Okay everyone, we're entering the home stretch for this story and as a way of thanking you for your continued support over the past several months including those who stood by me through the hiatus, I will be writing a chapter of this story in between my regular updates so the last five chapters of Holding Back the Years will be coming in a timely fashion.
EPOV
I was flying through the woods with every ounce of strength my legs could muster. I knew Billy had told Leah that Jake was still at La Push and that Bella was still clear in Alice's mind, but I had to see her. I continued to the clearing and straight through the front door. The girls were in the bedroom giggling, so I marched directly into the room. Bella and Beth both looked up and their faces fell. "Edward, what is it?" Beth asked, but it was Bella that answered her.
"It's your father, Beth." Bella knew me well enough to recognize that Jake was the only thing that could upset me this much. "When is he coming?"
"We don't know. Leah got a call from Billy and it seems La Push has changed since you left, and not for the better. He's coming soon though, and until this is all sorted out, I'm not letting you out of my sight."
"Edward, there's another option." Bella took my hand as my brow furrowed. "Change me."
I pulled away more forcefully than I had intended and quickly took her face between my hands. "Bella I promised you your dream transformation and I won't let that mongrel-" I stopped short when I realized I had used the term in front of Beth. "Sorry sweetheart."
She smiled at me and waved it off. "Pack mind, remember? I've heard every name that man has called you and your family and he didn't have the reasons you do. Sometimes a name fits too well not to use it."
"Elizabeth Alice, don't refer to your father as 'that man,' you know I don't like that." As angry as Bella could get at Jacob, she didn't like to see Beth be disrespectful for things he did to other people.
"Mom, I can't have this conversation with you right now. I'm going back to Leah's." Beth got off the bed and walked towards the door. "Edward, I'll see you tomorrow."
Once the front door closed behind her, I turned to Bella. "Bella, I won't change you to keep you safe or because you feel like it is your only option. I wouldn't do it when Victoria was hunting you and I certainly won't do it when the threat is something as insignificant as Jacob Black."
"If he was so insignificant than why are you this worried?"
"Because even the smallest threat can cost me everything." It came out as little more than a whisper, but Bella still caught it and held onto me tight.
"Edward, I accepted your proposal and told you about how I wanted to be changed. We weren't going to wait long and most of the planning is done, what difference does a few weeks make?"
"What are you saying?" Her eyes burned into mine and I saw the determination there.
"Marry me on Saturday."
"That's three days from now, are you sure?"
She smiled sweetly at me and nodded. "I've never been more ready to be your wife and experience everything that comes along with it."
I kissed her and then felt the telltale vibration of my phone a minute before hers did the same. I looked down and shook my head. "Yes, Alice?"
"Edward, I need you to come up here so we can figure out the details that are important to you before I steal Bella to tie everything up."
I was about to respond when part of Bella's conversation caught my attention. "She what? No, I'll be right there!"
Bella shut her phone and I followed her out the house as I said a quick good-bye to Alice. "Bella, what is it?"
"Beth wants to head off Jake, she thinks that he's coming to take her back so if she can prove that she wants to stay with me then he won't come here and bother us."
"It has to be hereditary." I huffed at Beth's sweet, albeit ill thought out plan.
"What does?" Bella continued walking in the direction of their cottage.
"The complete lack of self-preservation and absolute desire to sacrifice yourself regardless of whether or not it will help the cause." As soon as the words were out of my mouth, Bella spun around and smacked my shoulder with a scowl on her face.
"You're so not helping right now. Now are you going to run me or will I have to make this entire trek on foot?" That playful smile returned to her face and I slung her onto my back as I took off.
We were at the cottage within minutes and I could hear the argument going on inside. Bella climbed off and walked into the living room. "Elizabeth Alice Black, have you lost your mind?"
"Mom, I'm sorry but he's coming up here for me and to mend his wounded pride. If he makes it within 100 miles of Edward he's going to attack with or without reason. He's going to lose the pack over this, but he doesn't care. They can't phase, but Leah and I still can, that has to mean something."
"I don't care what it means; you aren't running blindly into it. When he comes, I'll let you be there to try to talk him down, but I doubt that it will work. I can't be here about to get married while you're out there confronting your father, please just say you won't do something stupid."
Beth's face crumbled and she rubbed her hands across it before groaning and flopping onto the couch. "Fine. You guys are really getting married soon?"
