A/N - Another chapter, my lovelies! Warning it has a bit of lemony goodness, so if you aren't interested in that sort of thing - you may wish to skip the second part. Consider yourself warned! LOL
Many thanks to changedbyEdward for being the rockingest beta ever....MWAH! And of course thanks to all of you for your continued support of this story!
Stephenie Meyer holds the deed to Twilight world. I have simply taken a permanent lease to reside in it! :) No copyright infringement intended!
(Bella's POV)
"We can't go back to Forks," Carlisle stated quietly as he, Edward and Jasper stood around the dining room table, discussing possible areas for combat. Emmett and Rosalie had gone out for a quick check of the surrounding area to see if there were any signs of rogue vampires in the vicinity.
I sat with Alice and Esme listening to the boys discuss strategy. Alice was in deep concentration playing out different scenarios in her mind, hoping something would trigger a positive response. Suddenly her hand gripped mine. "No, Bella!"
Edward was at my side instantly, having read from Alice's thoughts what she had envisioned.
"Bella, we will get her back but we'll do it as a family." He stared at me intently, his butterscotch eyes piercing my heart with the panic I saw in them. "Promise me you won't try to be a hero and do this on your own."
"Edward is right, Bella." Carlisle's words drew my attention. "I know you are troubled about Angela, and understandably so, as well as our family's safety, but we will do this as a united front. It is the only chance we have at being successful."
I felt Edward's arms wrap around my torso and I melted into his embrace, his chin resting gently on top of my head. As worried as I was about Angela, I felt myself relax in his hold.
"Edward, Bella needs to learn how to fight, how to defend herself." I felt his body tense again and knew without looking that he was glaring at Jasper's words.
"Jazz is right, Edward. Bella has to be able to protect herself if need be." Alice crossed the room and settled into Jasper's lap, his arms immediately wrapping her in an affectionate embrace. "We can teach her all she needs to know."
I turned in Edward's arms, lifting my chin to meet his gaze, surprised yet again to see the change in him. The Edward from my previous life had done everything in his power to keep me from danger, even if it meant lying to me. This time though, things were different. I watched him sigh and nod in agreement with Alice.
"As much as I hate it, love, I know they're right," he whispered as he kissed me lightly on the forehead. With this simple admission, I felt another missing piece clink into place. I was beginning to feel as though he had finally accepted me as his equal and that in itself was a huge step in fixing an extensive part of what had been wrong with our relationship when I was still human.
"Did I hear we're gonna teach Baby Bells how to scrap?" Emmett's voice boomed through the house as he and Rose appeared. Leave it to Emmett to find the fun in things, even when they were at their worst.
"I wouldn't get so excited there, champ," Jasper drawled. "Don't forget she's a crazy newborn. My money's on Bella kicking your ass!"
"Count me in!"
Emmett turned to his wife. "Rosie! You're betting against me?" The pout was so pronounced that I couldn't help but feel bad for him.
"Sorry, Em…I know that Bella can kick your butt. I may love you, but I'm not going against the odds for you!"
I smiled at Rosalie, basking in her confidence. I was grateful for the lightened mood in the room, although I knew it would be only a matter of moments before things turned more serious. Every moment that Angela was in Victoria's clutches was another moment against the possibility of her surviving.
"Did you see anything on your patrol?" Carlisle asked, bringing the room to order.
"No, nothing. Not even a scent of anyone having been in the area," Emmett responded as he slumped onto the couch looking disappointed, pulling Rosalie down into his lap as he did so. She swatted at his hold, but snuggled against him anyway.
"Well, if she and her minions haven't been in the area, what do we do?" I asked quietly.
"I think our best bet is to try and draw her out," Jasper replied, "But the only thing that we know she wants is Bella." He turned to Edward. "I know how you feel about this, Edward, but I don't think we have any other choice. We can spend tomorrow going over some basic fighting skills with Bella and then we'll make our move. She will never be out of our sight…we just have to let Victoria see her and hopefully it will make her play along."
"We also need to make sure that we draw her out here." Carlisle moved to the center of the floor so he could face us all. "We can't have the fight move back to Forks. Too much has happened there already and there is no possibility of us returning there with Bella."
"Why?" I asked quickly.
"The Quileute's, Bella," Alice answered quickly. "The pack has no idea that you've been changed and that the treaty has been broken. If we return to Forks now, not only will we have Victoria and her army to deal with, but also the wolves."
