I very much apologize to my readers for my long absence; with a vacation, far too much craziness at work, and a few personal problems, I've sadly had to neglect this story. But here is the latest chapter, and I hope it does not disappoint you! Please R/R.
Chapter 15 – Kiss and Tell
Warning: chapter contains some adult/sexual content.
"What's a Volturi?" Amy asked, her eyes moving from Edward to Carlisle. Neither spoke, but judging by their silent communication, Amy sensed that 'Volturi' was not a good word.
His eyes still narrow, Edward waited for his father to answer, his mind probing through Carlisle's for more information, some master plan behind Amy's attempted kidnapping. What he discovered made him momentarily freeze in rage.
"Let's get her inside," Carlisle said quietly, placing a gentle hand on Amy's back as he stood up. In a singular, smooth motion, Edward's cool arms secured under her knees and around her back, his fluid movements lifting her weight with ease.
"Edward, I can walk," she objected. "I appreciate your concern, but I'm not numb anymore—"
"I won't risk you getting hurt again."
"Please put me down," she said, the harshness of her voice causing him to pause. He immediately bent at the waist and released his grip on her legs, the long limbs gracefully falling to the earth. After letting her go, he watched her hand slide down his arm, the comforting warmth instantly evaporating from his body. His eyes moved to hers next. She was immediately ashamed of herself when she saw the hurt reflected in them.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I'm just really confused about all this. And maybe I'm not used to the chivalry or-or I'm still trying to get used to … what you are, but I just—"
Ferocious growls interrupted her, and four gigantic wolves appeared from the darkness, the weight from their bounds causing the earth to quiver beneath their paws. A vicious snarl escaped Edward's lips, and he stepped in front of Amy, shielding her from the angry Quileute wolves. Carlisle appeared beside Edward, and he listened as Amy's breaths immediately increasing in fear.
"Don't! Please! They didn't hurt me," Amy protested, her mind barely comprehending that she was pleading with four abnormally huge werewolves for the safety of vampires. A russet-colored wolf on the left grunted, his paws shifting in the dirt. Eyeing the wolf nervously, Amy studied its fur and the life behind its chocolate eyes. She knew it was Jake.
"There were two others. Not of our clan," Carlisle added, his voice low and dangerous but calm. "They tried to take her." The russet wolf growled at that, his teeth visible even in the darkness. "The remainder of our coven went after them. Northeast. Through the woods."
A light flicked on in Charlie's condo, the sudden invasion of their darkened privacy sending the wolves fleeing in the direction Carlisle said, Jacob leading the way.
"Inside. Now," Carlisle said to Edward and Amy, his harsh voice shocking her. "I'm going after them. I have a feeling I'll need to keep the peace." Carlisle gently grasped Amy's bicep and offered her a slight smile. "Please get some rest." Mimicking the abrupt flash of lightning in the western sky, Carlisle was gone.
Edward desperately wanted to join his father and his family – to fight the vampires that tried to take Amy. But he could still feel her anxiety trying to filter through his brain, and he knew she needed him.
"C'mon." Edward extended his hand to her, his eyes glancing toward the direction of his fleeting father before fixing on her wide, blue orbs. "We need to talk."
* * *
"Do you, um, do you want anything to drink?" Amy asked, the question sounding odd as it exited her mouth. She paused in front of Edward, her hair still damp from the shower she had taken. The vampire was leaning against the wall beside her bed, his arms crossed over his chest as he studied her. He had patiently waited downstairs while she showered, listening intently for the water to stop running before moving to her bedroom.
"No, thank you." The corners of his mouth curved upward into a smile. Edward tried to avoid staring down at her exposed legs or the cotton shorts that covered her thighs. But looking above the waist was no better – her pale blue tank top showed off her collarbone and the faint muscular lines in her arms.
Amy took a few slow, controlled paces toward him, her eyes studying the perfectly toned muscles of his arms. He was wearing a plain, dark gray t-shirt, the color a vivid contrast against his pale skin.
"You smell very nice," he told her, hoping if he acknowledged the appealing scent, it wouldn't torture him as much.
"Is that a good thing? I mean, because of what you are? Carlisle told me you only ate animals, but … I thought vampires usually only ate humans."
