"I won't let anyone take you away from me ever again." I breathed into Bella's pale flesh. She lay spread out like a goddess on our bed and I couldn't resist slowly waking her up. I needed her. I needed to feel her.
When she disappeared from Alice's visions, my whole world stopped. The pain of thinking she might be gone forever had been crippling. Now that she was back in my arms, I had no intentions of ever letting her out of my sight again. Of course I knew that was unrealistic, but I couldn't help the desperate need to keep her by my side.
I hovered over her as I pushed her tank top further up her body until just the bottoms of her breasts peeked out from under the cotton fabric. Her long chestnut locks spilled out over the pillow and one arm was tossed over her head. Lightly skimming her exposed torso with my lips, I kissed my way up towards those delicious mounds. She moaned softly, as I traced the bottom curve of her left breast with my tongue. I tasted the curve of her other breast, then blew cool air over the wet flesh, causing her nipples to harden even more, straining against the fabric of her tank. Her heart rate was accelerating and her even breathing hitched. As I continued to kiss and lick her creamy, soft flesh, her other hand found it's way into my hair. The scent of her arousal filled the room and I breathed it in greedily. When I looked up at her, she still had her eyes closed, but a soft smile played on her sleep plumped lips. My fingers danced delicately over her sides, before I wrapped my arms around her and continued kissing upwards, following the valley between her breasts until I reached the slender column of her neck. The taste of her salty sweet skin against my lips and tongue was burned into my eternal memory. Nothing would ever taste as divine as Bella. My lips slowly found their way to her waiting mouth, and my fingers wove themselves into the silky hair at the back of her neck, gently holding her as closely as possible. My steel length pressed against her thigh and the need to claim her fully as mine was overwhelming. Still, I resisted. My insecurities over hurting her in the heat of moment persisted, and my moral upbringing from decades past demanded I marry her first.
Bella eagerly returned the kiss, her eyes still closed and crusted with sleep. Finally, she had given up her own insecurities over her appearance first thing in the morning. It had taken some time, but I'd finally convinced her I found her completely appealing regardless of what she believed. Her breath was hot and sweet first thing in the morning, untainted by food or minty toothpaste. She was her most natural and beguiling at this moment. I cared not for the pretenses of perfectly coiffed hair and makeup, perfume and minty breath. This was pure Bella, and she was sweet ambrosia.
I slowly ended the kiss and pulled away, waiting for her to open her eyes. Her skin flushed beautifully and her lips were red and swollen. She was exquisite and I would miss these small human markers once she was one of us, but I knew there was so much more we would gain once we were truly equals. There were experiences I could never give her as a human, and we'd have an eternity to enjoy those things, as well as each other.
"Good morning, beautiful." I murmured.
Finally, her eyelashes fluttered and her heavy lids opened to reveal those deep chocolate pools I'd never forget as long as I existed.
"Mmm. Morning." She mumbled back.
We were both so utterly content in this moment, as much as we ached for more. I was loathe to break the connection, but I had plans, and with one last chaste kiss to her lips, I rolled away, chuckling to myself as she groaned.
"I'll be right back with breakfast, if you want to go have your human moment."
She nodded sleepily and I couldn't tear my eyes away from her as she stretched. Her muscles rippled and the throaty moan she let out did nothing to lessen my throbbing erection. It had been much easier to control myself before my first release with Bella, but since she'd gotten her hands on me, it was like a monster had been let out of it's cage. My cock constantly ached for her touch, and I found myself hardening from even the slightest whiff of her delectable scent. I'd suffered through decades of loneliness as the three perfectly mated pairs I lived with shared the most intimate of acts, and I finally understood what I had been missing. The need for that connection between us was insatiable. I could not wait to claim her and thrust myself into those moist depths, destroying any bed or wall that might get in our way. My, how the tables have turned. I could no longer look down on my siblings for their uncontrolled lust now that I'd had a small taste of things to come with Bella. Months ago, I would have been appalled at my thoughts, but now, they were comforting. I felt complete and somewhat normal. Carlisle and Esme had always wondered if I'd been changed too young, and perhaps, was incapable of finding comfort with another – whether they be male or female. Hearing those thoughts for as long as I had did nothing to assure me I was anything but abnormal. These primal urges and the connection I had found with Bella set their fears to rest, and in turn, my own.