Jacob. I had forgotten about Jacob. How was that possible? He had been such a good friend and had tried so hard to help me after Edward left. Carlisle had told me about the tribe and their legends and I knew that a majority of the young Quileute boys were now shape shifters because of the vampires in the area. They had hesitantly put up with the Cullens and their 'vegetarian' ways, but there would be no understanding why I had been changed or that it had been my choice. The treaty had been broken in their eyes and there would be no forgiveness on their part. I was sure of it. I remembered the hatred and fear in Billy Black's eyes when he had realized Edward and I were seeing each other. To top that off his best friend, my father, had been killed by a vampire, the very creature I had chosen to become. How would he ever stand for that?
"My change means we will never be able to return to Forks, will we?" I asked quietly.
"I hope we will be able to someday, Bella. In time, I plan to contact the tribe and explain all that has happened and hope they will allow us to return." Carlisle approached me carefully, crouching to face me. "Don't stress about this. We would not change a thing." He patted my shoulder and stood again.
"If we are all in agreement, I think our best plan would be to leave Seattle as soon as we have dealt with Victoria. Perhaps it is time to return to our Alaskan home for awhile, unless you would all prefer some time in Europe for a change?"
"I think our home in Scotland would be ideal, Carlisle," Alice responded brightly.
A round of nods confirmed the plan. "Esme my love, can you make the preparations for our next move? I think it would be best if we had everything arranged to leave fairly quickly."
Esme nodded in agreement, heading for the kitchen to retrieve her laptop and at the same time, Emmett and Rosalie disappeared to the second floor. Carlisle and Jasper had resumed their strategy discussion and I waited for Edward to gravitate back towards them, but was surprised when he pulled me tighter into his embrace, pressing his lips to the hair over my ear.
"Are you thirsty, love?" His soft whisper and warm breath made my senses alert and I nodded anxiously.
We stood quickly and moved to leave, until I heard the giggle from Alice. Suspicious, I glanced at Edward and then back at our sister, wondering what on earth the two of them were discussing silently.
"Hello? Non-gifted vamp here…mind sharing what you two are discussing?" I folded my arms in front of my chest and tried to look perturbed at the two of them. A low growl from Edward really piqued my interest as he stalked out of the room. "Alice, what did you do?"
"Don't worry, Bella. He will be right back and then the two of you will be able to head out." She laughed in earnest now. "I just told him where he could find the new piano bench I had delivered!"
I fled from the room as the chuckles from Jasper and Carlisle were smothered by Emmett's booming laughter filtered down from the second floor. Even if I didn't blush anymore – I could see how my embarrassment would be entertainment for the family for many years to come…as long as Victoria didn't get her way….
(Edward's POV)
We ran silently through the forest, side by side. I watched with admiration as Bella jumped gracefully across the stones in the river that ran through the property leading further into the forest. In no time at all we were standing hand in hand in the meadow where I had first watched her hunt with Rosalie and Emmett.
I glanced over and was stunned, completely fascinated as she tilted her head towards the starry sky, an angel personified, her skin shimmering in the moonlight. She was breathtaking and she was mine. I had wasted so much time. If only I had been able to see past my fears and anxiety and grasp what Bella and my entire family had been able to see all along.
I felt Bella squeeze my hand and I smiled down at her. "What are you thinking about? You were a million miles away."
How could I tell her? Did she really want to know? I brought her hand to mine and kissed the back of her palm gently, breathing in her floral essence as I did so. My body ached to touch her, to take her again and again here in the meadow amongst the wildflowers. I raised my hand to her cheek and she leaned into my touch, her eyes burning with what I knew was a similar desire.
"I was a fool. I love you and I am so sorry, Bella. I never should have left. I realize that now. I should have done as you asked – given you what you wished for. I will never forgive myself for what I have put you through and I only hope that you will let me make it up to you for all eternity."
"Stop." Bella pulled her hand from mine and moved further into the meadow. Unsure of what she was thinking, I froze, instantly regretting having spoken of the past.
I watched as she turned to face me and my fear dissipated as she held her hands out to me. Not wanting to be apart from her for another moment, I flashed across the empty space between us, entwining my fingers with hers.
"Bella…I..." She shook her head and let go of my hand again, pressing her fingers to my lips.
"Edward. I don't want your guilt. I don't want your regrets. I just want your word. Promise me, here and now, that you will never leave me again. Promise me that you will accept me as your equal and not make decisions for me. If you can promise me these two things, then that's all I need to know."
"Bella, I can promise you that I will never leave you again as I know I could not survive another day without you by my side. I can't promise you that I will consider you my equal because you are a far better person than I could ever dream of being." She moved to argue but I shook my head, smiling before continuing, "Hush love, let me finish. I do promise that I will never make a decision without your equal input again." I rested my forehead against hers and inhaled her fragrance.
"Then that's all I need," she whispered as her lips met mine. Time seemed to stop as we lost ourselves in that kiss. Our mouths, hesitant at first, soon warmed and melted together, tongues tasting and taunting each other for more.
