A/N: As you see, I still haven't forgotten this story. A huge Thank You to those of you readers that are still following it, and took the time to leave some lovely reviews. It's not why I write, but it does really help keep me motivated to continue.
Chapter Nineteen
An Amazing Attraction
Sometimes words are just not enough. Even when they are not being misused or misconstrued there are times when words fail to fully express one's feelings or just feel insufficient. Bella's desire and instinct took over when she captured Alice's cool, soft lips with her own. Alice's response was confirmation that she was delivering her message without her usual struggle to find the right words. Alice seems surprised at first but was more than receptive as she allows her lips to part slightly and kiss Bella back, reveling at the expression of Bella's affection and acceptance. Since she's told Bella the truth about what she was she felt a heavy weight had been lifted, but she couldn't help the occasional feelings of doubt that crept in at times about how Bella would feel once this information had more time to sink in.
There's a feeling of tremendous relief for Alice, her mind and body rejoices as her lips became reacquainted with Bella's. She had missed just how warm and delicate these human lips were and the way these kisses made her feel while Bella had kept her distance from her.
As their kissing intensifies Bella feels an indescribable urge for something more and she seeks to deepen the contact. Her tongue sought entry between silky smooth lips and Alice is happy to oblige. They luxuriate in the amazing kiss for a long while and when Alice gradually pulls back Bella follows her, seeking reconnection. The corners of Alice's lips curl up before she gives her a quick peck, smaller hands subtly press against Bella's waist to keep her steady for a moment.
When Bella opens her eyes and she sees darkening amber, her heart pounds not out of fear but desire. And though she wants nothing more at this moment than to continue kissing Alice, a questioning look in Alice's expression gives her pause.
"What's the matter?" Bella's voice is as soft and caressing as the palm that reaches up and strokes the side of Alice's face.
Alice takes in a deep breath, an unconscious physical response that comes from many years of meditation, it usually calms her and helps her regain focus. Only now the effect is quite the opposite. The delicious scent of Bella fills her entire being and she's now even more mindful of Bella's close proximity. Its more than the scent of her blood that drives her senses wild. She perceives all the layers of varying scents; the natural scent of her skin, delicate traces of her body wash and shampoo with floral scents and underlying notes of something fruity, like mangoes and peaches. Its an orchestra of fragrances all blending together in perfect harmony, and the crescendo of it is Bella's undeniable arousal that is enough to send the vampire into a lust filled frenzy if she doesn't keep her own desires under control.
Bella has no idea the effect she has on me. She knows more than she did before, but there's no way she can understand the extent of it... Alice muses and she tries to regain some composure and give answer to the warm concern of her beloved human.
With a slight quiver of her head and a wry smile she breaths out, "You don't know what you're getting yourself into."
"If this is your way of giving me a final chance to run away from you, you should know by now that its too late for that."
The part of Alice that stems from her altruistic nature urges her to put more effort into warning the exquisitely sweet and innocent human, to tell her that anyone with an ounce of common sense and self-preservation should keep her distance from any and all vampires, herself included. But the internal voice that is the most dominant right now desperately hopes that Bella would never leave her side.
Her feelings for Bella override whatever internal struggles she may have, convincing her to give her more caring side a voice. "You deserve a chance for something–someone…normal, or at least a lot less complicated."
"I've never cared about what's considered normal by most people. Besides, I've never felt normal, because I'm not. I don't want to be", Bella quickly replies.
Alice hums in response. She pretty much already figured out this much about Bella, but it was the first time she heard her sound so…unequivocal with an answer about herself. As sure as Bella may feel about continuing this path with her, she feels the need to warn her of the potential dangers of being involved with a vampire.
"I want you…to be safe always. And I'd do anything to ensure your well-being. But there are things that have been out of my control recently…like what happened with Edward. I don't want anything like that to ever happen again. Bella, I'm so sorry for being able to stop that, and not being able to tell you the truth sooner…I should ha-"
Bella gently cusps Alice's angular jaw with a hand, the warmth soaking into her much cooler skin, causing her to pause when chocolate brown gaze earnestly into honey colored eyes.
"Alice, you don't have to keep apologizing for that. Its not your fault. I'm glad that you did tell me when you did, and I think I understand why it didn't happen sooner. But as long as we're always honest with each other from now on I believe we can get through this."
Alice nods, and for a moment allowing herself to absorb some of Bella's positive outlook, but an underlying concern must have shown on her face.
Bella takes one of Alice's smaller hands in her own, which had found their way back to her own lap during this brief exchange. Her thumb moves in a slow circular pattern across the marble smooth pale skin. It was a comforting yet oddly seductive at the same time.