Bella caught me watching her and smirked at me. I merely returned the look and shook my head, bounding from the room to gather her breakfast. I'd prepared everything but the pancakes, wanting them to be hot and fresh. I turned on the burner and added the blueberries to the batter. Bella made her way into the bathroom, while I finished putting together the other details of her meal. The sausage had been kept warm in the oven, and the fruit was chilled. A glass of fresh squeezed orange juice completed the meal. I added a small covered dish on the right side of the tray and a small bundle of wildflowers rested in a shot glass Emmett had sent from one of the many airports he and Rose had been through in the past months. Despite the fact that he couldn't drink, the fool had a collection of shot glasses from every place he'd ever been. Considering he had fifty years to amass this collection, it was quite extensive.
The pancakes cooked quickly, and I had them plated up just as she came out of the bathroom.
"Back in bed!" I ordered and though she shook her head, she obeyed.
Once she was settled, I brought the tray into our room and set it carefully over her lap. Seeing her face light up with a smile was all the thanks I needed.
"It looks delicious. What's the occasion?" She asked, cocking an eyebrow at me.
"No occasion. Just happy that you're here with me." I leaned forward to kiss her forehead before settling myself at the foot of the bed. The anticipation was killing me, but I just knew it was the right time.
"What's this?" Her hands flew to the small covered dish and I stopped her quickly.
"That's dessert. Leave it for last. No peeking!" I hurriedly blurted out. I wanted her to enjoy her meal first.
With a dubious look, she reluctantly cut into her stack of pancakes, eying the covered dish as if it would suddenly jump off the tray and bite her. As the first forkful hit her tongue she hummed appreciatively.
"These are really good." She tried to speak with her mouth full.
I flashed her a quick smile, anxious for her to hurry up and get to dessert. "I'm learning."
She nodded and continued to eat, understandably famished after the events of the day before. I'd allowed her sleep in until almost noon, and she had not eaten hardly anything since the previous morning. Carmen and Eleazar were back on the main island, and the rest of the family had gone back to the mainland to pick up Em and Rose at the airport. They could have made their own way, but I requested some privacy for my plans with Bella today and they were happy to oblige.
We didn't talk much as she finished up her breakfast. After she swiped the last bite of pancakes through the maple syrup on her plate, I removed the tray from the bed.
"Hey! What about dessert?" She exclaimed as she reached for the covered dish.
I deftly maneuvered away from her grasp and set the tray on the floor, taking the dessert dish into my own hands. If my heart could beat, it would have been hammering against my chest. I turned to her and knelt on the floor, holding the plate out in front of me, one hand resting on the top so she couldn't remove it until I was ready.
"Bella, you are my life, my everything. I never knew what I was missing in my life until I found you, and I now I simply cannot exist without you by my side. Please, say you will stand by my side for eternity? Will you marry me?" I finally removed the cover to the plate and there, nestled in an open velvet box, was my mother's wedding ring.
I could hear her heart stutter and begin to race. She had sucked in a breath, but not released it. My girl was frozen, staring at the ring. Of all the times I had wished to hear her mind, this was definitely the most frustrating. I searched her face and eyes for any telltale sign of what she might be thinking, but it was impossible to tell. I had stopped breathing as well, waiting for her response, and the longer she took, the more sure I was of her rejection.
"Breathe, Bella." I murmured, breaking her trance.
"I...I..." She stuttered. "I didn't expect this." Bella finally spit out.
"Bella?" I questioned her, picking up the box and placing the plate behind me. "Marry me?"
