wasn't as though I could change the past. I had a lot of making up to do, and it was only just beginning.

A/N: I apologize about the lack of replies to your reviews. They are coming I promise. I had a deadline at work and it's been insane. I'm finally getting back to normal now, so things should start becoming regular again! Thank you to all of you who read, alert, favorite and review. You all stun me with your words and comments. You're all awesome! I love you guys to bits!

Of course a huge thank you goes out to Hev99 for being amazing! She's been busy too so the betaing has taken a backseat but she's still awesome. A huge thank you also to my BFF and Twinnifer for being encouraging and amazing and for prereading for me. And lastly but certainly not least... a huge thank you to Pinkindeed for all the encouragement and prereading, and the friendship of course! MWAH. Love you girls!