Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Huge thank you who added this to their favourites and put it on alert. MASSIVE thank you to all the reviewers. marie, CharmLightLove, Kelly, AlUvmusic, denise marie cullen, MrsIzzyBlack, Bee, imjessesgirl, cheris, MissGuidedAngel, LiLi26, shorty84, AnimeMangaFreak, P, HMF, EdwardsElla, michelle, makki, jerseyhalliwell, TearsInTheDust, Flora73, Lizzie2325, bj188, tuckers89, ..fia, Twilight-ObsessedDiva, cademan24, izzycullen903, boulie12, rustywindowpane, MyCrazyTwistedMind, 71star, OnyxTwilight, vampgirl138, Nobody, runningYODA, HyperBaseballGirl, tuckerjnp1, diremaidenfair, saysay cullen, solarstar17, tidyKat, lsimonb63, Tess, chewycui, adriannaameii (1000th review! Wow, we got there! :]), frankfart101, bells123, N.c. Girl, CountrySleepingBeauty, winternow, hopelessromanticatheart, vampiregurl, CarmynTheUhmazing, browneyedgirl1984, zuni-yesi, Ballachicki, Avari-at-heart, girlfrakes, tbonemom0512, Troyis, klcivinski, emotionalrescue, princess07890, klou2, Night Orchid, amaranthiin, SoraChan01, TexasTwilight77, mommytwilight, kimbella, mommyof3boys, XedwardluverX, BonesnBooth4ever, ConfusionPixie, LVQueen1, sofilu, beans and cornbread, beatlerosie, kdc2239, HPfurever, cullengirl08, dbmncgreen, carolbenatti, sambois and MiszSpunkRansom.

MASSIVE MASSIVE THANK YOU to Troyis who worked very hard on a certain section of this chapter.... It is the reason this story is rated M ;)

I chose Let Me Sign because not only is it sung by Robert Pattinson, but I think it is one of the most beautiful songs and for some strange reason when they play it in Twilight it makes me tear up!

Also, it is my one month anniversary! :)

Any of you spot a film quote? (Not from New Moon/Twilight) I had to put it in :) Whoever finds it first will get a sneak peek of the next chapter.

Hope you enjoy this chapter.


Forever Bound

Chapter Twenty Four – Let Me Sign

Edward left. He had to get out. He had to.

He walked out of the ballroom with as much dignity as he could muster up, but as soon as he was out of view he broke into a sprint and ran to his chamber.

Slamming the door behind him, Edward sat on the edge of the bed and buried his head in his hands, trying to wipe away the tears that were flowing from his eyes. Why did Bella do such a thing?

A few moments later, Edward was broken out of his sorrow at the sound of the door shutting once more. Edward slowly lifted his head and was met with the sight of Bella, her eyes red rimmed and her hands placed firmly on her hips.

"Why did you leave? Why?" Bella yelled at him.

Edward could not answer. He could not tell her how much it hurt him, what it felt like to have his heart ripped out from his chest, how he wished he could curl up into a ball and die. He could not tell her because he knew she would never feel the same.

Instead Edward asked her his own question, a few stray tears still falling down his cheeks, "Why did you do it Bella?" he gazed into her eyes, "I need to know, I cannot...why did you do it?" he whispered.

Bella's arms flew into the air in apparent despair, "Because I wanted you to fight for me!" she yelled at Edward. Edward flinched; she had planned to do this to him? Bella was not finished, "I wanted you to fight for me. I wanted you to march over to us and tell Jake to stop, to tell him that only you could kiss me, to take me away from him and tell me you love me."

Edward was in shock. How did Bella know how he felt about her? If she did, why did she want to hurt him so much?

"I know now that I was wrong to assume that you would feel the same why that I do. That I was wrong to assume that you would actually care." Bella her back on Edward and began to make her way towards the door. Blood was boiling in Edward's body; he could not take it anymore.