Her eyes bounced back and forth between me and the ring, and she looked panicked and I was sure it was too soon. I'd screwed everything up and moved too quickly in my desperation to keep her safe.
Then the corners of her mouth began to twitch and a breathtaking smile started to form. She took the box from my fingers and looked up at me, her wide brown eyes shining with tears.
"Yes." She breathed.
A million unnamed emotions surged through me. I'd waited almost a century to put a ring on the finger of the woman I loved. After so long, I began to think it would never happen.
I let out the breath I'd been holding. "Yes? Really?"
She nodded, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye. "Yes. Really."
I took the box from her and fumbled to get the ring out. I was so excited, my hands were trembling. Taking her left hand in my own, I moved to sit on the bed next to her.
"I promise to love you forever – every day of forever." Then I slipped the ring on her finger and kissed it. I was overwhelmed with emotion at seeing my mother's ring sparkling on Bella's finger. My cheeks were stretched tight as my grin spread impossibly wider. Bella was glowing and her eyes sparkled as she admired the ring as well. "Do you like it?" I asked, suddenly wondering if I should have gotten her something more modern. The oval face contained slanted rows of glittering diamonds surrounded by a fragile web of gold. The band was delicate and narrow. It may have been outdated, but it looked like it belonged on her finger.
"I love it." She looked me in the eye, so I could see she meant it.
"It was the ring that my father gave to my mother. I know it's old fashioned. If you want something different..."
"No!" She cut me off. "It's perfect."
"A perfect fit too." We both stared at the ring on her finger, giddy with excitement.
Bella suddenly flung herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck and crashing her lips to mine. "I love you." She repeated over and over as we kissed. I laid her back on the bed and curled up beside her. Weaving my fingers through her long tresses, I pulled her head closer to me as our lips continued to move together, her soft flesh molding to my cold marble.
"I love you too. Forever." I breathed as we lay staring into each other's eyes. It was impossible for either of us to stop grinning.
"When?" Bella asked.
"Whenever you want. Wherever you want. However you want. I just want to be your husband, and make you my wife."
She giggled. "You know Alice is going to be impossible."
I shook my head. "This is ours. We will do this however we want to do it. As long as I get you call you my wife at the end of the day, I don't care about the details."
Her eyebrow arched incredulously. "You really think we'll be able to keep her out of this?"
"I'll take care of her, love. Don't worry about it." I promised. I didn't want Bella feeling pressured into anything she wasn't comfortable with, and I knew my sister. Alice would stress Bella out with all her extravagant plans and ideas. She would be relentless.
She nodded, swallowing thickly. "'I want to do it before..."
"Absolutely. Whatever you want. You have no idea how happy you have made me." I captured her lips once more between my own. I could hear my phone vibrating in the other room. This was the fifth call and I knew it was Alice. She could wait. This was between me and Bella and there was a reason I didn't want the family here.
We lay there for a long time looking at our hands clasped together before she spoke. "I'd like to do it as soon as possible. I have to confess that I'm not like other women. I never planned my dream wedding as a little girl, so I have no idea what I want. Honestly, as long as I'm with you, I don't care."
I expected as much from Bella. "Is there anywhere special you'd like to go? Paris? The Caribbean? Hawaii?"
"England?" She asked.
"Why England?"
"Just think of all the history there. All the great novels written there." She blushed. I chuckled, knowing quite well of her passion for classic literature.
"How about the Bronte Parsonage or Jane Austen's House?" I suggested, having already investigated these places for our trip to England this summer.
"Oh really? We could get married where the Bronte sisters lived?" It pleased me greatly to see how much she looked forward to becoming my wife. She had never expressed any interested in getting married in all the time I'd known her. I wasn't sure how she would feel about the proposal, and it was a great relief to know we were on the same page.
"Yes, we could."
"Let's do it!" She bounced a little and her grin was infectious.
