Disclaimer: These are not Stephanie's vampires.
Chapter Twenty Four
Isabella Swan
"Did you sustain any injuries?"
My fingers flutter to my neck, feeling the tender flesh – the small bruises from my earlier interaction with the ferry operator. "Nothing life threatening. Your blood from our last exchange is healing me, I think."
Edward pulls me closer in the confines of his strong arms. After our tryst in his personal office, Edward had quickly dressed and escorted me into his home, Violet Hall. He skipped the tour of the immaculate – yet masculine – building and ushered me into his personal rooms on the top floor. Like his office, Edward seemed to favor dark leathers, bright metals, glass and pops of deep violet color; the only unique addition to his bedroom was the presence of fluffy pelts over the massive bed.
Prizes from animals that he had caught and killed over the centuries.
In response to my horrified expression at seeing the evidence of his hunting prowess, Edward smiled – and told me that he didn't hunt frequently and never anything endangered or in the first years of life.
I reluctantly let the minor issue drop, even though it bothered me a little.
A few furs was nothing to get upset over.
Edward tilts my chin up to get a better look at my skin, making a low sound in the back of his throat, satisfied with the way the bruises look. "You'll be perfect in a few days."
"There's no such thing as perfection, Edward."
"You are perfect."
"Edward-"
"Nobody else measures up to your standards."
"Edward, really-"
"Everyone pales in comparison, little mate."
"Are you trying to seduce me?"
He pauses, tucking my head under his chin. "Is it working?"
I snort, rolling my eyes. He went from concerned to playful in the blink of an eye – and that's exactly the reason why I love him. He's everything I can't be and everything that I need. "I'm awfully tired, Edward."
His lips brush against my ear. "Mmmm, then let's go to bed."
I glance out the window – where did the hours go? The sky is dark and dotted with shinning stars beneath sparse, rolling clouds. And Edward's bedroom did seem to be comfortable and warm, certainly a change from the chilling weather of the day. I can almost feel the night terrors rolling in, a product of my fear from what happened earlier today and of the memories that Isobell had shown me.
I need to toke.
Edward had shown a mild displeasure at my smoking habit – he didn't understand it.
But even with Edward's presence and his arms holding me as I sleep, the nightmares would reappear because everything was still so fresh.
I pull away from Edward's arms and move towards my bags, which had been placed near the feminine wardrobe. I quickly locate my pipe, turning to Edward with an inquisitive expression.
His face is nearly blank, but his eyes are zeroed in on the small yellow and blue pipe in my grasp. "Should I step out?"
"If you feel like you need to," I answer slowly.
"I don't want to."
I nod, pushing my hair to one shoulder and sitting down in one of his black leather oversized chairs. As I ready Daisy Duck, Edward circles around me, a calculating expression on his face; his hands dart out when I lift the lighter.
"Edward?"
"Close your eyes," he orders silkily.
Obediently, I do – and almost immediately, I hear the hiss of the lighter and smell the almost-sweet scent of weed.
Then Edward's lips are coaxing mine open and he's breathing smoke into my lungs; everything about the taste is so much sweeter than usual. He nips at my bottom lip as I hold the smoke in my lungs before I turn my head and exhale.
Lazily, I open my eyes, somewhat startled to see mint green staring right back at me – and I don't look away because I don't have to anymore. "What was that?"
He looks pensive for a moment; then, a relaxed shrug of his broad shoulders. "I may not exactly approve of this drug use, but I'm not going to stop you. I'll keep you safe."
"Safe from the weed?"
"Safe from the world, little mate, especially if your judgment is impaired."
I bob my head absently, taking another quick puff – I need my head to be nice and foggy so I can sleep. Leisurely cleaning up the glass pipe, I stand, stretching up on my tip toes. My toes wiggle against the plush carpet of his room and I sigh, relishing in the luxury.
Edward is observing me from the middle of the room, his face calm and impassive, arms crossed over his broad chest as I absently wiggle my toes.
I feel light.
Light.
"There's too much light," I tell him, raising my chin a bit.
A single brow twitches. "Is that so?"
"It is so," I answer quickly, giggling a bit at the mirth on his face. I sigh again and wiggle my toes in the carpet. "Lights off?"
Edward moves around the room, clicking off lights and the twin lamps and then leading me to the bed, directing me to sit. He kneels before me, kneading my thighs in a soothing rhythm. "Are you tired?"
I yawn in response, infinitely relaxed.
His fingers pluck at my jeans. "Take these off then, princess."
I nod and fumble with my button and zipper; Edward helps me pull of the skinny jeans when I give up, the material bunched around my knees, my thighs bare and rippling with gooseflesh in response to the suddenly cool air.
He folds up the jeans, placing them over the chair I sat in earlier, then moves towards one of the two wardrobes in the room. Coming back to me with a white thermal shirt, he kneels again at my feet – my height above him instantly reminds me of the escapades we participated in earlier and my arousal suddenly skyrockets.
Edward's nose flares and he closes his eyes. "Bella…"
"Hmmmm?" I pause, a smile twitching at the corner of my mouth. I'm so tired. I feel so light. "Mmmmmmmmm," I hum, enjoying the slight vibration of my lips.
