Stephenie Meyer owns all that is Twilight.

Esme and Carlisle: How the Love Story Began…

Honeymoon, Part II

My wedding day was everything I could every wish for – and more.

Although I was probably as self-conscious of my lack of virginity as Carlisle was of his lack of experience, I found that, just like how we fell in love, it all seemed to work out naturally.

We lay silently now in each other's embrace watching the candle light. Fire always reminded me of the wonders of my vampire abilities. I could clearly see the blues, oranges, and yellows so vividly in each flame. So much of this existence was different. It made me wonder, would sex feel different in this body?

"Mind if I freshen up?" Carlisle asked and then excused himself to the bathroom.

Although the bathroom was only about twenty feet from the bed, our separation made me feel uneasy. I wanted to be back in his arms.

I curled up on my side in the big bed replaying the events of the evening. I still struggled with my nerves. So I entertained myself by visualizing the best parts so far. My breath caught when I remembered Carlisle tearing my corset off my body. I let my eyes search the room for where it had gone to. I spotted it across the room by the door. If I hadn't recognized the fabric, I would have never known that the shredded lump of material was my wedding corset.

I smiled and rested my head back on the bed. It appears my angel has a little devil in him too!

What other surprises did the night have in store?

With that thought, I heard a faucet squeak followed by the quick flow of water. Carlisle was taking a bath? Now?

I listened to the water run. Then I smelled the familiar scent of soap. I had just started to feel a bit rejected when a small rectangular object came flying out of the bathroom. It hit the side of the bed and landed on the floor with a muffled thud. Next to be launched out of the bathroom was a large white bath towel.

I got on my hands and knees and crawled over to the edge of the bed. I reached down and picked up the rectangular object – a bar of soap. Scrawled on in perfect script was written 'join me?'

So Carlisle likes to play games too!

I grinned and jumped off the bed. Quickly I slipped off my silk bloomers – all that I was left wearing. I bunched them up and tossed them into the bathroom and waited for Carlisle's response.

Silence and then…"Is that a 'yes'?" I could hear the smile in his voice.

I let out a laugh. That line was becoming of our favorite inside jokes.

Grabbing the towel off the floor, I quickly wrapped it around my body tiptoed to the bathroom. I peeked in.

Carlisle was already in the bathtub with mountains of bubbles all around him. The tub was an extra large double slipper with plenty of room for two. It was the center piece of the very roomy bathroom, but the rest of it was just as extraordinary.

The room was painted in muted colors. Wooden shelves, painted in coordinating colors, lined the room. Adorning the shelves were fluffy towels and fancy, multi-colored bottles filled with perfume and bathing oils. This room too was lit by several small groupings of taper candles. On a pedestal by the tub were a bottle of champagne and the largest bouquet of flowers in the whole suite: two dozen coral-colored rose buds.

My eyes swept around the room finally coming to rest on Carlisle. His dark eyes twinkled in the candle light like stars in the night sky. He so enjoyed watching my reaction to his gifts of love. I was beginning to believe there was nothing he wouldn't provide for me. But the real beauty of this fact was that his gifts all had meaning. He didn't lavish gifts on me to impress or buy my happiness, but to express his feelings for me -- for love. So, I had to ask…

"Coral roses?"

"They symbolize desire," he answered without hesitation.

"Appropriate," I conceded still perched just outside of the bathroom itself. Just one more question, I was curious…

"Why roses and not some other flower?"

"In every way roses remind me of you. Their petals are as soft as your skin. Their beauty, above all others. And their fragrance, as sweet as the scent that is you."

I slowly entered the room. "Such sweet talk, Dr. Cullen. But you know, you have already won my heart."

"Now I wish to have the rest of you, Mrs. Cullen. Care for a dip?" He beckoned me to come closer by holding out his hand.

One minor detail: my towel.

Carlisle raised his eyebrows expectantly.

That devil! He knew I had no real choice in this matter.

I took in a deep breath, stood tall and dropped the towel to the floor.

I took Carlisle's extended hand and stepped into the warm water.

Bathing felt so good. It made me feel almost human. The water's warmth permeated my body. I seem to absorb its heat.

I settled in and faced Carlisle. He was wearing my favorite smile – the one that had a little mischief in it. He reached over to the small table and snagged the bottle of champagne.

"I believe someone wanted to toast our marriage?" he said.

I nodded wondering what he planned to do with the celebratory liquid that we could not consume.

"I see no reason not to enjoy our complimentary bottle of bubbly," Carlisle said matter-of-factly as he loosened the cork and then opened it with a loud 'pop'.

I flinched and let out a cheer – the typcial human response to opening a bottle of champagne.

He held the open bottle high in the air and said, "Today I have married my best friend and my soul mate. At last my life has begun!"

With that Carlisle tipped the bottle and let the champagne flow out into the tub! It splashed and fizzed filling the air around us with its unique aroma. I laughed and let out a squeal as I raised my hands to deflect the splashing liquid. Carlisle laughed at my response and out of sheer happiness that I could see all over his face. I never saw anything so wonderful and I wondered if I ever would see anything so incredible again.

When our laughter died down to just large smiles, Carlisle manipulated my small frame around so that my back rested against his chest. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and placed his chin lightly on the top of my head.

I sighed. Such a simple pleasure. Just being together in the water.

"Carlisle, could I ask for something, well, a few somethings?" I said.

"Anything, Love"

I smiled. "Can we get a tub like this one?"

"Well, we would have to reinforce the floor and gut the existing bathroom…"

"We also need a bed."

"That, my Love, I have arranged for." This surprised me. I didn't think he had thought ahead to that detail. "It will be delivered before we return home."