He stood up from the bed "You think I do not CARE? That it did not bother me to see you kissing that DOG? You do not know anything! It killed me to see you embrace him like that! Does it look as though I do not care what you do?" Bella halted in her steps but had still not turned around to face him. This angered Edward even more. "LOOK AT ME!"

Bella spun around, anger dancing in her eyes, "If you care so much why did you leave?" she hissed at him.

Edward could not tell her. Although she knew how he felt for her, it was clear that she did not reciprocate his feelings. He wished with all his heart that she did, but knew that by kissing another man Bella was proving that she did not love her husband.

Bella sneered at him, "My point exactly. You do not know. You have no idea what it is like to feel. Do not worry, I will not make the same mistake again." She turned on her heel once more, but Edward was processing what she had just said. She though he could not feel. What did she mean she would not make the same mistake again? As Bella reached for the door handle to make her way back to Jacob Edward snapped.

He took three quick strides across the room and grabbed her wrist, turning her around and forcing her to face him. In the brief second he looked at her, he noticed there was confusion filling her features, but before he could over think it he violently placed his lips on hers.

The sparks went off once more. It was as if a million fireworks were bursting behind his eyes, the heat they produced filling his body.

After too little time, Bella pulled away. Shock and bemusement were the emotions all over her face as she lifted her hand to her lips.

"What are you doing?" she asked quietly, pulling herself out of Edward's arms and leaning back against the door.

Edward knew there was fire blazing in his eyes; he felt it spread throughout his body. He was about to take a step into the unknown. It felt as if he was about to leap off a roof, but even if Bella let him fall and smash, he could not allow her to believe what she did.

"I am fighting for you! I am fighting for everything I want us to have. I do not want you to go back downstairs to Jacob. I want you to stay here and tell me that one day you could feel an ounce of what I feel for you. I want you to tell me that you will never kiss another man again unless he is me and I want you to tell me that we will be happy together, that we need no one else but each other." Edward took a needed breath of air, filling his lungs with air and his heart with hope.

"Why are you doing this Edward? Why are you doing this to me?" Bella was begging for an answer, tears beginning to fall down her face.

"Because that's what people do; they leap and hope they can fly! That is what I am doing Bella. I'm jumping and hoping you will catch me. Hoping that you will tell me that we can have what I wish for one day." Edward replied with conviction.

The tears were falling harder and harder from Bella's eyes and Edward wanting nothing other than to reach over and wipe them away, but he could not; not until he had her answer.

"That is the problem Edward. I care too much. You have just shown me that you do not care for me as much as I feel for you. If you did you would have walked over to me downstairs and swept me off my feet. You would be telling me you love me right now, not asking me to tell you how I feel to knock me down once more." Bella sobbed, covering her face with her hands.

Taking a step towards his wife, Edward gently moved her hands away from her face. Gazing into her eyes, he took a deep breath. It was now or never. "I love you Isabella Cullen. So much it scares me because I know you do not feel the same. But I cannot go downstairs and watch you with Jacob again, I cannot." Edward felt the tears prick in the back of his eyes once more.

"Please do not lie to me Edward. There is no need to say such a thing to cheer me up," Bella cried, trying to take her arms out of Edward's grasp. He would not let her.

"I am not lying Bella. I promise you. I love you," Edward repeated, trying to get the message across to his wife.

"What about Tanya? You love her too? I cannot be the other woman Edward, I won't." Bella finally met his gaze one more and Edward saw sorrow in them.

"Bella, there is nothing happening between myself and Tanya." He had been such a fool not to tell her before, and now it was coming back to bite him, "After your attack, I went to her house to warn her about James. However, her response was not what I expected. She informed me that she knew all about James' plans to hurt you and his past with your father. It is because of her I know what happen to Charles. The moment she told me the truth, it was as if a blindfold had been removed from my eyes. I could finally see what she truly was, and I swear to you Bella, I left the house straight away and I have not returned." Edward needed to convince Bella what he was saying was true.