"Saturday night." Bella reached back and I took her hand, entering the conversation for the first time since I entered the house.
"Beth, I promise to keep your mother and you safe, but I can't do that if you go running off. I need you to promise me."
She rolled her eyes and then smiled. "I promise, Edward, no running off. But I don't want you trying to protect me, worry about my mom."
"I won't prevent you from being there, but I won't stand by and watch you get hurt either."
"I guess I can't ask for more from you. So are you still doing the transformation on your wedding night?"
I froze at her knowledge of the plan but realized that Bella would have mentioned it to her because it dictates how much time they'll have together. "Yes, that's when your mom wants it to happen…does that bother you?"
"No. I'll just miss seeing her every day." Beth tried valiantly to hide her sadness, but no one was fooled.
"Beth we'll work with your mom and the minute it is safe we'll come right here to see you. If there was any other way to do this, believe me, I would try it."
"I know." Then Beth chuckled and shook her head. "Hopefully I'll smell bad enough that she'll be able to come around soon."
We all laughed with her as Bella wrapped her arms around Beth and held her close. "Stay with us until the wedding? I don't want to lose any time with you."
Beth agreed quickly as I suggested we all go back to the house as I called Alice to meet me there. Soon the girls were back in the bedroom while Alice and I sat out in the meadow. "Edward, I know this isn't how you wanted it, but you are going to get your happily ever after."
I reached over and pulled Alice to my side. "Thanks Alice. What did you need to talk to me about the wedding?"
Alice beamed as she turned to me. "Okay, I just wanted to run some details by you and make sure everything is to your standard. First, the meadow. We're not going to bring in flowers because…well it looks perfect the way it is, but we will be decorating it. Eleazar and Carmen will be arriving home on Friday and will come, but I can't see Tanya and her sisters there. You should ask them, Bella doesn't want to cause a rift in the family and we may need them if things go badly with Jacob-"
"They'll attack the entire pack if we give them the opportunity; that includes Beth and Leah. I'm not willing to chance it."
Alice nodded, choosing not to push it. "All right, so besides family, Carlisle is inviting one of his co-workers but it'll be very small. Carlisle's walking Bella down the aisle, Emmett's officiating-"
My head swung swiftly towards her. "Seriously, whose idea was that?"
Alice smirked. "Yours, actually. Back when you were trying to make Bella more comfortable about getting married during the summer after graduation. She thought it would help keep it fun considering everything going on."
"I can't believe she remembered it."
Alice rolled her eyes. "Bella remembers everything you say to her."
"Is there anything else you need my help with?"
"No." I stood but soon felt Alice's hand on my wrist. "Edward, we'll keep her safe. Anyone of us would sacrifice ourselves for her, she's our family too."
My eyes closed as her words sunk in. "I know, but hopefully it won't come to that. Thank you Alice, for everything."
"You're welcome big brother." She winked as she danced to the edge of the clearing before she paused. "Tell Bella I'll be here for her in the morning, you better not try to hide her from me." Before the laugh left my mouth, Alice was gone. I turned, heading back into the house, making sure to announce my entrance and wait for Leah to come out of the bedroom to enter.
"You ready for bed, love?" Bella turned a brilliant red as Beth slipped off the bed and walked past me.
"Night Edward, I'll see you tomorrow mom." Beth left the room and when I heard the door to her room close I pulled Bella to me.
"I love you." The words were barely a whisper against my chest, but they rang out loud and clear.
"I love you too, Bella, with everything I have."
Bella's hands slid up my chest and gripped the hair at the base of my neck. Leaning down to meet her lips, I kissed her with all the desperation that today had brought out of me. It seems that there is always something trying to steal our happiness and I was determined to end it now. Reaching down, I swung Bella into my arms and carried her to the bed, snuggling around her as she fit perfectly against my body.
Finally breaking the kiss, Bella rolled over and I pulled her back flush to my chest and held her close.
BPOV
Morning came far too quickly after a fitful night of sleep, Alice's unrelenting knock waking me up with a start. "Relax; it's only the wedding Nazi." Edward snickered against my neck as he kissed between my shoulder blades and hopped out of bed so he could let Alice in.
"Are you ready?" Alice's enthusiasm was boundless this morning and soon I was changed and eating the breakfast Edward had cooked for me.
