CHAPTER 46 - DEFEAT
A/N: I am horrible – I am so sorry. I've been taking my exams and looking after a sick relative which meant that I barely had any time to write. Sorry for the long wait. I truly am very sorry. Hopefully this update will make up for it…
"You were going to leave" I murmured sadly with furrowed eyebrows.
He nodded and shamefully admitted in a low broken whisper, "I was"
"Why?"
Edward racked his brain, trying to come up with the right answer as he stammered, "I d-didn't want you to think I was some kind of c-" he paused and gulped resoundingly before finally meeting my inquisitive stare, "I just wanted to check up on you" he murmured.
I crossed my arms over my chest, "Do you do this often?"
"No" he shook his head with a guilt-ridden expression, "This is my first time" he vowed and I believed him.
I ignored the part of me that said I should be scared and focused on the more prominent part that told me to welcome my protector, "Well I'm glad you're here" I confessed, feeling my cheeks flush with my excitement.
"You are?" his eyes lit up with hope.
I nodded before falling back onto my bed and patting the space next to me, "I couldn't sleep" I sighed as I watched him hesitantly move towards me.
"Me neither" we both smiled at that. "Aren't you cold?" he then asked, staring at my bare arms and then to the open window.
I shook my head with a gentle smile, "No, I'm fine"
And I was.
I didn't feel so alone with Edward being here with me. He seemed to have a way of giving me some peace. Maybe it was the gentle expression that he always wore when he stared at me. Or maybe it was how the simple brush of his fingers sent certain warmth to spread through me.
As if reading my thoughts, he reached up to tuck his palm under my hair to cup my cheek, "I missed you"
"I missed you too" I breathed while relaxing into his palm.
His fingers then slipped down to thread through my own as he informed me, "Emmett cut the trip short so he could stop my complaining" he laughed.
"What were you complaining about?" I frowned.
"Don't worry, I'm sure he'll give you the details tomorrow" he chuckled once again and I felt myself growing impatient. However, before I could question him, he began to pull back the covers for me, "Now try and go to sleep" he whispered and when catching the panic in my eyes he added, "I'll be here all night" he promised.
As much as I wanted to accept this, I shook my head with a pout in defiance, "I can't sleep"
"You can't sleep?" he hitched an eyebrow, seeming amused by this as if the concept wasn't even plausible.
"No" I looked around the room, searching for something we could do but another idea emerged, "How about we go for a walk?"
He laughed but stopped when he saw I was serious, "Now?"
"Why not?" I shrugged, already off my bed and walking into the small closet in search of a jacket.
Once I slipped inside the blue peacoat, I spun back around and eyed the disbelieving Edward until he nodded in agreement, "Why not"
-XxxxxX-
The night sky was absolutely breathtaking in Forks. With the lack of business structures, we were given a dark midnight blue canvas dotted with silver twinkling stars. Occasionally I would even catch the flurry of a shooting star and Edward would simply smile at my amazed gasp.
After I had my fill, I focused on my time with Edward when I was reminded of my previous question, "I've been meaning to ask you…"
"Anything"
I smiled at how quickly he replied before setting off, "This morning…"
"Mmmhmm" he urged me on, staring at me with curious eyes.
When it dawned on me that my bottom lip was trapped between my teeth, I released it and hastily asked, "What was Carlisle thinking?" my question was met with Edward's confusion so I clarified, "He told you something – well he thought something and I was just wondering…" this time understanding flooded him before being overwhelmed with his nervousness so I was quick to apologise, "Sorry. I'm overstepping boundaries, aren't I? Forget I said anything"
"No Bella, really it's fine" he gave a convincing smile but I remained uncertain, "I was just surprised" he explained but all I could do was stare back at him until he began, "Carlisle was stunned by how…close we were"
I could tell he was choosing his words careful so I prodded, "And…"
"And he was thinking that we were lucky to have each other" he added, ducking his eyes away from me with some embarrassment, "He said that I was good for you" this time his voice had dropped an octave.
I was surprised that Carlisle had read into all of that but instead of approaching that, I squeezed Edward's hand and offered him an assuring smile, "You are" he snapped up at that so I felt encouraged to add, "If anything you're too good for me"
"I disagree" he angrily shook his head, "it is I who is undeserving of you"
With a sigh, I could see this conversation going around in circles so I concluded, "Let's agree to disagree"
In response to this he smiled and nodded before his arm surprisingly wrapped around my waist as he pulled me close to his side.
After a few moments of prolonging the peaceful silence, I wondered aloud, "How was the hunt?"
"Are you seriously asking me about this?" he mused with a humoured tone with a low chuckle. "Anyway, I've been meaning to ask you something…"
"Anything" my own answer seemed almost as instinctual as his.
The corner of his lips quirked up but then fell as he grew serious, "How do you feel?" he asked in a stern tone.
"Fine. Why?" my forehead creased hoping that he hadn't been using up unnecessary energy in worrying over me.
From my peripheral vision, I caught how he cast worried glances at me before revealing, "Carlisle told me about how much energy you'd been using…" he explained.
"Nothing I can't handle" I hoped that my answer would be sufficient in appeasing him, "I slept for a while before so that helped. I just need to practice more often"
"It truly is amazing – what you can do" his compliment only left me blushing and to make it worse, he added, "What you are"
I shook my head not liking how he was making it sound like some amazing gift, "Sometimes I wish I wasn't what I was" I admitted.
"Why?"