I hesitated, but then continued with my real reason for this line of questioning. "Can I ask for one more thing, actually, it's a gift – for Edward."

Carlisle kissed my head. "Of course, what do you want to get?"

"A piano."

There was a silence and then Carlisle's pleasant laughter filled the room. "Woman, we're going to need a bigger house!"

Then he added in a serious tone, "I will make a call in the morning and arrange for a piano to be added to the delivery."

"A grand piano?" I knew I was pushing my luck, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

"A grand piano."

Satisfied that my requests were granted, I leaned my head back against Carlisle's shoulder.

The quiet was brief.

"How else can I please you, my wife?" Carlisle whispered in my ear. His tone very suggestive.

His words seem to travel into my ears, down my spine and ignite a fire deep inside of me. Desire like I had never felt before. My body began to ache with its burn.

I began to rub my legs together and I felt my eyes dilate.

"Make me yours, Carlisle," The words came out of my mouth like a command.

Carlisle ran a soapy hand along my jaw line and pulled my face to his. The force of his lips on mine made my head spin and sent a flood of arousal through my body. Carlisle did not release me; instead his kisses became more passionate, forceful, and needy. He plunged his tongue into my mouth and I felt a growl rumbling in his chest. His free hand reached under the water and gripped my hip pulling me closer to him.

Carlisle and I gasped between heated kisses, though I did not understand this need for air. His desire consumed me and drove me crazy with want.

Needing more and determined to grant my husband's wish, I took his hand from my hip, guided him as he explored me.

Ohhh. And then I had the answer to my earlier question: Yes, sex was definitely different in this body!

After my transformation, I had quietly grieved the loss of many human abilities: major things like eating a hot chocolate sundae and sleeping while vivid dreams danced in my mind. And I missed the minor pleasures like enjoying a glass of sweet white wine or a walk in the park of a warm sunny day.

But now, feeling the exquisite pleasure I was experiencing in this immortal body from my husband's touch …eternity somehow didn't seem long enough.

I could feel my teeth grind in my clenched jaw as my brain tried to organize all the messages being sent to it by my increasingly stimulated body. Sex was physically the same, but the mind-body connection was all different. Every stimulus that I felt was multiplied many times over.

My mind became clouded but my body knew just where it was going. I surrendered conscious control to it and enjoyed the sensations that rippled through me. Silently I rode the wave of tension that was building.

Carlisle momentarily caught my attention as his tongue ceased making love to my mouth. His lips slid to my ear, "Am I pleasing you, my wife?" he growled.

My wave of pleasure crested as Carlisle dragged his tongue slowly from my ear down to my neck and bit into its hard flesh.

It sent me crashing and flooded my brain with a rush of euphoria.

I went limp in Carlisle's arms. But unlike me, his body was still full of tension. Realizing this I turned to face him and whispered, "Make love to me, my Darling."

His eyes were dark with urgent need. He took me in his arms and crashed his body against mine. The force of it launched us to the other side of the tub. The cast iron groaned as my back slammed against it. Water frantically poured over the sides of the tub.

The mild-mannered doctor was finally letting himself go. Always so reigned in, so in control. I knew his lifestyle and profession required it, but this was different. Now with me, his wife, he could let his instincts rule. And I hoped he would…

With one arm Carlisle held himself over me while the other reached around to the small of my back. He pulled our bodies together.

From the moment we first began to make love, I knew.

I knew everything in my life would fall into place. I would never be alone. I would never want for anything. Our commitment and bond to each other was so complete, I had no doubt I could face anything, accomplish anything with him by my side. Mind, body and spirit, I was complete with Carlisle. We were one in every sense.

To feel so complete was a feeling like nothing I had ever experience or even conceived was possible. I clung to him with all my strength. I was suddenly engulfed in emotion: want, need, love, desire, fulfillment, joy. They all rushed over me, swirling and caressing me.

Our lips locked together and I could feel the same emotions in Carlisle's kisses.

All that we had ever hoped for, we had found in each other in this moment. A bond was formed that would never be broken.

Everything around me faded to nothing. I functioned on pure emotion and instinct. I never felt so free.

Carlisle's lips broke from mine and words rushed from his mouth. They were words of love, I had no doubt, but they poured out in the languages of romance – French, Italian and Spanish. It didn't matter that I couldn't understand the words, I knew the meaning. He was professing his love for me, his eternal pledge to be at my side forever.

Our bodies continued to move as one until we found release together. We collapsed in an embrace in what little water remained at the bottom of the bathtub. Our energy and emotion completely spent.

After an unknown amount of time, Carlisle rose and lifted me out of the tub. Wordlessly he carried me to our bed, laying me gently on the soft bedding.

I stretch out as he climbed in next to me. He slung an arm over me and pulled me to his so we fit together like two spoons.

The candles were slowly flickering out of existence. The wax hung like icicles down the sides of the candle sticks.

The room did not dim however as the first rays of the sun started filtering into the room. The sunlight struck our bare skin and was reflected back onto the walls in the form of many tiny rainbows. They danced when we moved.

"Looks like it will be a sunny day," Carlisle remarked softly.

"Hmmm, a sunny day. Not good for vampires," I said.

"But a perfect day for vampire lovers," he whispered.

We smiled knowing what the day, and all of forever, would have in store for us.

``*``*``

Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible — it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession could. - Barbara De Angelis, PhD

AN: *Sigh* I'd love to hear your comments.

Honeymoon part II - Chapter 16 (adult version) is posted on Twilighted(dot)net for those age 18 and older only please.