"If you're willing to give me a chance, I'm pretty sure I'll get used to you being a vampire."
Alice knew there was more involved than a matter of Bella becoming accustomed to this new information about her. And as much as she thought that Bella suspected more was at stake, this simple statement was perhaps the most eloquent and enchanting thing she could have said to her at this moment. She feels a soft current of energy travel through the connection of their joined hands and she can't tear her eyes away from the soulful depths of chocolate brown, she's so absorbed by their warmth and she sees the undeniable look of unabashed want in them. Whatever this was that was happening between them was more than just physical attraction. She never felt such vitality; it was like blood coursing through her veins again. A sensation she could never remember feeling as long as she's been a vampire.
Alice could easily become addicted to this feeling if she wasn't already. As wonderful as it felt, the thought occurred to her that succumbing to any sort of addiction usually comes with a price. She had so much more to lose if anything were to happen to Bella. She mentally shook herself for allowing even an ounce of fear threaten to hold her back. If anyone was worth letting herself become more vulnerable it was Bella. If she was willing to see where this would take them then Alice certainly was.
"You're pretty amazing, you know that?" there was a slightly flirtatious quality in her voice, but Alice had a sincere admiration for the beautiful brunette who captivated her ever since her first vision of her.
Bella bit back a smile and answered, "If anyone is the definition of amazing it's you Alice."
"Well since you're amazing and I am absolutely the most stunning definition of amazing…" Bella lets out a laugh when Alice rolls her eyes with a dramatic flair. Alice quirks an eyebrow at her, pausing long enough for Bella to bite her lip while maintaining her smile while looking at her adoringly. Alice continues with a slightly more serious tone, "Maybe we could explore all this amazingness together?"
"There's nothing else I'd want more." Bella softly answers, looking back at Alice with utmost sincerity. She wants to discover all of Alice, absorb everything she could about this marvelously strange and beautiful being. She sensed that she had just scratched the surface of who Alice is, and what she's seen and learned so far only made her hunger for more. She's also aware that she's already falling hard for her, and though it was perhaps too soon to speak of her feelings, she knows that she's never loved anyone like she loves Alice.
Bella's eyes drop down to Alice's lips - which doesn't go unnoticed by the vampire, who in turn is captivated by the deliciously pink tongue that Bella glides smoothly across her own. Though its partly out of habit, it also acts as an unconscious signal to Alice, expressing a desire. Alice wants to be the one to lick those lips and without thought she brings herself closer and leans forward.
Bella mirrors the motion until they close the distance once again. The kiss starts slow as they take the time to savor this intimate contact, but once Bella parts her lips in invitation she feels the cool wet muscle of Alice's tongue dart inside without hesitation.
Bella feels that familiar pull from deep inside as her, the flame of desire burning hot within the deepest core of her being. When she feels the unusual coolness of Alice's tongue flicker against the roof of her mouth she lets out a desperate sounding moan.
Somewhere amidst the swarming haze of her mind she wonders why she never found this in itself somewhat alarming - the sensation of a something as cool as a popsicle melting against the heat of her mouth is surely a tale tell sign of something not quite human. But then she always knew that there was something other worldly about Alice. Until recently she had been content with keeping these signs from surfacing too close to the forefront of her mind.
Bella pushes forward, using her tongue to playfully wrestle back into Alice's mouth, earning a gratified sounding moan from the vampire as she acquiesces and allows the human a show of dominance.
Bella feels the truth of her own words and knows that there really was no going back, not for her at least. This kiss was the quintessential expression of her affection and devotion to this beautiful woman. Her being a vampire hadn't taken any of her desire for this beautiful being away - if anything she felt a hunger for her like never before.
She wants to immerse herself into Alice, taste her everywhere if it meant hearing more of her erotically charged moans and sweet mewling noises. It makes her feel as desirable as she finds Alice, fueling her boldness.
She slid herself forward and re-positioned her body until she was sitting on Alice's lap, using one hand to encourage her to sink further against the sofa while another ran through Alice's soft mane of short wild hair.
Alice's hands glide down her back and firmly squeeze Bella's glorious back side, reveling in the firm gluteal muscles that tightened automatically in response. Bella's desire for more contact escalates exponentially at the strength of Alice's deceptively smaller hands. Her hips thrust forward instinctively, grinding herself against Alice's center. A small animalistic groan escapes from Bella's throat and her mouth dives down ravenously as if to consume her.
In the back of Alice's mind an alarm is sounding, telling her that this was spiraling much further than intended. When Bella arches herself further into her and she feels her breasts brushing against her chest her instinct is to throw her down on the couch and sprawl on top of her.
