To all who are reading this, thank you!

CHAPTER 2

AFTERMATH

It was the calm after the rush, the silence of the room punctuated by tired breaths, a slowing heartbeat, and the rhythmic breaking of waves outside.

"Did I hurt you?" Carlisle panted in the crook of her neck, his satiated body braced on his forearms.

Her fingers still threaded into his hair, Bella heaved a contented sigh, her voice low when she said, "Not a lot, and only at first."

Though relieved to hear it hadn't been that bad, Carlisle needed to see her face, to assure himself that she was truly okay. Carefully, he rose higher on his arms, and sought her eyes in time to catch her lazy smile.

"Besides," she said, "you did other things. And they were..." Her slow blink conveyed nothing but satisfaction.

If Carlisle had been human, he might have blushed at her praise. Instead, glad that he had managed to make her feel good, he gave a self-effacing smile, and carefully rolled off of her.

Shoulder to shoulder, the two stared up at the ceiling, listening to the heavy surf, until Carlisle murmured, "Any regrets?"

He would understand if she harbored some. After all, what they had done was unconventional. Most would say it was messed up and weird. But for Bella and Edward, it had been the only solution.

It was a moment before she answered, "No." Her eyes were unreadable when she turned toward him in a whisper of cotton against skin, her gaze lowering to the hand she placed over his silent heart. "Maybe this started with Edward, but in the end, I did this for me."

He smiled a little at that. Then the tables turned. She asked, "What about you?"

His smile fading, he swept a lock of hair behind her ear. "I was happy to do this for you, Bella." He meant every word.

Carlisle fully expected that she would get up at this point, that she'd wrap a sheet around her frame and venture into the bathroom for a long shower. Given the circumstances, he wouldn't blame her if she needed the distance. Instead, Bella surprised him by lying back down, turning so that her back was to him.

Caught off guard, Carlisle hesitated before ultimately going with it, the two of them lightly spooning among rumpled sheets.

"It's peaceful out here," Bella said after a time.

When Carlisle hummed in affirmation, she went on in hushed tones. "Thank you, Carlisle. For everything."

"You're welcome, Bella," he whispered in turn.

Her chest rose and fell on an extended breath, her body shifting as she resettled against her pillow. Tired from the long day she'd had, it seemed that Bella would soon drift off to sleep.

So the hours passed. It was past three in the morning. Bella had been asleep for some time. Lost to dreams, she remained lying on her side, with Carlisle still spooning at her back.

His head propped by his right hand, he watched her in silent contemplation. Contrary to his initial expectations, things had gone fairly well tonight. Even so, his heart was now mired in conflict, heightened by these waking hours with nothing to do but think.

In the beginning, Carlisle had come here out of love for his brother, as a favor to him and Bella, whom he cared for immensely. So why did a part of him feel guilty?

Because I enjoyed it, he admitted to himself, his dead heart aching in his chest. If his guilt had ended with his enjoyment, it would have been one thing, but there was an added layer to his experience with Bella, one he could never have foreseen.

First, there was the fact that they'd spent these past few hours lying together. But there was also their joining itself. When Carlisle had finally taken her, after he had made her come with gentle touches and intimate kisses, he had assumed that Bella would have closed her eyes and thought of Edward. Instead, she had swept a gaze over his face, and watched him the entire time.

With closing eyes, Carlisle floated on the memory for a few moments—her beautiful brown eyes shaded by long lashes, her full lips parted as he had moved in and above her.

Perhaps it was one-sided—it likely was, and should be—but Carlisle had felt a connection to her in those moments, one that went beyond the physical act.

It wasn't right.

You're just lonely. You're not thinking straight.

Bella was his friend. Soon, she would be his sister-in-law. What they had shared tonight had been an option of last resort, for her to finally know what human intimacy felt like… before her natural life ended.

Tonight, he had learned that Bella was softness and warmth personified. She was expressive and loving, and she gave as much as she took. These things beguiled him.

His jaw flexed. Carlisle shook the thought away. He had to.

Stop it, you idiot! She's your brother's girl.

By rights, he shouldn't even be lying here, staring at her, wanting her.

But he was. He did.