"Ok, we will." I agreed with my own grin.
"How soon can we go?"
I couldn't help but laugh. "Whenever you want, love. Whenever you're ready."
"Soon." She whispered, and I nodded in agreement.
"I wanted to talk to you anyway about changing you sooner." I searched her face for her reaction. She froze and seemed to be deep in thought.
"Ok." Bella finally replied, nodding absently. "When? Why?"
"I just don't want to risk losing you again. I want you by my side for eternity and the longer we wait, the more opportunities there are for something to go wrong. I'm so afraid that something is going to happen to you and I'll lose you forever." I couldn't look her in the eye. The idea of her being taken away from me was too painful. I gripped her hand more tightly, careful not to hurt her. "I can't live without you."
Her warm hand cupped my cheek and I felt her lips press against my temple. "Me either. Whenever you are ready, so am I." She whispered into my hair.
We'd talk more about the details later. For now, we were both a little emotionally exhausted. I'd give anything to know the thoughts racing through her mind, and I wondered if that would change once she was one of us. I just kept envisioning her in white, placing a gold band on my finger and walking back down the aisle as husband and wife. A pang of sadness hit me when I thought of the children we'd never have. Marriage had always been a dream of mine, and it came with the intention of starting a family. I understood more of Rose's angst in this life now that I imagined a future with Bella. We'd forever be teenagers, and while I'd have her by my side for always, the things that most couples looked forward to when starting out their lives would never be an option for us. I tried to reroute my brain towards a more positive train of thought, but heard the boat approaching.
"They're almost home." I told her. They shouldn't be back so soon, but I knew Alice would have filled them in, and in their excitement, they simply could not stay away any longer.
She sighed. As much as we loved our family, we enjoyed our time alone together much more.
"Do you really think Rosalie has changed?" She asked apprehensively.
I shrugged and stroked her hair to comfort her. "I'm not sure. I can't be sure until she's here."
"I'm not sure I'm ready to face Alice." She grimaced.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you from the irritating little pixie." That earned me a smile. I knew she'd be uneasy about the attention she was about to get. My family would make her the center of their focus as soon as they came through the doors. Alice would have told them everything already. Bella was a private person and we would have been happy to keep it to ourselves, at least for a while, but when your sister is practically omniscient, there isn't much you can keep secret. I stood up and offered her my hand. "Shall we?" She gave me a rueful smile and took my proffered hand. I led her to the living room where we sat on the couch awaiting the arrival of the family.
There wasn't a bedroom for Em and Rose, but they insisted they didn't need one. Construction on the house would go by quickly, and then we'd have plenty of room. Another month in a crowded cabin wouldn't be too intolerable, as long as the two new arrivals toned down their sexual endeavors.
Sure enough I heard Alice approaching the cabin at warp speed as soon as the boat hit the dock. I pulled Bella to a standing position slightly behind me to protect her from being tackled by the exuberant white and black blur that was about to crash through the door.
Alice stopped a few inches in front of me, her hands on her hips and one eyebrow arched delicately. As excited as I am for you two, how could you?
"How could I what?" I asked out loud, looking pointedly at Bella who strongly disliked our silent conversations.
"Bellaaaaaa!" My tiny sister whined. "How could you not let me plan your wedding? Don't you love me?"
"Of course we love you, Alice. However, this is our wedding, and we want to plan it." Bella explained from her position behind me.
Alice huffed. Just wait, I'll get her to change her mind.
"Alice." I warned. "I want you to leave me and Bella alone about this. No begging or bribing or guilt trips. If we want advice, we will ask for it. Otherwise, back off."
The rest of the family had joined us and waited anxiously by the door to see how this played out. Except for Jasper who laid a restraining hand on his wife's shoulder. She's been fuming over this since you made the decision.
"But we've been waiting for soooo long for this to happen for you. You can't take away all my fun."
"Alice, I'm serious. I've been waiting for this day as well, and Bella and I are going to do things the way we'd like them to be done. End of discussion."