While Alice is quite aware of her ever growing desire for the beautiful human, the projection of a scene suddenly flickers against the screen of her mind's eye, propelling her to take further action. She sees herself ripping off Bella's top and any of the clothes that could get in the way of merging herself fully with her. She can already feel flesh against flesh, lips and tongue brushing all the soft warm skin she could find. Her canines start to tingle, ready to drop into fangs and scrape across soft warm human skin, punctuating with a bite or two, using just enough pressure to mark her without puncturing the delicate flesh. Though it could be mistaken for one of Alice's visions, something about the images feel decidedly different from what she was used to. There was an external feeling about what she saw in her mind's eye.
"Bella…" Alice's voice is barely above a whisper. She is overwhelmed by the amalgam of emotional bonding and sexual desire, and the heat of an all-consuming craving she feels coming from herself and Bella.
"Alice…" Bella's voice drops into a low husk and positively drips with lust, and Alice feels a jolt of sexual energy flash between her legs and spiral up along her spine. When did this girl become such an enchantress?
The lick of Bella's tongue against her neck causes a deep guttural sound to escape from Alice, a blending of an unrestrained moan and a loud purr reverberates from the caverns of her chest. Alice is drowning in waves of lust pouring in from Bella's heightened sexual state as she continues to lavish wet kisses along the length of her neck and firmly attaches her mouth on the soft spot just below her ear. She sucks even harder when she hears Alice gasp out loud at the delightful sensation.
The distinctive sensation of teeth biting against her skin startles Alice enough to take action.
Suddenly there's that strange whir of motion that Bella experienced before in the forest. A slightly disorienting feeling when her body's position is being altered without effort or intention. She blinks and finds herself leaning back against the sofa and she's immediately conscious at the absence of Alice's body against her own.
A puff of air escapes her lips at the unexpected alteration and her eyes track across the room to find where Alice is now standing.
"Alice, how-what…did I do something wrong?"
The petite vampire has her hands clasped behind her back and she flexes her calf muscles and bounces on her toes a few times. Her tongue darts out and scan across the surface of her upper lip as she looks contemplatively at Bella. Her lips begin to curl up into a gentle smile. Bella finds her expression both curious and endearing.
Alice cheeks puff out as she lets out a breath and she releases both her hands. Her fingers brush the strands of her hair back which look wilder than usual after their abruptly ended make out session.
"No Bella. I'm sorry its just…I need to cool off for a moment. We both were getting a little carried away there." Her smile broadens for a moment and Bella wonders if its just her imagination when she sees the flash of sharp fangs.
Bella's cheeks flush at the thought. She looks adoringly at the slightly flustered vampire. She nibbles her lower lip as she keeps herself from asking Alice if her fangs were out. She wonders why its such a turn on for her, but then everything about Alice is enticing to her. Maybe that would explain the intensity of her amorous actions. It would be easy to blame it on how hot Alice was rather than admitting that she was just another horny teenager anyway.
She suddenly feels a little embarrassed by just how far she was not only willing to go with Alice, but also just how badly she wanted it.
"I'm the one who should apologize. I don't know why I pushed myself on you like that…I mean I just really like you, and no one's ever affected me the way you do…you-you're so beautiful Alice."
Bella sucks her lips in at how awkwardly she sounded while trying to explaining herself. Her eyes cast down at her fingers while she tugs nervously at them.
She looks back up at the sound of Alice's gentle laugh, the wind chime sound tinkles sweetly at her. Alice gives her a sidelong glance and there's a look of merriment in her eyes. "It's all part of the vampire's charm, remember?"
Bella's expression turns more thoughtful as she looks back at her in momentary silence. Slowly she raises herself from the sofa and looks unwavering at her. She takes a few steady steps to stand before the smaller figure and places her hands on Alice's shoulders.
"Alice, you are beautiful in every way. I'm sure you were just as beautiful and desirable before you became a vampire."
Alice gingerly places her hands along the curve of the taller brunette's hips. She soaks in the way Bella is looking at her, as if she really was the most beautiful person she's ever known. Not just a seductively beautiful vampire, but something much more.
"You say the sweetest things" she murmurs as if she were in the middle of the most wondrous dream. She wants to stay in this moment with Bella for as long as possible.
The soft gurgling of Bella's stomach eventually breaks the moment, causing Alice break out in delighted laughter when Bella glances down at the source of the ill-timed interruption. She looks back up at Alice through eyelashes with an amused expression before giving into laughter as well.
"Sounds like someone is hungry", Alice says in a playful voice.