Disclaimer: These are not Stephanie's vampires.
Chapter Fifteen
Isabella Swan
His growl is fierce, right in my ear – a low rumble that enchants, arouses and scares me. I move against his hand, falling into him in the most intimate of ways, allowing his palm to cradle my most private of parts and support my weight. The tone of his growl changes, morphing into a pleased, rough purr and he moves his mouth away from my throat.
Edward pulls back, allowing me to see his haunting face – the pale skin, dark eyes, red lips and the fangs that hold a single drop of my blood. His hand continues to move against my core, slowly becoming more teasing; his aggressive touch calms, his wrist twisting so I am given pleasure instead of ownership.
"Little mate," he murmurs, his voice dark with a slight edge – so different from the voice he normally used. I suspect that this is his inner beast, the vampire he kept hidden. This was the center of his innate stillness and the danger his seemed to exude – this was the part of Edward that he had never shown me, the part that harbored both his greatest fears and his greatest strengths.
And I'd triggered his fears.
I'd made this side of him come out by leaving this morning.
He'd taken my blood, marked me as his, and now he was slowly coming back – my Edward was coming back.
His fingers flick the button of my jeans, ripping it from the fabric with that single casual movement, and his fingers delve into the confines of my jeans, stroking me in closer proximity to my skin and the heat he caused. My head falls back, my body sagging under the sudden stress – Edward taking my blood and then giving me this pleasure, both without warning. His arm moves, wrapping around the small of my back so that I can lean against him, my back arching and my breasts pushing out towards him through my thick sweater.
"You want this, don't you, little mate?"
I open my mouth to answer, but his hand moves against me, suddenly under my panties and moving quickly, without mercy for my sensitive human body – a low moan escapes me.
"You do," he purrs, running his nose down my neck again. "You want this and you want me. But you leave me."
His attentions stop and I am left panting, on the brink of orgasm.
I blink, looking up at his dark jade eyes. His eyes narrow at me. "You don't get to leave me."
I nod.
He's right – I don't get to leave him.
I don't even want to.
I can't bring myself to care that I've lost a sense of independence from him – falling hard and fast and being utterly devoted to someone simply isn't my style, but for Edward, with Edward, I can't imagine anything different.
So, I nod quickly, conscious of his fingers too-slowly rubbing against my clit. The friction isn't enough. I need more.
Edward brings his face closer to me and licks the edge of my lips. "You will not leave me," he purrs, flicking his fingers against me so harshly and suddenly that I fall into full-body tremors, my legs falling slack and my body bending backwards over his strong arm.
I am gasping, catching my breath, staring into mint eyes. I wonder idly why my violet gaze doesn't seem to unnerve him like it does others – he doesn't have a reaction, aside from his face relaxing into a pleased smile.
Maybe it's because he's a vampire.
Speedily, he zips my pants and lays me down on the bed, sitting beside me. I'm no fool; his back is straight and he sits with authority, much like a parent or a doctor might do. He leaves absolutely no room for debate on who is in charge.
A tender hand pushes a strand of hair off my forehead and an expression of anxiety crosses his face - my Edward is back, even if he is making it clear that he is dominating this relationship. I find comfort in his control – I'd never realize just how much I needed to release the control, the perfect memory, the stress of running my life and working so much. As much as my very life healed Edward, his domination that relinquishes my control healed me.
"Did I scare you?" he whispers, his eyes darting down my body. He seems to inhale deeply, as if checking for the scent of an injury.
I take a quick inventory of my body and aside from a twinge of soreness in my center from the roughness, I feel fine. I tell him as much.
Edward doesn't look convinced. His swift mood change leaves me reeling, but I do my best to absorb it – he's lived for hundreds and hundreds of years. I can easily learn to deal with his idiosyncrasies.
"I'm sorry," he says, pushing a hand through his unruly dark hair, exposing the pale expanse of his forehead and the tiny veins that maze around his temples. "I try to keep that reined in. I'm afraid to scare you. But, Bella, I woke up and you were gone. You can't just…"
I sit up, reaching around his middle to hug him. My head presses into his stone chest and my arms barely reach around him completely; he's not as bulky as some of the college guys I see but he is taller and that makes him larger. He easily overtakes everyone I have ever seen in terms of height, looming over everyone by half a foot or more.
"I shouldn't have just disappeared," I tell him, squeezing him as tight as I can.
I had an unrelenting need to be as close to him as possible – it was a subtle throbbing, a slow pulsing call of my blood. I couldn't imagine being away from him and I wondered how I had coped through my life so far. Thinking about it, there was always something that was missing in me.
Edward sighs. "Little mate, I can't possible expect you to stay with me at all times. You won't want me in the bathroom with you."
I smile against his chest.
He's right.
I won't want him to follow me into the bathroom.
"Well, there has to be a compromise."
Edward's hands run over my hair, my back, my shoulders. His touch is cold and soothing and exciting. How had I lived without this touch?
"I'm sure there is," he says lowly, tipping my chin up.
Our eyes meet again and his flicker down to my lips – he's shy, hesitant. He's fearing that I'm afraid of him, afraid of his inner vampire.
I'm not sure how to tell him that I love both sides.
And then, my mind blanks – have I even said I love him?
Do I?
But I can't think, because he is leaning forward, his lips about to brush against mine. I close my eyes in anticipating, my lips parting.
"Sire."
Damn that silent invitation.
Edward's head snaps to Jasper, an irritated growl escaping his chest. "What?"
If I didn't know any better, I would have sworn there was a ghost of a smile on Jasper's face – he was amused by Edward's reaction. I wondered if there was some sort of rule about respecting your vampire prince; maybe guards had special privileges.
"You're brother, Sire," Jasper drawls, his deep voice accented by a slight twang I hadn't noticed before. "He wanted you to know of his displeasure."
