*WARNING* Now rated M, so please, please do not read if you are easily offended with sexual scenes and swearing.
A/N: Hi guys! I am so sorry I have changed the rating again, but ... well ... yeah, okay. I definitely did get carried away with this chapter! Please don't hate me! I hope you will still enjoy the story, but if you decide to stop reading now, I fully understand. Much love to you all. Mwahh! ;)
"What is it?" Edward said, as he hauled himself off the seat.
"You have to leave, Edward. Please!" I begged him.
"Why? What's wrong?" he asked, reaching for my hand. I walked away from him to open the door.
"Azriel will be here in two minutes. Please, Edward. Go."
He growled when I said Azriel. I had well over stepped the mark with Edward, and now it would be harder to stop.
"What the hell is he coming here for?" he snapped.
"He is coming here for my training, but I cannot let him know about us. It's too dangerous, Edward. Please, go. I promise I will talk to you soon. Now hurry."
He didn't answer me. He squared his shoulders, flexed his jaw, and left abruptly. Pain shot through my chest at the sight of him leaving, but there was nothing I could do at the moment. I curled my sense around my mind so that nothing would slip through to Azriel about what had happened. I needed to see if I could make things right with him. It was my only option. Edward and I could never exist together, and that thought doubled me over. As I straightened, I caught a glimpse of red flame in my back yard. Azriel had arrived. I plastered a smile on my face as I went to greet him.
"Azriel!" I cooed, as I ran into his arms. It felt wrong, but what else could I do? "I am so glad you are back."
"Hello, Maeryn," he said in surprise. "Is everything alright?" he asked, frowning slightly.
"It is now," I lied. "Please, come in." I showed him into the house, and he did his usual blessing. I got him a pitcher of iced water and a light snack, knowing he would be parched after travelling. I sat in silence as I watched him eat and drink. He looked good, even after his journey, and I couldn't help compare him to Edward. I closed my eyes tightly, and willed the thought away. I would need to try and make this work, or all hell would break loose. I hoped, deep down, that Edward wouldn't appear at my door while Azriel was here. But, further down, I hoped he would. I rid my mind of all thoughts about Edward, and concentrated on the man in front of me.
"Thank you, Maeryn. I needed that," Azriel said, as he finished off his snack and water.
"You are welcome," I replied. "You will be wanting to rest now?" I asked, and he nodded.
"Sorry to put a halt to our reunion, but I shall need to sleep before our training begins in the morning."
"Of course," I said. "Follow me. I shall show you to the spare room."
He followed me to his room, and I showed him where he could clean up.
"Thank you," he smiled.
"No problem," I smiled back. "I'll leave you to it. I shall see you in the morning."
Just as I was about to close his door, he stopped me.
"Maeryn, one thing," he said. I swallowed hard. Did he know? I slowly turned around.
"Yes?"
"This is yours," he said, handing me a large package.
I took it and unravelled the material that wrapped it. It was my Falcata. I smiled, as my hand moulded to the all too familiar handle. It felt like an extension of my own body, and I didn't realise how much I had missed it until now.
"Thank you, Azriel. Goodnight," I said, as I left his room.
I went back into the sitting room, and marvelled at the weapon I held in my hand. It was a very pale purple color, that shone with an incandescent quality. Almost crystal-like. It was light in weight, yet looked to be extremely heavy. It was long, and very sharp. I cut through the air and smiled as it made a noise. It whistled, and the echo of it lingered in the air. It wasn't loud, but like someone clinking a crystal glass, the ping reverberated delicately. I couldn't wait to train with it. I rummaged my mind for my last training session, and realised there was nothing new in my strategies. Things had been quiet for a while, and that thought bothered me. Yes, I was used to quiet spells, but not for this amount of time. The Sky Riders were never too far away at any one time, but there had been nothing for a long while, now. What were they up to? I wondered. If my memories were correct, if I hadn't lost any during the transference, then there had been nothing from them for about ten years. That was a little too long for my liking. They must be up to something. I didn't like it.
Shaking my head, I decided to worry about that tomorrow when Azriel was with me. Two minds were better than one. I listened quickly for him, and heard is slow breathing and light snores. He was sound asleep already. A faint smile crossed my lips. It was nice to see him again. Then I thought of Edward. I knew I had to speak to him, one last time, to explain to him why I had to do this. I wasn't looking forward to the conversation in the slightest, but it had to be done, and there would be no better time than now, while Azriel slept. He would sleep for at least ten hours, so that gave me ample time to do this. I re-covered my sword, and stashed it away out of sight, and quietly left my home.