"Call me when you're done." Edward's voice was even but the anxiety was obvious as he gave Alice the unnecessary warning and pressed a quick peck to my forehead and disappeared out the door.
The next few hours were filled with a rundown of everything Alice and I had discussed in recent weeks and every detail until Edward left for the night on Friday and we had our "sleepover" or partial sleepover, as Alice and Rosalie would be on guard duty while Edward stayed the night at the main house. It wouldn't have been a wedding planning session without Alice begging to see my dress, but now I was even more convinced that I had to keep it a secret as Edward would be listening to everything to try and keep me safe. With a pout that could break a lesser heart, Alice trilled out the front door as I went to take a shower.
I heard the muffled screaming before the water was even off, so as I fumbled with my towel, closing myself into the linen closet just to be safe as the shouting got louder I braced myself for what might come, cursing the fact that we waited at all.
A few minutes later I heard doors slamming and the sound of Edward's worried voice. "Bella! Bella, where are you?"
"I'm in here." I called out a second before the linen closet door opened.
The smile on Edward's face would have been comical if he wasn't so alarmed. "What are you doing hiding in the closet?"
"I heard you screaming and I thought-" Before I could finish my sentence, Edward had me cradled to his chest and was squeezing me as tight as he dared.
"Oh God! I'm so sorry, love. I was yelling at Alice for leaving you unprotected, but I didn't think about how it might sound to you."
"You shouldn't have yelled at Alice, she was still in the clearing and fully capable of protecting me if need be. Plus Jasper is out in the woods running patrol until Alice was done. You should apologize to her."
Edward's expression shifted into a mask of contrition as he nodded and sat me down. "You're right. I'll let you change and go talk to her before she finishes up out there. I'll be right back."
Edward left and I threw on some sweats and climbed into bed, both physically and emotionally drained from the last 24 hours.
EPOV
I wasn't gone for more than five minutes, but when I re-entered our bedroom Bella was sound asleep. Enjoying the opportunity to watch her at peace, I climbed beside her and watched her sleep the way I did a lifetime ago. But we weren't the same people we had been in that small bedroom in Forks, and this afternoon, her sleep was far from peaceful. She tossed and turned worse than she had last night, clenching her fists and grinding her teeth as she whimpered and squeezed her eyes tight. If she wasn't in such desperate need of sleep, I would have woken her up, but as it was, I couldn't bear to disturb her. The nightmares got worse and it broke my silent heart to see her in so much pain. A little while later, when she started crying out, I finally shook her gently until she popped off the bed and looked at me with terrified eyes. "Oh!"
Her arms wrapped around my neck as she clung to me and I tried in vain to soothe her. She cried in broken sobs and stuttered breaths while I stroked her hair and rubbed circles on her back, waiting for her to calm down on her own.
When that happened she pulled back to look me in the eye. "Promise me that you won't go up against him alone. I could never survive losing you again, and Jake won't play fair. He'll goad you into it and…"
I pulled her back to me as I kissed her head. "I'm not going anywhere. I've survived far worse than Jacob Black. Is that what this dream was about, because it was just your fear, sweetheart, nothing more."
"No, Edward. I've had dreams like this before. They're not true premonitions, but there is definite truth in them. Promise me that you'll be careful."
"I promise."
Bella relaxed and then smiled, appeased by my words as she settled back into her pillow.
The next morning, Bella woke up even more exhausted than she had yesterday. The nightmares hadn't been as bad as that first one, but they made sleep elusive for her and I was surprised she was even conscious when Eleazar and Carmen arrived to meet her. The warmth of the conversation eased Bella's nerves as she was still worried that the remainder of the Denali clan would hold the same resentment towards her.
Eleazar kept the chat light, asking about things that she noticed that were unique about herself. Bella told him about how she would have these dreams, some she had never even told me about, that as she mentioned the previous night weren't the future but did foreshadow things that had come to pass. She told him about her mental block, but it wasn't until she brought up the emotional pull Beth had felt towards her while she was unconscious that his face came to life.
"So your emotions helped calm her?"
Bella nodded. "That's what she said."
"Has it happened any other times?" Eleazar's face lit up, much like Carlisle when he was learning some new medical information.
"I don't know. There are times my emotions become really intense, but that was the first time anyone else could feel it."
"What had you been thinking about before you were put under?"
"I don't know…between the pain and the blood loss…"
"You were worried about Beth. You were calling her name and begging us to find her." I supplied for them.