Edward stands, his back straight and his shoulders back.
He looks exactly like a prince.
"And what is this displeasure of Emmett's? He's nearly four hundred. I would think he would be able to handle his own displeasure."
"This displeasure involves you, sire," Jasper says wryly.
I quirk a brow, observing this back and forth – they are friendly and seem to be sharing some sort of joke but they are also very formal. I was eagerly taking in everything I was hearing and seeing, cataloging it all in my mind so I could put it all together.
If I loved this man, it had to be based on more than the blood.
I simply refused to devote myself to someone because my body thought I should.
Edward sighs heavily. "On with it, Jasper."
Jasper grins. "He says that he is sick of you holding your mate hostage."
Edward laughs. "Hostage? She is mine, not his."
Jasper nods, his eyes flicking to the window.
"Is he out there?" Edward demands, pointing outside.
Jasper shifts on his feet.
Edward storms to the window and hisses something angrily.
I glance at Jasper, shocked that he doesn't seem to be breathing – his chest doesn't move and he doesn't even make eye contact with me. He even looks a bit embarrassed.
And I realize belatedly – and humiliatingly – that he can probably smell what just happened here.
And what happened last night.
And the time before that.
Oh, God.
My face flames, heat painting my cheeks, and a fine sweat breaks out on my brow.
What else can vampires smell?
My stomach drops.
I mean, it really drops. It's lower than it was that time Dad found the only pack of cigarettes I had ever tried to smoke. I'd been mad and embarrassed then, but it was nothing compared to now.
Edward is done hissing and turns to me, his brow furrowing when he sees my face. He seems to be breathing – and enjoying it.
"Bella?"
I shake my head, waving my hands at Jasper before realizing that the motion of my arms is stirring the air and probably catapulting my scent all over the room. I drop my arms and feel my face get hotter.
Edward looks at Jasper, confused.
I sigh. "I need to talk to you. Alone."
Edward nods, casually shrugging his shoulders before reverting to his unnatural stillness. "Jasper," he says by way of good-bye.
"Sire."
Jasper disappears out the window and Edward comes closer to me, kneeling beside the bed. It occurs to me that it's not everyday a prince kneels and my heart flutters at the thought.
He caresses my face. "My Bella, you're pink."
I close my eyes, leaning into his hand. "I just realized something."
"What is it?"
"Vampires have a very acute sense of smell."
Edward's brows rise. "I thought you knew this. You are very smart."
My face is still hot. "I mean, a very acute sense of smell."
Edward blinks.
He isn't getting it.
I squeeze my eyes shut, refusing to watch the realization wash across his face. "Jasper could smell our activities."
Edward is silent.
Too silent.
When I open my eyes, Edward is smiling proudly.
Not quite the reaction I was expecting.
Edward looks entirely too pleased with himself as he grins lavishly at me – it's almost a leer. "Good," he says, deeply inhaling the air of the room. "I thought perhaps it needed to be stronger, but if it is affecting Jasper, then surely this room is properly scented."
My eyes are wide with disbelief. I'm sure I look like a cartoon character. "What?" I ask dumbly.
I don't think I've ever been as flabbergasted in my entire life.
Edward is oblivious. He is eagerly massaging my thighs, just above my knees. "This is wonderful, Bella. Any vampire that comes near this room will know that you belong to me. When we are fully mated, they won't even have to come into the room – they'll know just by smelling you," he tells me, his voice slipping into a low growl. His mint eyes are darkening. "Bella, I will so enjoy scenting you as a mate should."
I might just imagine it, but I think his eyes dart to the apex of my thighs with great hunger.
I clear my throat, trying to gather my thoughts. "That's something that vampires do, then? Scenting?"
Happily, he nods. "It's a point of pride in males. The stronger his scent is in his female, the better. It's best if other males run away when they see his mate. I fully intend for that to happen, Bella," he murmurs, leaning up to inhale the skin at the crook of my neck, right where he bit me earlier.
I shudder, oddly excited by this.
But I shake my head, getting back to the real issue at hand.
"Edward," I whisper, pulling back.
"Hmmm?"
"Can you smell my virginity?"
A/N: Sorry about the delay! Like, really. I'm groveling. Thanksgiving threw me off – turkey and stuff. Sooo….probably two or three updates during the week and one next weekend to catch up. I don't know.
And the first ten reviews of the last chapter (including guests) are…
Guest – Well, she's dying for feedback ;)
twilight-saga-lover95 – LOL Nothing like confusing feelings – he's scary and sexy and I'm-peeing-my-wet-panties. Oh My!
Sadie1787 – Huh. Maybe we should make a sign-up paper? Lol
YesMyRealNameIsBella – lol I didn't see the movie yet BUT I do agree that the naughty lemons were…sizzling ;)
Edward's spouse – I give you more!
Headinthecloudsss – LOL Sorry! Hope you were able to sleep after reading!
Glitter Poisoned My Blood – Ice Hockey! Very intense. I might have to consult you on a few skating things in the future if I decide to go that way with a plot!
james3142 – Holy great question, Batman! Lol Uhmmm I haven't decided but I think I know the way I want to go with Edward's physical past….
vampyregirl86 – Yay! Lol The story doesn't suck after a drink! That's good, right?
Pumpkinmykitty – Men, right? UGH! It's football! Eh. Lol
And super special shout out to the first review of the last chapter…. CdrIvanova – Yep! You totally nailed his greatest fear! Poor dude. She's 21st century, she doesn't have to tell you where she's going, Edward!
Anyway, my stomach sounds like it's trying to eat itself and I'm realizing that I'm always hungry when I'm writing this. Might explain Ed's appetite!
As always, be brutally honest. I can take it.
~cupcakeriot