If Edward's mood was anything to go by, then I already knew he wouldn't be at home. I would search the forest for him. He seemed to like it there when he needed to be alone. Entering the edge of the trees, I pushed my sense out as far as I could. I felt him sitting on the ground, roughly where we had sat earlier, and I instantly knew it was him. Once my sense knows a person, it doesn't forget. I headed toward him. When I was about five hundred yards away, I opened my mind to him. My mental voice wouldn't falter like my physical one.
Edward? I pushed into his mind. I heard him gasp.
Maeryn? he replied in my mind. I wasn't expecting to see you any time soon.
I know, I replied, as I walked nearer to him. I'm sorry about that.
He didn't answer, and now I was only ten feet away. He wasn't looking toward me, but up to the sky, scowling. I looked up and scowled myself. No stars. Just thick dark, ominous clouds, that had moved in within an hour. I didn't like it when I couldn't see the stars. I heard Edward sigh, and as I glanced at him, I saw he was already focused on me.
"What do you want, Maeryn?" he asked.
"We need to talk. May I?" I asked, pointing to the ground as he did earlier. He nodded. I sat down carefully, so as I wouldn't brush past him by accident. I took a breath.
"Edward, I … well, I …" I started, but he stopped me.
"Look. I already know what you're going to say. What happened was a mistake. You already regret it. You and Azriel are meant to be. It can't go any further, or the whole world will collapse. Blah, blah, blah," he scowled.
Frowning, I looked directly at him. He was staring off into the trees, his eyes narrowed. Where did he get off making me feel like shit, when all I wanted to do was make things right? How dare he?
"First of all," I snapped, and caught his attention. He glared at me. "I actually don't regret what happened." His eyes widened infinitesimally, and I knew instantly that his hopes had been raised. He smiled crookedly, and I couldn't help but stare at his full lips, wanting to feel them against mine again. He obviously had the same thought, as we suddenly lunged for each other. He grabbed me and threw me to the floor, and suspended his weight above me as his lips smashed into mine. I couldn't help the groan of lust that escaped me. He pulled my head back sharply by my hair, and his lips wandered down the side of my neck. With his other hand, he found his way to the buttons on my top, and began undoing them. He inched is way painfully slowly inside my top, and freed my breasts from my bra. He playfully pulled and teased my nipples, while his lips found mine again, and he growled hungrily. I arched my back as I moaned again, trying to push my breast further into his hand, as my own hands started to reach for his t-shirt. Patience wasn't on my side, as I tore his shirt from his back in one movement. Now I could feel is skin against mine, and I loved it. My hands raked up and down his back, leaving small ridges where my nails dug in. It made him shudder and groan.
His mouth finally left mine, but found it's way down to my bare breasts. With one hand teasing one side, his mouth began a slow and mouth-watering torture on the other. I grabbed his hair, and pulled his head closer to my chest. I felt my hips rise, as I tried to get some friction to ease the burn that had begun between my legs. And not just there. As soon as his mouth touched mine, I was consumed with a fiery heat, that I knew was radiating from me. Edward noticed, and returned his mouth to mine, while he gently ground himself against me. My breathing was becoming laboured, as was his, and I knew my climax wasn't far away. My hips rose and fell in time with his movements, and I could feel him between my legs. He wanted this badly, too. We growled and moaned, and moved, until it became almost frantic, until we both cried out and shuddered the remnants of our climax out of our bodies.
He laid against me with his head buried in my neck, as our breathing slowed. I gently caressed his hair as he delicately traced circles on my side. He finally looked at me, and his eyes were jet black again. He smiled almost sheepishly, and gave me a tender and chaste kiss on the lips.
"I'm sorry, Maeryn. I definitely did not mean for that to happen. I don't know what came over me. Are you alright?" he asked, looking me over for any sign of injury.
"I'm fine, Edward. Not a scratch," I smiled. "And besides, I don't think it actually counts until we are completely naked," I laughed. He chuckled with me, and he rolled us over, until I was on top of him.
"I sure could get used to this," he said. The smile dropped from my face.
"Edward …" I started.
"Yeah, yeah. I know. Can't we at least enjoy it. It will be our last night together, right? Can't we just be ourselves for one evening?" he pleaded.
I wanted more than one evening, that was the problem. It was going to be so hard saying goodbye to him now. Could we enjoy the rest of this night together, before reality hit us again in the morning? I had already decided before I asked myself the question. My lips found his again. He growled triumphantly, and pulled me closer, if that were possible. I was all but welded to his body. It was like a spark had reignited my body's fire, as I became consumed with heat again. This time, I didn't even think. Filled with a need that completely enveloped me, I removed the remainder of our clothes.