Eleazar was silent for a moment. "She's a type of emopath."
"Like Jasper?" Bella squeezed my hand.
"Somewhat. It appears that you attune yourself to the people you're close to and are able to sense their emotions and project yours. The dreams are most likely your subconscious filtering your intuition through the emotions you feel towards the subject. Your ability to sense things about people close to you is why they are similar to real events, but without actual precognition ability it is hit and miss."
"What about the mental block?" I wanted to know why Bella's mind was a mystery to me.
"Her mind's way of protecting her ability. If her mind were vulnerable, then people would be able to manipulate her and her power. The fact that this is present while she's still human means she will be quite powerful."
Bella smiled up at him with wide eyes. "Really?"
He smiled and stood up. "Yes. Now, we are going out to hunt, but we will see you both tomorrow at the wedding. Congratulations."
Carmen smiled and followed Eleazar as they left the living room of our hobbit hole, but the person who entered after them surprised me greatly. "Kate." My voice was clipped and it didn't escape Bella that my mood had shifted abruptly.
"Edward, can I talk to you…alone?" I stood up and gestured towards the door.
"Quickly, but I'm not going any further than the edge of the meadow."
She conceded and we walked out the front door, closing it behind us. "Edward, you know me. I don't get in the middle of these types of squabbles. That's why I came instead of Tanya and Irina. Tanya's hurt about your choice and Irina is upset about Laurent. This isn't going to happen the way you'd like, but they are hurting. You all were the closest thing to family we have outside of each other and Eleazar and Carmen. Losing that bond was like losing our mother all over again." I almost spoke but she cut me off. "That wasn't meant to guilt you into something. I was merely trying to illustrate a point. We aren't going to cause you any problems so don't worry about one of us coming after the dogs."
I hissed in anger as I spit out my words. "Those dogs are part of my family. One of them is about to be my step-daughter."
Kate recoiled at the tone of my voice. "Sorry. If you ever want to try to reach out again, let me know. I know Carmen will try to get them to reconcile with you. If it were up to me, I'd come tomorrow, but I have to side with my sisters." She looked genuine as she bounced a rock on her foot like it was a hacky sack.
"Thank you for coming and for explaining it to me. Let them know that if they want to talk, we're willing to listen."
Kate smiled and then turned around and headed back to her sisters. Going back into the house, I found Bella was visibly nervous when I met her on the couch. "What did she have to say?"
"They're not coming to the wedding, but they also won't start anything. Mainly they're hurt, but there isn't much we can do about it. It'll just take time now, but at least they know we're willing to talk whenever they're ready."
Bella took my hand. "I'm sorry that this is causing your family problems. Do you think they'll come around?"
"Someday." Just then, Alice and Rosalie showed up, not even bothering to knock.
"Come on Edward, it's 7:14…we gave you a whole extra 14 minutes." Alice smirked and I grumbled as I held Bella close.
"The next time I see you, we'll be saying 'I do.'" Bella blushed and I kissed her as Leah and Beth walked in.
"Go before they decide to torture me worse as punishment for delaying 'girl time' even longer."
"I love you. The next 14½ hours will be the longest of my existence."
"I love you too. Now just go to your room, there are a few surprises to help you pass the time." With my curiosity piqued, I kissed her again and then ran off to the house.
Running through the front door, I sprinted to my room but was cut off by my brothers. "Oh no you don't, we're going hunting, because once you go in that room we'll never see you again!"
I spun around to stare at Jasper. "You know what it is?"
"I do." I tried to listen to his thoughts, but as soon as I did the mental image of Alice I was confronted with made me shiver in disgust.
"Not cool."
Emmett laughed from behind me. "Let's go, little brother. I need some food so I'll be ready for my big day tomorrow."
I rolled my eyes as I followed them outside.
BPOV
After showering, I was buffed and polished and painted until I was fully ready for tomorrow. Leah, Beth, and I ate a wonderful meal that Alice whipped up, and then we sat around until it was time to go to bed. Leah went to sleep in Beth's room, leaving the two of us to spend some quality time before the long separation that would start tomorrow after the wedding.
Beth was quiet for a while, so long that I had thought she was asleep when she finally spoke. "Mom…would be upset if I called Edward 'dad' now that you're getting married?"
The question caught me off guard. "Beth…I love how close you are with Edward, it is the only way I could even think about going through with this tomorrow, but I don't want you to disregard your father."