"Princess, can we get you changed into this?" he asks, gesturing to the white thermal shirt he placed near my hip.
I bet it smells like him.
I quickly throw off my thick sweater, shivering when his eyes land on my bare breasts.
Small boobs are awesome, sometimes.
Blinking, Edward helps me tug on his shirt; the button-snap neckline is so large, one side exposing my whole shoulder; the sleeves absolutely dwarf my arms and, had I been standing, the hemline of the shirt would easily almost reach my knees.
"You're so big," I tell him, awe laced in my voice as my eyes are locked on my hands beneath the floppy warm, white fabric.
Edward makes a choked sound and I glance up at him curiously.
"Edward?" I yawn.
He takes a deep breath. "In the bed," he orders gently, kissing my brow, helping me get under the heavy furs and soft, silky sheets.
"Sleep with me?" I request, closing my eyes.
Another choked sound.
"Are you okay, Edward?"
He clears his throat. "Of course, princess. Give me a second."
"Hurry," I tell him sleepily. "I'm cold."
He snorts and I wonder why – then I remember. Duh. Edward carries about as much body heat as an icicle.
But he's also so hot.
"What did you say, Bella?"
"Huh?"
"Who's so hot? You? Do you have a fever?"
I feel flames on my face. I said that out loud. I'm not used to being freshly high around people! Usually I have enough time to let the high mellow so I can seem kind of normal-
"It's okay, Bella. I think it's cute."
"What's cute?" I ask, watching with bleary eyes and he climbs into his huge bed beside me, wearing soft sleep clothes.
He levels me with a calculating glance as he slides closer, pulling me into his cool embrace. "Nothing, princess," he answers, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Let's just go to sleep. Tomorrow, we will be talking about what happened today."
I nod heavily against his chest.
Feeling safe from his arms and relaxed from Daisy Duck, I succumb to sleep quickly; the cool sensation of his breath against the top of my head and the strength of his chest against my back lull me into a deep, unmoving slumber.
When the sun is glaringly high in the sky the next morning – or afternoon – I wake, still wrapped up in Edward's arms. His huge bay windows are free from the dark curtains, letting in every ounce of sunshine into the room. Much more clear-headed than the night before, my fingers grope the sleek edge of his bloodstone ring, grateful that he can see and feel the sun, though the rays do absolutely nothing to warm his pale skin.
His cool nose nuzzles against the back of my neck and I feel him yawn behind me – my vampire slept last night.
Still a little mellow from my high last night, I laugh at the feeling and Edward growls playfully in response. Our moment of fun is ruined by a perfectly timed knock on his door; Edward sighs and slips from bed, opening the door just enough so that I am hidden from view.
"What?"
"Sire," Jasper greets lowly, sounding distinctly uncomfortable, even though Jasper had never shown an ounce of awkwardness in the time I'd known him. He clears his throat. "Alice has a missive from the Queen to Lady Isabella."
My brows shoot up – the Queen? For a second, I picture the Queen of England with fangs, before shaking my head. I'm sure a vampire queen is a bit younger. Right?
"I see," Edward says, shifting. He takes the offered envelope, nodding to Jasper. "Check in on the progress of the investigation."
Edward closes the door and turns, glancing at the pristine white envelope in his hand. Shrugging, he hands it to me; the paper is heavy, clearly expensive and sealed with a startling red wax crest. Apparently, the Queen still favored certain old practices, updating the missive from a scroll to a letter but keeping the traditional sealing technique.
Carefully, I open the letter, mildly fascinated with the wax seal, and pull out equally heavy paper. I scan the tilted cursive and let my eyes linger on the flourish of the signature – Sincerely, Queen of North America, Esme Cullen.
A/N: SO, real life has been kicking my ass – college, family, illness, my dog is crazy and I've been in training for my job. I suck for not getting this out sooner, but there is good news – the story has less than 10 chapters left, I think! That might be bad news for some of you lol
Shout out to the first ten reviews (plus guests):
Aabc – Yes! The "power" talk is coming up!
Sadie1787 – How about just being in a state of horrified goo? Because I was!
Maysnrs – lol It was hot and gross at the same time!
Twilight Rocker 12 – This is a hairy fic! Lol
Dipsydoodle – He went there. He more than went there…lol
Lilydukes – Glad you thought so!
2old4fanfic – I believe all moms should have mind control!
twilight-saga-lover95 – lol Yep, it was gross. I felt weird writing it, but he's a vamp!
Pumpkinmykitty – I also consider this question answered, even if it is pretty gross! Lol
Love M Go Blue – LOL you had to fan yourself? Oh, dear!
Super special shout out to the first review of the last chapter, Nalia-R, I totally get a smile when I get a review, so on posting days, I get a super huge constant smile! lol
As always, be brutally honest. I can take it.
~cupcakeriot
p.s: there was some kind of glitch between my email and fanfiction so I only got some reviews and not others – if you don't get a PM from me about the last chapter, I'm sorry and thank you for reading!