"Maeryn?" he whispered against my lips.
"Shh," I hushed him. "I want this. Please." I flinched internally at my pleading tone, but I didn't care. I knew he wanted this as much as I did.
Sitting atop of him, he gently caressed my breasts, and slowly worked his way down. His thumb gently teased me where I needed the friction, and I rocked my hips while I moaned with pleasure. He tenderly pushed a finger inside me, and I almost came right there. I could hear him gasp and then growl faintly, as my muscles tried to pull his finger farther inside. I chanced a glance at him, and he was watching my every move, his eyes becoming darker with each passing second. I could see mine reflected in his, and they were almost burning. I could almost see the fiery flames dancing in them. I moaned again and closed my eyes, as he slipped another finger inside. My hips rocked slightly harder, trying to get some relief.
"Edward …" I groaned, and he knew what I needed.
I needed him inside me, and he lifted me over him, and gently placed himself at my entrance.
"Are you sure?" he whispered.
I nodded, and that was all the confirmation he needed. He lowered me down, slowly. Almost agonisingly so. I knew he was being careful not to hurt me, but patience wasn't always a virtue. I was being selfish tonight with my need, so I rammed myself on top of him. He growled deliciously deeply, and a coy smile passed his lips. I began rocking back and forth and alternating with rising and falling on him. He bucked to the same beat beneath me. We were melodious. In harmony with each other, and the feeling was incredible. I managed to slow to a gentler pace, so I could enjoy the new sensations pulsing through me. I lowered my face to his, to capture his mouth again. I wanted to feel his smooth tongue dance with mine to the same beat as our lovemaking.
"Maeryn," he whispered, lovingly, as he grabbed my ass and rocked me harder.
I could feel my climax building, stronger than before. I rolled us over so Edward was on top. I needed him to take charge, and drive himself deeper into me. Taking the hint, he slammed into me and a hiss escaped me, followed by a loud moan. He moaned right along with me as he hammered himself into me over and over, at a relentless rhythm. I didn't want him to ever stop, but I knew we were both close now. Our breathing was erratic, and my muscles were tightening around him, trying to find release. He whispered my name again when he felt my eagerness, and seemed to gallop on harder than before.
"Edward!" I screamed as I exploded around him, and he growled as he found his own release, stilling on top of me.
"Fuck, Maeryn," he hissed.
"What?" I said, in-between gasps. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Yes. We both did," he chuckled. "But that's not what I'm talking about."
"Then what?"
"Well, that was absolutely amazing!"
I burst out laughing. I couldn't help myself. It was more than amazing, but because he said it, I got embarrassed.
"Well, I thought it was," he said, smiling down at me.
"Oh, no. It was, Edward. I just didn't expect you to tell me," I snickered. His grin grew wider.
"I would tell you anything, Maeryn. Everything. There would be nothing I'd hold back from you," he said solemnly, as he caressed my cheek.
We stared into each others' eyes for what seemed like hours, but was in fact only a few seconds. His eyes eventually returned to a more normal coloring. They were a warm, rich honey, like his siblings. I could swim in them for eternity, and never fail to be amazed by them. But, I knew our time was short. My eyes must have shown it, too, as his eyes dulled of light.
"I would make time disappear, Maeryn. I could put the whole world in your hands, if you would only have me by your side," he whispered.
"Edward," I groaned, as I gently pushed him off me to retrieve my clothes. "You know it's impossible for us. It could never work."
I didn't dare look at him while I dressed. I was afraid of what I would see in his eyes.
"How do you know? Is there no reference of inter-racial relations with your kind before?" he argued. I snorted.
"Inter-racial relations?"
"Well, whatever you want to call it," he snapped. "My point is, does anyone even know whether we would work or not?"
I slowly looked around, and was disappointed to see that he had dressed, too.
"No. There are no references to anything like this before," I stated.
"Well, we might have a chance, then. If no-one knows what will happen, why can't we try?" he pleaded, and put his arms around me. My body reacted immediately to his touch, but I stood out from his embrace.
"It's not that simple, Edward. There would be consequences of different species being mated. On both sides. You know this. Please, don't make this any harder than it is."
"Maeryn, it is you that is making this hard. You won't even give 'us' a chance. Please," he begged. I turned away from him, as a tear rolled down my cheek.
"I'm so sorry, Edward. I can't." That was the last thing I said as I ran for home, rubbing at my already aching chest as I went.