"I do not want to be your second choice Edward. Just because Tanya did not turn out to be the person you expected her to be it does not mean you love me." Bella informed him. What would it take for her to believe him?

"It is only you Bella; no one else. I am sorry I told you there was no hope for us, and I am sorry for waiting so long to tell you how I feel, but I am telling you now. There is no one else Bella. It is you I love." Edward rubbed his hand along her cheek.

"How can you be sure it is love Edward?" There was still doubt in Bella's mind, though Edward could not blame her.

"I know it is love. I know it is love because I hate to be away from you for any second of the day. I hate not knowing where you are. I hate the thought of you ever being in danger. I love the fact that you talk in your sleep. I love the fact that you love our child so much already. I love the fact you care so much for others. I love the way you bite your lip when you are nervous. I just...I love you Bella." Edward could not offer her any more.

"If you love me, why did you lie to me?"

Edward was confused, he was not aware that he had lied to her. The confusion must have been evident on his face.

"You have not been turning up to your lessons. Mr Jenkins came to the house, worried about you. You lied to me each day about going. Why? If you had finished with Tanya why did you miss such an important part of your life?"

Ah, that lie. "I had... I needed to think; to sort things out. I did not wish to burden you with my problems, but I could not fix them when we were together. I needed my space to realise what I had to do. I am sorry I lied to you, but it was only to stop myself from hurting you."

"How do I know you will not lie to me again?" Bella whispered, although hope grew in Edward as she appeared to be backing down a little.

"I promise I will not lie to you again. I know I have given you little reason to trust me, but please, please, believe me. I love you Bella, and because of that I will not lie to you again." Edward was begging her to understand.

Bella was silent for a minute but it felt like an hour. "I believe you." She said slowly.

Edward's face lit up in a grin, "You do?"

"I do," Bella reaffirmed, a small smile gracing her own lips.

Although Edward was relieved that his wife trusted him, he needed the answer to one more question. "What do you feel for me Bella? Will I have a chance some day?"

Bella looked down at the floor and Edward's heart dropped. However, when Bella lifted her gaze, Edward could see a smile on her face. She moved closer to him until her chest was up against his own. "You do not have to wait for someday Edward." And with that she softy placed her lips against his.

Edward was stunned, what did this mean? He did not want to waste a second of the kiss. Pulling her as close to his body as possible, Edward kissed her back gently, but as it began to last a little passion was added to their embrace.

Regretfully Edward pulled away and looked Bella straight in the eye, "Do this mean what I believe it to?"

Bella nodded, placing her forehead on his own before she answered, "I love you Edward Cullen. So much it hurts."

Edward's heart burst with joy. His wife loved him! She loved him! Somehow, this angel had managed to fall for someone as tainted at himself. He did not know how, but he praised God that she had. A fire began to light itself within his body, caused by the woman standing in front of her. It became clear to him; he needed her.

Edward stayed very quiet, causing Bella to lift her head and fixed her gaze on Edward's face. He looked into her eyes and smiled lightly, his eyes swimming with love. Putting two fingers under her chin, he brought his lips to hers and kissed her very softly; trying to not scare her but get his want for her across.
Moments later, Edward pulled back and ran his fingers through her hair, studying her face.
Bella put her hands on either side of his face and he closed the distance between their lips once more. It started slowly at first, but the urge to move faster and press harder was a force neither could resist. His large hands, managing to be so strong and yet so gentle, ran up and down the side of her ribs above the garments. The heat and ache just grew stronger and stronger within him. Bella appeared to be enjoying it as she let out a soft moan and blushed a deep red when she realize the sound left her mouth. Edward wanted to hear it a thousand times over.
He lowered his head to Bella's ear, "Tell me, Bella. Do you want this?" She nodded almost as if she was in a trance. The fire in Edward increased its heat once more.