Pulling her close into my arms, I lifted her and carried her to a spot below a large oak tree where the flowers were especially plentiful, our lips never parting from each other. I lay her down gently among the blue stars and wild violets and leaned back to look at her. "Perfection," I whispered as I lay down beside her and reclaimed her lips with mine.
Bella's hands wove their way into my hair as she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me deeper into her kiss, her moan of pleasure smothered by our connection. In an instant I was on my back, Bella's eyes darkening with desire as she continued her onslaught of kisses along my jaw to my neckline, sucking my lobe into her mouth and nibbling as her hands moved along the sides of my body. I mirrored her movements, initiating a soft growl from deep within as her body writhed above mine. Her small hands were like vice grips as she caught my wrists and pinned my arms against the ground.
|She pulled back suddenly and sat still, her eyes never leaving mine. I raised my eyebrows in question and she shook her head so I waited.
A sly grin came to her lips as she hovered above me, her lips inches from mine. Again I went to move my hands and was denied. "I just want to try something." I stared at her confused. "Don't move." And suddenly the memory was all around us. "Stay perfectly still." And her lips met mine as she kissed me as I had kissed her so long ago. Her lips brushing mine, barely touching and then intensifying before she pulled away, staring at me with eyes dark as coal.
"Of all the memories to carry Bella…" I whispered, stunned at how she had moved me with such an innocent thought.
"Edward?" Her hands moved up and down my chest and I gasped at the electricity of her touch. Her voice so soft and gentle.
"Yes love?"
"Why don't you show me what you really wanted to do to me that night?" I stared in fascination as my Bella changed from the innocent schoolgirl to vixen with one sentence and her fingernails made confetti of the shirt I had been wearing.
Her sultry laughter filled the air as I flipped her onto her back, ridding her of her sweater and bra with one flick of my hand. Her eyes glittered black as I growled and buried my face into her neck, my teeth grazing her skin as I nipped and licked my way from her throat to the path between her two breasts, my hands cupping and squeezing her soft mounds as my fingers teased her nipples into taut little buds. I laughed against her skin as I held her hands tight against her body, continuing the onslaught of biting and kissing down her stomach, my tongue darting into the small indentation of bellybutton that peaked above her waistline.
"Bella, Bella, Bella…" I chastised. "You have far too many clothes on for what I want to do to you." My teeth caught the waist of her pants and pulled them away, drawing a gasp from her. I chuckled again as I spied the delicate lace thong she wore and snapped the fabric, ripping it away from her, eliciting another moan.
Her desire was intoxicating and I inhaled her fragrance as I teased down her newly barren abdomen, my nose teasing at her skin as I moved lower and lower until I had reached the exquisite bouquet in front of me.
"Edward, please," she whimpered as my fingers teased against the insides of her thighs and I blew against her skin, my tongue only inches from her honey pot, her creamy nectar calling to me. Unable to resist any longer, I buried my mouth against her delicate lips, my tongue dancing against the soft skin and delicious juices being offered to me. Her hands wound their way into my hair and she pulled at the curls as her body trembled against mine.
I sensed she was close and I pulled her hips towards me, burying myself into her mound, nipping gently at the folds as her body reacted to the euphoria. Her moans and sighs soon became low growls as she pulled me close. Unable to resist her any longer, I met her mouth with mine, her kisses hungry and inviting as she tasted herself on me. "Edward, please…" she moaned against my skin once again as her body responded to my touch.
My jeans were soon hanging from the lower branches of the oak as I buried my face between her breasts, my erection hard against her thigh. I felt her body rubbing against me, her hands feathering against my skin as her lips nipped against my Adam's apple and I moaned, knowing I would have to give in. Rolling onto my back, I repositioned her hips against me and she shivered, her velvet core pressing against the tip of my hardened cock. Our eyes locked as I pulled her down, sheathing my member inside of her, and holding her still for only a few moments before letting her set the pace.
My hips rose to meet hers as she rocked against me, her long dark hair teasing against my chest as she leaned in towards me and then pulled away with each motion. I lost myself in her movements as she peaked again, her body tensing and releasing with each wave of orgasm. My body responded in kind and I grabbed her hips, holding her tightly to me as my body erupted with hers. Momentarily spent, Bella dropped against me, her body blanketing mine as we lay entwined as one.
I wrapped my arms around her tightly and kissed her gently as she stared at me in wonder. "So that's what you really wanted to do that night?"
"Oh, Bella," I chuckled mischievously as I flipped her onto her back. "That's only the beginning of what I wanted to do that night." I buried my mouth against hers smothering her laughter as we let everything else slip away and lost ourselves in the night.
End of chapter - would love to hear your thoughts as I sip from this glass of lemonade! LOL