Bella emerged from slumber just when the sky was beginning to lighten. Her brows creased in confusion, she blinked at the strange curtains and nightstand. Where am I?

But then, as the fog of sleep finally lifted, Bella remembered where she was, why she was here, and who she was with.

Heat rose up her body, flushing across her chest, up her neck until it settled in her cheeks.

Counter to expectations, last night hadn't been so awkward after all. In fact, once she had steeled her resolve, it had been rather wonderful, thanks to the man who had been entrusted with this most unusual favor.

Carlisle, her dear friend, had been as gentle and patient as she had imagined he would be. He had put her at ease last night, going no faster than she had been ready for.

As mild-mannered as he was, to say he lacked skill would have been a lie. With focus and dedication, he had roused her body to unimaginable heights, causing her to climax not once, but twice.

The memory sparked a delightful shiver across her skin, from the nape of her neck to the small of her back. In her mind's eye, she could still see him, watching her with fascination every time she crested.

And then there was the pleasure he had taken at her behest. Since he had been kind enough to do this, Bella had wanted an equal give and take. Fair was fair after all.

In the end, when he had found his release, she had been unable to look away. Transfixed, she had focused on his breathing, heavy and unsteady, and sighed her pleasure as he had plunged into her one last time.

Even now, her womb quivered at the memory of him, shuddering as he had breathed her name.

Granted, Carlisle had always been beautiful to her eyes. But until last night, she hadn't realized he could be sexy as hell.

In the aftermath, when he had asked her if she had any regrets about what they had done, she had thought about it for a few moments. Did she feel a measure of guilt for sleeping with someone other than Edward? Maybe, yeah. But regret? No. Like she had told Carlisle, maybe it had started with Edward, but she had done this for her and no one else.

Eyes falling shut, she gnawed on her lower lip, and wondered if he was still in bed with her. A secret and guilty part of her hoped that he was.

Needing to know, Bella clutched the sheet, held her breath, and turned.

"Morning," Carlisle said softly, his mouth curved in a wistful smile. Lying on his side, his head propped by his palm, he had been watching her, it seemed.

"Morning."

"You slept well," he stated more than asked.

Bella stretched. "I did." A beat went by. "You stayed."

Shyness crossed his features, like he wasn't sure if he'd been supposed to. "You were sleeping so peacefully, I feared waking you if I got up. Was I wrong to stay?"

Bella shook her head on a small smile. "No."

Carlisle seemed to take heart at that. "Are you hungry?" he asked.

"I could eat."

After she had showered and dressed, Bella ventured into the kitchen where Carlisle was setting the table. He might have been new to cooking, but breakfast was good. Scrambled eggs with a side of ham, fruit, toast, and jam.

Once she had eaten, Bella had been about to bring her empty plate over to the sink to wash it, but Carlisle told her he would take care of it. And he did.

A few minutes later, while Carlisle took his turn showering, Bella found herself on the rocky beach outside, strolling about the overcast coastline as thoughts of Edward filled her heart and mind.

The sea was choppy this morning, the wind whipping loose tendrils of hair across her cheek and mouth. Clad in a thick sweater, jeans, and sneakers, Bella eyed the foaming surf and kept on walking.

In truth, it was hard to know how to feel. What would be his mindset today? To be sure, it wouldn't be an easy day for Edward, knowing she had spent the night in the arms of his brother. Even if it had been his idea in the first place, would he feel resentment toward her? Jealousy toward Carlisle?

Only time would tell.

Taking a seat on a large rock, Bella had been deep in thought when Carlisle finally joined her.

"I called the pilot," he said. "The plane should be ready within the hour.

A nod as her answer, she had just gained her feet and started walking back toward the house when Carlisle stopped her with a gentle, "Hey."

She turned to face him.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yes. I'm just thinking."

"About?"

"About Edward. I just can't help but wonder how he's feeling right now."

"I imagine this won't be easy for him, even if the idea was his." His blond hair stirring in the wind, he went on. "He loves you, Bella. As much as you love him."

His words soothed her troubled soul. "Thank you, Carlisle."

An hour later, they were on the plane, on their way back to their normal lives.

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