Beth sat up and looked at me. "Jake may be my 'father' but he will never be my 'dad.' A dad worries about you and puts your needs first and is willing to die for you. Those are things that my father has never done. He is risking the life of my family and friends for his own personal desires, he hurt you and he's endangering my tribe with his selfishness. Why can't you see just how bad of a guy he is?"
"I hate your father for all the pain he's caused us, but I could never regret the choice I made in being with him, because you came out of it." I had to be truthful with her, because I did despise him for all the pain he caused, but I could never wish that it hadn't happened.
Beth huffed a breath and then laid back down face to face with me. "It takes more than DNA to be a father. I just want Edward to know how much he means to me."
I smiled at her. "Okay. I know Edward will appreciate it. He thinks of you as a daughter already, so it will mean the world to him."
Hugging my daughter, Alice popped in with a glass of water and pill cupped in her hand. "If you want to be conscious tomorrow, you better take this tonight."
Sighing, I took the pill from her and swallowed it, cuddling into the covers with Beth close as I drifted off to sleep.
EPOV
We got back to the house around two in the morning and it took both Emmett and Jasper restraining me to stop me from running to Bella and breaking all tradition to spend tonight with her. I knew she was safe, but tonight was the last night she would be human…the last night she slept, her heartbeats, the music that inspired me were numbered, and I was missing it all. But I knew it was important to Bella to have this time with Beth, so sullenly, I went upstairs until I saw the laptop on my bed.
I powered it on and noticed three icons in the center of the desktop, titled simply '1,' '2,' and '3.' Clicking on the first one, a word document opened and began to read.
"Roads Go Ever Ever On" By J.R.R Tolkien
Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains in the moon.
Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known.
My Darling Edward,
Breathe deep! In a few short hours we will be joined for the last time, because for all eternity, nothing will be able to part us after I become yours. I know you wanted to be with me tonight and the fact that you're staying away is a testament to why you are my forever. Look under your pillow, I hope what you find there helps and know that I love you with everything I am, and everything I will become. You are my soul Edward, and I will gladly give up the possibility of heaven for the guarantee of the heaven I experience every second I'm in your arms. Be strong my love, and enjoy your gifts.
Love,
Your Bella
I smiled as I reached under my pillow and found one of her shirts. I slipped it over one of the pillows so I could cuddle with it as I tried to pass the time until morning. Clicking on the next icon, a video popped up, only about five or so minutes long, but it was the most wonderful thing I could have imagined. At some point in all of this, Bella had filmed a small part of a nap she took, looking absolutely beautiful as she sighed, rolling towards the camera, her hair covering part of her face until she shifted again, revealing her features once more. I played the video two more times before I finally moved on to the last item. Opening the audio file, I let out a muted sob as I heard Bella's heartbeat recorded on a loop. She took the things I would miss the most and saved them for me so I could remember how it all began.
Playing her heartbeat, I held the Bella-clad pillow close, breathing in her scent until Jasper came to get me. "Edward, Emmett wanted me to tell you to stop huffing Bella and get ready. We'll be heading over there in an hour."
Nodding, I reluctantly put down the pillow and made my way to shower and get dressed.
All too soon, I was ready and stood face to face with Esme, who was waiting behind for Sura, Carlisle's colleague from work. I still didn't know why he had felt the need to invite him, but Carlisle never did anything like this lightly, so I would trust him with his secrecy. Soon, Eleazar and Carmen arrived and helped Jasper keep me from jumping out of my skin until our final guest arrived.
When Sura knocked on the door, we went out to meet him as we walked the four wheelers we bought to drive to the ceremony. Esme rode with me, careful not to ruin her dress as we drove carefully to the meadow. As we stood up, she squeezed my arm and I turned to look at her as she looked me in the eye.
Sura is Leah's imprint.
As soon as I heard her thought, I felt my eye pop out of my eyes as I remembered the day Leah came home telling us of the chance meeting in the wood. "How?"
"Sura came in the next day talking about his hunting trip and how his grandmother was convinced it was an Amarok, which is the Inuit legend of the great wolf. Carlisle casually asked him about it until he was positive that he was the person Leah had imprinted on. So he invited him so that Leah could get her happy ending today as well."
I smiled at the idea of my father playing matchmaker, but after fifty years with Alice, I guess even he is not immune to meddling in others lives from time to time, after all the pixie made it look so easy.