Alice's eyes glazed over and she little mouth set in a grim line. "You're right. There's no changing your mind." Her face immediately split into a huge grin. "I guess congratulations are in order then." She pushed me out of the way and threw her arms around Bella, before grabbing her hand to see the ring I'd placed there. Esme and Rose quickly joined her and after admiring the ring, she was swept up in a group hug between the other women in our lives. Em clapped me on the back so hard that I staggered and Jasper chuckled.
Way to go brother! It's about time you put a ring on her finger.
I'm happy for you, Edward. You deserve this happiness.
Carlisle lingered behind my two brothers, a look of glowing pride on his face. Once they cleared out, he wrapped his arms around me. "Congratulations, my son. May your years together be filled with many blessings. I had always hoped to see this day." We shared a quiet moment and his eyes shimmered with emotion. Then Esme joined him, and if she could, she'd be weeping for joy. She fiercely embraced me, her thoughts a jumble of pure joy and happiness that I had finally found, and accepted, the other half to my heart. The reality that the last of her children had found love was bittersweet, and she reminded herself that she was not losing a son, but was indeed gaining a daughter. These two figures before me were the closest thing I had to a mother and father, and I liked to think their feelings for me on this day would have mirrored my human parents', had I been lucky enough to find a woman to love in our time. I couldn't express in words how much it meant to see my mother's ring on Bella's finger. While she could not be here in person, she would always be in my heart. It was a tangible reminder of how much a little bronze haired boy had always loved his mother.
There were greetings and congratulations going all around. Rose approached me cautiously. I really am sorry, Edward. I promise to accept Bella as a sister and wish nothing but the best for you both. I nodded, acknowledging her words, though I would only believe them once her actions supported them. My sister was fiercely loyal and I knew she considered Bella a threat to our family's security and happiness. It remained to be seen if she now truly included Bella in her definition of family, but it did seem like she was on the right path. I detected no hint of the previous vitriol that infected her thoughts concerning Bella, so I held onto hope.
The cabin was buzzing with excitement and conversation. Em and Rose were already filling us in on their travels and hunting adventures, while Alice showed them the large closet she had prepared for them to use as a dressing room. Rose didn't try to hide her contempt at the small, rustic space we'd be sharing, but she also didn't complain as loudly as usual. Emmett regaled us with tales of the giant anaconda he wrestled in Venezuela.
"It was twenty-three feet long. Not as big as the last one, but it was almost as thick around as me!"
Bella's eyes were wide as saucers as she was no doubt picturing the huge snake wrapped around Emmett. "You didn't kill it, right? I mean, snakes don't have blood to drink, do they?"
Em threw his head back and laughed. "Of course they do! It doesn't taste very good, but they do have blood."
Rose shook her head. "You should have seen him thrashing around in the river with the thing. Poor snake's teeth shattered the first time it tried to bite him."
Bella looked horrified.
"Emmett likes to play with his food." I whispered to her.
"It's just not right." She mumbled. The mood turned somber and Emmett frowned when he heard her.
I was just having a little bit of fun. I mean it's just a snake. Bears I could understand her being upset about. Those little cubs are adorable and I stay away from the mothers. Maybe she's right. I probably shouldn't prolong their suffering. That isn't right. She's right.
She's right. Carlisle, ever the compassionate one, disapproved of his youngest son's need to taunt his prey before feeding.
I nodded in response to both their thoughts. Bella was going to be as compassionate as Carlisle. At least, she would be once she learned to control her thirst. Her compassion might even aid her in overcoming the newborn blood lust more easily. The thought of her leaping on the back of a jaguar and sinking her teeth into it's jugular stirred something inside of me. It was an erotic vision, and suddenly I couldn't wait to watch her hunt – to see her throat constricting as she gulped down the hot blood pulsing from the neck of her prey. I shifted, crossing my legs to conceal my arousal, though Jasper sensed my lust and smirked. He wondered what I could have been thinking about at that moment to cause that kind of reaction. I shook my head to clear the images from my mind.