His hands never ceased their movement along her back and ribs, rubbing her lower and lower until his hands reached down her bottom and cupped her from behind, pulling her petite form right up against him. He knew Bella could feel him through the clothes they still wore, hard, erect, and large. Her breathing picked up faster and he could feel a familiar pulsing between her legs, a desire that both warmed and frightened him, not knowing what going to happen in the morning but he was too occupied to truly care in that moment.
"We can stop at any time," he murmured. "I do not want you to be afraid of this Bella," he added, brushing a hair from her face.
"Please, do not stop Edward" Bella told him; blushing a lovely shade of scarlet. Edward kissed the stains on her cheek.

Bella brought her hands around the front of his body and pulled the strings of the neck of his shirt. Trailing down his arms, Bella pulled the strings at his wrists. He twisted his arms to take her hands in his, and brought them to rest on his shoulders.
"You can disrobe me Bella, but please do not torture me; even if I deserve it." Edward would not be able to take any torture this time. He needed her now.

Blushing once more Bella lowered her hands from his shoulders, allowing them to trail down his chest and over his stomach; letting the flat of her palm rub against the ripples of his abdomen. She slowly pulled his shirt away from his chest. Edward felt his muscles tighten and hissed as her hands descended to his breeches.
Unable to resist any longer, Edward kissed her hard with passion as her hands worked the buttons on his trousers. Bella pushed them down as far as she could reach. Edward lifted one leg at a time, managing to push off his socks with his breeches and now stood before Bella, completely disrobed.
It seemed that Bella could not find the courage to let her hand travel any further than his navel so he stood still. She blushed as she took in all of him for first time, clearly aware of his arousal standing at proud attention before her.
He could not help but chuckle as she stared at him with wonder."You truly have never seen me naked before, have you?" she shook her head, looking up to see the desire in Edward's eyes.
"I want to touch you now, love. May I?" he asked, his voice low and husky. Bella only nodded.
Edward gently pulled Bella's dress over her head as she lifted her arms up. Although it looked stunning on her, he knew she would look even more beautiful without it. Bella looked down at the floor, her face and neck flushed. Edward knew she could not help it, even if he had seen her naked before.
"Isabella, you're the most beautiful creature I have ever seen, You really are, please do not be shy with me" Edward informed his wife, lifting her chin so that she would meet his gaze,kissing her again.
He planted soft kisses on her cheeks and neck, all the while murmuring how beautiful and precious Bella was to him. His hands caressed her naked shoulders with a feather touch and Bella began to shiver, her legs trembling slightly. His gazed reached Bella's swollen stomach.
"Edward, I hope our child and I can make you happy," Bella whispered, looking down as she followed his gaze.
"You already make me happier than I have ever been," he replied with a smile, touching their child who was safe in their mother womb. He quickly gathered her into his arms and made his way across the room before gently laying her down on the bed, allowing his lips and hands to began their journey once again. Pausing on her right breast, his hand tormented her left nipple as he pinched it between his index finger and thumb, causing Bella to moan once more.

Hearing Bella's moans at his touch and feeling her squirm beneath him caused Edward to hold her tighter. The hand that had been tormenting Bella's breast ghosted down her side and clutched onto her hip, stilling her movements.

"Patience love. Let me please you" he whispered. His hand trailed from her hip to her sex, his mouth continuing their assault on her breast as he parted her lowers lips and dipped his fingers inside. Bella gasp at the intrusion, but his finger continue in and out of her body. Edward's mouth left a trail of kisses from her breast to her stomach to her belly bottom before he paused.
Edward gazed lovingly at her before he began to leave butterflies kisses along her womb, telling their child how much he was going to love them and their mother. Tears began to fall from the corner of Bella's eyes and he hoped they were tears of happiness.