As it was almost time, I stood in the center of the clearing, with Jasper to my right and Emmett standing in front of me as our four guests stood off to the side of the meadow. The door to the house finally opened and Rosalie walked up, winking at Emmett before turning to stand far to his side. Alice followed, prancing through the beautiful wild flowers that blanketed the meadow. As she took her place, Leah began to walk, but her eyes soon locked with Sura and reluctantly she took her place next to Alice. Beth stepped out and walked at a determined pace as she stood just on the other side of Emmett as my eyes focused on the door.
Carlisle appeared a second before my Bella, but once she was within my sight, there was no one else in my world. She looked stunning with her hair only partially up, creating a crown of hair on her head as the rest flowed in soft waves down her shoulders and back. Her dress was understated, a simple skirt with a slight train and a gathered detail on the bust of the empire waist dress.
Her smile filled her face as she quite literally glowed on my father's arm. I knew that Bella missed Charlie more today because he wasn't there to give her away, but as Carlisle placed her hand in mine, it didn't show.
Emmett began the short ceremony, using the traditional vows with, remarkably, no ad-libbing, and the use of "as long as we both shall live" for the end of our vows. We exchanged our rings and in the seconds before Emmett was able to pronounce us man and wife, I was already kissing Bella, elated that she was finally mine.
We returned to the main house for a family dinner, which we were dreading as we would have to pretend for Sura's sake. When we got back, though, he was noticeably missing, that is until we noticed that Leah was also MIA. Laughing at the providence that brought this all together, we sat around with our family as Beth and Bella ate before Rosalie sat at my piano, playing as Bella and I danced. The day had flown by us as I held my wife close, not acknowledging anything else, except for the dance I shared with Alice, Esme, and Beth, as Bella took her turns with 'her boys' and Carlisle.
It wasn't long before Bella let out a small yawn. I gladly let her say a tearful good-bye to Beth and Leah, who had finally reappeared with Sura. As the rest of my family said goodnight to us, I lifted Bella into my arms and carried her cradled against me chest all the way back to our home, where I continued to hold her until she stood before the bed.
Running to lock the door, I returned as Bella kicked off her heels, standing behind her to lower the zipper on her dress, in awe of the fact that Bella and I were finally married after all these years. The blur of moments were not lost to my vampire senses, but I couldn't focus on them as the dress that had looked exquisite on Bella slid down her frame to pool at her feet.
Bella blushed as my clothes quickly fell from my body, leaving us both in our underwear. Her heart was pounding and I closed my eyes, realizing that they were about to cease. "Edward?" Bella's voice was quiet. I looked into the pools of liquid chocolate as they burned with intensity.
"Thank you for last night, that was exactly what I needed and the only thing that will help me survive the next three days without you."
Bella smiled and placed her hand on my heard. "I'll be here from the moment my eyes close until my final heartbeat awakens me to our eternity."
I leaned down to kiss her as she moaned into my mouth, bringing me to the edge of madness as I shredded her undergarments as well of my own and lifted her onto the bed. We lay there a tangle of limbs and lips until Bella shifted, opening herself up to me.
Entering her, I moved slowly, knowing that the sheer emotion was enough to crumble my resolve and I wasn't going to change her because I had injured her, but as the final declaration of love.
Bella shifted under me and I moaned as the new angle allowed me to fill her even more. Bella's arms wrapped around me as I continued my slow pace, pressing her breasts into my chest and causing her nipples to harden at the chill. She loosened my hands grip on the sheets and placed my right hand on her hip, where I rubbed gentle circles as she dragged my left up her side until she moved my hand with hers over her breast. "Touch me Edward, I want to feel your hands on me."
Reclaiming her mouth, I let her movements guide me as we kept our slow pace. Moving with her this way, her as the yin to my yang, I could feel my impending release near. Bella was also nearing her end as I felt her tighten around me. Four thrusts later, we both tumbled into ecstasy as my name fell from Bella's perfect mouth. Her eyes were focused on mine as I kept moving inside her, helping to prolong her bliss as I pressed a final kiss to her lips. Brushing my lips from hers down the column of her neck until I hovered over her pulse point, I kissed it and murmured, "I love you, Bella." Moving closer still I opened my mouth against the thin skin of her neck and felt it give way as my teeth found purchase on the flesh of my beloved.