Edward tried to force a smile before he answered, fearing his response would only frighten her. It hurt telling her this – admitting what a monster he was. "Your scent has always been very … appealing to me. When I first met you at the hospital, you smelled so nice. I actually thought about going after you just so I could taste you."
Amy's eyes narrowed upon hearing that, causing Edward to pause. "You mean you wanted to kill me?"
Edward waited for her to take a controlled, deep breath before he continued. "I considered it. But the thought of doing that just made me angry. You made me want to become a killer – everything I avoided being. And I was angry at you for it."
Edward stepped toward her and placed his cool hands on the sides of her face, his own eyes beckoning hers to stare at him. "I know I was rude to you, and for that I am very sorry. It was only because I was mad at myself." He leaned close to the smooth skin of her face, his lips brushing her pale cheek. He felt her heart rate accelerate.
Inhaling deeply, Amy closed her eyes, Edward's enticing aroma filling her nostrils and blurring her mind. His cool lips were soft but abrupt against her skin, like a calm, early morning winter breeze.
"I figured the more I got to know you, the less I would want to hurt you," his said quietly, his lips placing another soft kiss on her jaw line. "And now that I know you …" Another kiss. "I can't stay away from you." The slender fingers of his right hand slowly slid along her cheek as his lips placed the gentlest of kisses on her eyelid.
"Please kiss me," she whispered, her hands sliding around his waist as her body numbed under his touch. She lightly clenched his shirt to pull him closer to her.
Pausing to meet her blue eyes, Edward obeyed, pressing his lips to hers, causing her to inhale sharply through her nostrils. The dreamy sensation of his lips' caress made her head spin with desire. She parted her lips and flicked her tongue against his. Edward groaned, the quiet sound of pleasure eliciting a swift change in demeanor.
Grabbing her waist, he swung her sideways and pushed her into her bedroom wall, pressing his stony body into hers. Amy was now the one to moan as his kisses became more passionate, more aggressive. Her hands were gliding up his chest and over his shoulders, finally coming to rest at their desired destination – grasping his brown locks at the base of his hairline.
He forced his eyes to remain squinted shut as he used his lips to study hers, to taste her sweet flesh. Were it not for the overwhelming pleasure she had provoked from him, he wouldn't have been able to ignore the twitch of hunger growing within his body.
She was responding to his kisses, but she couldn't possibly understand the profound effect her lips had on him. Sexual instinct took over, and his cold hand suddenly moved to the front of her shirt, sliding between the soft cotton of her tank top and the warm skin beneath it.
As soon as he felt her flesh, alive and moving beneath his fingers, his member sprang to life in his pants, fiercely pushing for freedom within his briefs. He pushed his pelvis into her, causing her to moan into his mouth, and his hand slid further up her shirt. As he reached the delicate, fleshy mound of her breast, his thumb tracing her nipple, she broke their kiss to gasp beneath his touch.
He stopped, quickly removing his hand and stepping away from her.
"Edward," she breathed, the confusion evident in her face. She stepped forward, eliminating the distance he had placed between them, and locked her arms around his neck. His expression was pained, even as she brought her lips to his. He wanted more of her, more of her touch and more of her affection, but he was still afraid he was unworthy of her. Even as she softly massaged his lips, the pleasure she caused seemed unfair. Could he reciprocate it?
Amy stopped kissing him and rested her hands on his broad shoulders. Her blue eyes were vivid, their color reaching out to summon his gaze. He leaned his forehead against hers in response. "I don't want you to be afraid of me," she said quietly.
At that, Edward smiled, his unexpected reaction drawing even more confusion from her. "Said the human to the vampire."
"Well, at least you're smiling." She grinned back and lightly punched his shoulder before walking over to her bed. She crawled onto the cushy comforter and leaned into her wall of pillows resting against the headboard then crossed her legs and faced him.
"What are you thinking?" he asked, walking toward the bed and sitting on the edge near her feet. She watched him thoughtfully, hugging her knees to her chest.
"Outside before … Carlisle said something about the man who wants me – that he's a Volturi?"
In a very human manner, Edward shifted his position at the base of her bed, his mind quickly forming a proper answer. "The Volturi are a group of very powerful vampires – sort of like vampire royalty."
"And you have to obey them?"
"Kind of," he answered. "They are our leaders, I suppose. Although they really only have one rule we're required to follow."
"Which is?"
"To keep our secret. No conspicuous killing. No revealing ourselves."