Bella stood up and crossed the room to give Emmett a hug. He looked like someone had just told him Santa wasn't real and was going over the animals he had unintentionally harmed in the name of fun.
"I'm sorry Em. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings or ruin your fun." She whispered.
He shook his head. "No, you're right Bella. I never saw it like that before. I mean, the rest of the family has always made jokes about me playing with my food, and you know me, I just laughed along with them. Hearing it like that and seeing your reaction made me think about how wrong it really is to cause those animals any more suffering than necessary. Everyone else always snaps the neck as soon as they pounce." He looked up at Carlisle, and then to me. "Why didn't anyone say anything before now? I thought you guys just wanted to reduce the mess or something. I never thought about it being more humane for the animal."
Carlisle came to lay a hand on Em's shoulder. "I believe we did bring it up when we were first showing you how to hunt. You've never been unnecessarily cruel, Emmett. Most of the time you just allow those bears to attack you. They may sustain some injury, of course, but you don't go out of your way to hurt them, just get them riled up."
He nodded and smirked. "You don't have to defend me, Pops."
Carlisle swatted the back of his head playfully. Pops! Carlisle scoffed internally.
And just like that, Emmett was back to his jovial self and let out a laugh. Rose rolled her eyes. Jasper pulled Alice onto his lap and they smiled at each other. Esme settled herself into Carlisle's arms. Bella bit her lip, still feeling uneasy about speaking up. I gestured for her to come over and sit by me. I wanted to nibble on that lip, and I did. Sliding my hands a little further down her backside than I probably should have in front of my family, I pulled her to me for a searing kiss.
Unfortunately, Emmett didn't miss a beat, especially when Bella's tiny warm hand rested on my upper thigh as she sat next to me. His eyes grew wide as saucers and I saw the thoughts forming in his head before he spoke them. I growled softly and sent him a warning glare, but it was too much of an opportunity for him to resist.
"Oh. Oh! Man! Eddie is finally getting some!" He leapt up, pointing wildly between Bella and I, a grin splitting his face. Then he headed over with his hand extended for a high five, but I refused to reciprocate. "Nothing to be ashamed of, brother. Enjoy! It's about time! Let me know if you need any advice." Bella was a bright shade of red. Though the rest of the family knew that our relationship had moved forward, it was news to Em and Rose. Rose merely raised her eyebrows and winked at Bella. Emmett refused to drop it for the remainder of the evening. Any time Bella and I got too close, or if we left him any kind of opening, he was waiting with some kind of teasing innuendo that kept Bella in various stages of blush throughout the night. She finally got fed up with his ribbing though, and after a particularly disparaging remark about my lack of experience, she spoke up.
"Emmett, you know, usually people resort to making fun of others when they are insecure about their own performance. If you'd like, I'm sure Edward could give you a few pointers. While he may not have the years of experience that you do, I assure you, there is nothing lacking about him." She smirked, and manged not to blush, while Em stood there gaping at her. She leaned in closer and lowered her voice. "It's not about the quantity after all, it's the quality, and believe me, Edward satisfies my every need." Bella winked at him before she turned on her heel and sauntered out of the kitchen - she didn't stumble once. The entire family was shaking as they tried to hold back their laughter. It was the last thing they expected out of the mouth of the shy, reserved Bella they thought they knew.
That's my girl! Even Rose seemed impressed, though she made her way to Em's side and whispered reassuringly that he satisfied her quite well.
With that short exchange, Bella had gained a new respect from the pair of them. It wasn't much later when my two siblings excused themselves to 'explore the island." There was no doubt in my mind that they would be christening a few trees, and I quickly focused my attention on the beautiful woman beside me in hopes that I wouldn't be privy to any fantasies currently playing in their minds. I had my own.