Edward's head trailed further to her nether region and Bella's breath hitched and she stiffened as he gave her the most intimate kiss, his finger curled inside her and touch a sweet spot causing her to cry out his name. A grin lit Edward's face. It was him, Edward, who was able to cause such reactions from this exquisite creature. He looked at her face and saw love, but he also noticed the shame that covered her face. He could deduce why.
He raised his head from between her legs "Bella love, you are about to lay with your husband, there is no sin or shame in it. I am here to please you as you are here to please me. We love one another," God he would never tire of saying that, "it is normal to desire each other." His mouth returned to the soft flesh between her legs. Bella moan when Edward's tongue licked her. Her hands grab his hair, pulling him closer to her. Edward chuckled at her eagerness but the sensations of the ache within him became more and more intense. He replaced his finger with his tongue while his thumb aplied presure on her delicate flesh.
Edward moved his tongue in a steady rhythm back and forth, and Bella's hips moved against his hand of their own volition. Her hips moved faster and she began to pant; Edward felt the sweat begin to cover her body.

Suddenly Bella screamed louder than he had ever heard, including the noises she made on their wedding night, as the spring inside her finally snapped, causing her to release. Bella cried out Edward's name over and over again, causing him to smirk as he lapped up her juices. Edward hoped the guests downstairs had not heard his wife; it would not do well for them to come charging in.
He replaced his mouth with his member, continuing to stroke Bella with it. The heat was driving Edward into overload. Edward leant his weight on his arms and legs, being extremely careful of their child .

With his hands, he carefully placed Bella's thighs on either side of him and Bella hitched her knees to provide ample room for his large frame. He dropped his hand from hers thighs to guide himself in, all the while he was muttering, "I love you Bella. God I love you." With each thrust he sank deeper into Bella's warmth. It was Heaven.
"Oh Bella, my Bella. My love" Edward moaned as he moved, feeling more and more pleasure with each trust.

Just when he believed he could not last a moment longer, Edward change the angle of his thrust causing Bella to shudder in an ecstasy, her moans becoming louder and louder. Edward shushed her slightly as he groaned in pleasure. He did not need his mother to burst into the room at a moment like this.

He sped up his movements after a time, letting soft groans and hisses escape his lips. Bella began to move her hips along with his as she felt his pace grow faster. He growled loudly, looking right into her eyes. The intensity of her stare sent a chill up and down his spine.
"You are mine, my Isabella," he growled possessively, staring down at her.

"Yours," Bella moaned in agreement, "Only yours."

Edward could hold on no longer. He began to thrust into his wife as fast as he could, dying for the release he so desperately needed.

Finally, minutes later Edward and Bella found their release at the same moment. Bella shrieked Edward's name, pulsing around his member. That was all Edward could take as he released into his wife's beautiful body, shouting her name as the blood roared in his ears. He was sure everyone in a five mile radius would be able to hear his pleasure.

Panting, Edward stilled his movements and gazed at his wife. Her eyes were closed and her face was flushed red, with a light layer of sweat covering her brow. Edward had never seen anything so beautiful. Slowly, Edward removed himself from his wife's body and lay beside her. His ego inflated tenfold when he heard Bella moan at the loss of contact.

After regaining his breath, Edward turned on his side and faced his wife. She was looking right at him, smiling. He grinned at her. "That was amazing my love." He kissed her nose and she giggled breathlessly.

"As were you." Edward felt pride in his chest; he was able to please his wife. He moved as close to her as he could, and as soon as their skin touch, the spark was ignited once more.

Bella moved her head and placed it on Edward's chest. He knew she could feel the speed at which his heart was racing. Edward lowered his head and kissed her hair softly as he ran his hand up and down her back. Her eyes began to drift close.

"Sleep my Bella. I will be right beside you when you wake up." Bella nodded and nestled herself further into his chest. Edward stared at his wife as she began to fall into the land of nod.

This was all he ever wanted. He wanted to hold his wife every night after their lovemaking, he wanted to watch her fall into the land of dreams while he guarded her and their child.

Just as he himself was about to be graced by sleep's presence, a thought hit Edward. How were they going to explain their absence to their guests downstairs?

---

What do you think? Like it?

Who has seen New Moon? I thought it was brilliant! What did you think? Agree it was better than Twilight?

Also, this story has now been posted in French. Check out my favourites if you want a link.

Until next time :)