Edward watched Amy's eyebrows narrow, her blue orbs darting away from him. He wished he could hear the thoughts darting through her head like the electricity stirring outside.
"I guess you broke it then." Her mouth twitched upward into a slight smile, but she knew that her knowledge of this secret was more of a detriment than a reward. The fact that Edward didn't respond made her more nervous. She decided it was up to her to keep this timid interrogation going.
"And these Volturi … do they know that I know about you? Is that why they … is that why they want me?" she asked hesitantly.
"I don't know," he answered, pushing himself farther onto the bed so he was sitting across from her. He sensed the anxiety in her tone.
"But, one of those vampires …" She paused and bit her lip, afraid and embarrassed by the words that were about to exit her mouth. "He said he would be allowed a taste when Lorenzo was finished with me." She arched her shoulders uncomfortably when the word "taste" entered her mouth, especially when she saw the anger rage through Edward's limbs. "And if this Lorenzo is a former member of the Volturi—"
"Nothing, absolutely nothing, is going to happen to you." Edward reached forward and pulled one of her hands away from their locked position around her knees. "I wish I could tell you exactly what's going on, but I don't know. Right now I can only promise to protect you."
"You can't possibly spend every second with me."
"Wrong." The slight smile that crossed his lips made her heart race as he scooted closer to her. He was now next to her, but his body was facing the pillows she was leaning against.
"So does that make you my bodyguard?"
A light laugh exited his mouth. "You're taking all of this far too well."
Her face remained serious as she replied. "I'll have a nervous breakdown in a few days, and you'll reconsider that statement."
"Good thing I know how to keep you calm." Edward leaned in again and brushed his lips along her neck. Perhaps with many years to practice his kissing skills, he hard learned how to make her weak with longing, even in a seated position. His lips continued working their magic along her neck, his tongue briefly tracing her skin before his lips covered the now moistened flesh.
"That most definitely doesn't calm me down." She giggled in response as his right hand was running up her exposed arm.
"A distraction then."
Amy smiled and leaned forward to kiss him again, but the unexpected buzz of Edward's phone interrupted her. Faster than she would have thought possible, Edward was off the bed, his mobile at his ear.
"Alice." Edward turned around so his back was to Amy as his sister talked. He didn't speak for nearly a minute, but the next words to exit his mouth were laced with frustration. "No. There has to be another option. Can't you or Jasper … yes, I realize this involves all of us, but—"
Silence again. And then he hung up and turned to face Amy.
"You have to go," she announced for him.
Edward sighed, sensing the disappointment in her voice. He walked around to her side of the bed and knelt in front of her, reaching a hand up to her face and curling a strand of damp hair around her ear. "Yes. My family ... they lost the two vampires – they got away. But I think Alice or Carlisle may have some new information."
"What if they come back while you're gone?"
"They won't. The wolves volunteered to stand guard." His voice lowered as he spoke of the wolves, his distrust evident. "I'll be back to see you in the morning. I might know more then."
"That doesn't exactly make me less nervous."
"I know, baby. Just try to relax. Get some sleep." His golden eyes beckoned her to obey, but she couldn't ignore the unknown danger weighing down her stomach.
"You have to promise to tell me what's going on. Just … please don't lie to me. I need to know the truth. Or I'll go crazy."
Unable to face her eyes, Edward dropped his head and kissed her hand. He had already lied to her. She was in more danger than he could have ever imagined.
* * *
Amy awoke several hours later, her eyes shooting open to meet the early morning light. She looked around her room, as if Edward would be nearby, waiting for her to wake up.
She was surprised she slept after the revelations of the previous evening. Maybe my oncoming nervous breakdown is making me tired, she joked to herself. She had so many more questions. And her future alone was scarcely unwritten – apparently every day she was alive meant a single extra page added to the chapters of her life.
The thought chilled her, and she decided to take a shower, even though she had just taken one the previous evening. After letting the hot water and heavy steam warm her skin, she dressed in jeans and a pale pink sweater, ready to begin another day with her vampire boyfriend.
As she was finishing drying her hair, she heard her doorbell ring. Pausing to be sure she heard the sound, she smiled at the anticipation of seeing Edward. The large neckline draped over her right shoulder as she jogged down the stairs to answer the door. But when she opened it, she received her first unexpected surprise of the day.
"Hey Jake."