Our steps had halted by the edge of the lake so I turned to lean on the tree as I explained, "Being what I am, means that you have to be in control over everything" my rambling only led me into continuing, "In the past I have made mistakes because I lost control of my emotions. I let my anger drive me once and that can be the most dangerous emotion for someone like me" his intent gaze only encouraged me further, "My father told me of those who have lost themselves because of what they can do. The power got into their heads and darkened their souls" angst filled both of us so I quickly concluded, "It would be so easy to give in to that part…"
"But you keep fighting it" he observed.
I shrugged, "I guess"
He took my hands in his and pulled me close to him as he murmured, "You continue to amaze me Bella Swan"
"I amaze you?"
My hitched brow had him laughing, "Don't get all smug"
"You said I amaze you" I sang childishly.
"Don't make me throw you in the lake" he warned me but I just laughed at him.
Before I knew what was happening, I was crashing into the ice cold water. A thousand needles prickled at my skin as the chilled water sank deep into my skin, "It's freezing" I stuttered.
Edward instantly looked guilty and horror-stricken as he apologised, "Sorry" he was quick to run to the edge where I was and reach out his hand. Once my fingers were wrapped around his, instead of allowing him to pull me out, I allowed the smirk to break through and it was too late for him as I hauled him into the water.
"I take back what I said" I laughed when his head emerged from the water. Ignoring his mock anger, I splashed him with another laugh, "You are a jerk!"
He tutted while gliding through the water towards me, "There's that word again Isabella" he scolded but still wore an amused smile.
I was momentarily distracted with how his wet tendrils made his messy hair fall down his sides. However, when I quickly regained composure, I splashed him again while floating away from him.
As he drew closer to me, I dunked my head into the water and made an attempt to swim away but this deemed to be impossible. His fingers gently wrapped around my ankles before pulling me back to him and as we both fought against each other, we were only sinking deeper.
He tried to come up for air but I only pushed him down with me. When we both realised we weren't getting anywhere, his arms encircled me and we swam up together.
A joyous giggle burst through me when we resurfaced. I still laughed when pushing my wet locks away from my face but then paused when I caught Edward staring at me. "It's nice to see you laugh" he said.
This time I didn't blush, I simply closed the distance between us and felt the familiar warmth fill my chest. Wanting to welcome it, I glanced towards my companion and decided that I didn't want to accept it alone this time. I wanted to share this with him so I peeked up at him and raised my palms, "Give me your hands"
"Why?" he frowned.
Rolling my eyes, I inclined my head to the side and questioned, "Do you trust me?"
Again he was quick to answer, "Yes"
"Then don't ask questions" I snapped which made him smirk but comply and offer his hands to me. "Close your eyes" I then instructed when our fingers were entwined, leaving no space between our palms. Thankfully, he didn't question me this time as his eyelids fluttered to a close.
This made me smile because I truly believed that he trusted me.
I then closed my own eyes and focused on the warmth filling my chest. The energy slowly spread from my heart and now flowed through my whole form and this must have reached my palms because Edward jolted.
"What-"
I kept myself in the peaceful darkness as I whispered, "Don't pull away"
I trusted him to know that he was listening but I also heard him taking deep breaths. I couldn't be sure whether it was from excitement or fear but he had not told me to stop so I continued.
Again, I moved in closer so that we were now chest to chest. This only seemed to rasp his heavy breathing so I focused on that as my medium.
Concentrating on the element of air, I breathed in and sent a silent command which gave a shift to the wind's direction. I commanded it's strength so that I could now manipulate both water and air. Once I felt the water was still surrounding us, I murmured, "Open your eyes"
We both blinked as we took sight of where we were. Intently, I watched Edward's expression, smirking when I caught his eyes grow wide as he looked down to the lake below us. He then stared at the water whirlpool that circled us the middle.
"I-I-I" he seemed lost for words, still gasping as he whipped his head around to the hurricane around us. "I-I don't know what to say" he stammered. His gaze still trained on how the water continued to whip around us and leave us levitated within the midst of it.
"You like?" I grinned knowingly.
He finally broke away from my manipulation of nature and said, "You're magnificent, you know that?"
"So, I've been told…" I toyed.
Suddenly something hit him because his eyes dulled and his forehead creased, "Why don't we stop now…?" he fretted.
"I won't blackout yet" I rolled my eyes, "I haven't reached the limit" I tried in assuring him but it didn't work.
His smile faltered and he pleaded, "For the sake of my peace of mind"
Not able to fight against the look on his face, I gave in with a small nod, "Fine" I huffed and took a deep breath as I sent a mental demand to settle down the rapid waters. It wasn't long before we were gentle swirled back into the surface of the pool.
"That was…" Edward still remained speechless, blinking several times as he tried to make sense of what just happened.
I laughed at his disbelieving expression, "It's okay. I tend to have that effect on people" I teased him. It was becoming easy to taunt him and allow myself to be – well me - with him.
"I have no doubt" he smirked but then there was a confliction that darkened his eyes. What had once been a warm topaz had now melted into a pitch black filled with fleeting emotions that I couldn't comprehend.
I parted to my lips to accommodate my heavy breathing when peering up at him, "What?"
"I want to try something…"
"Do it" I pleaded, knowing what he meant because I had been waiting for this moment for far too long.
With my permission, he didn't hesitate when fiercely claiming my lips. His soft lips were both rough and tender against mine when moulding against mine perfectly. Our shared desperation was fought with our frantic movements and how we clung on to each other.
He wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me closer while I moved my hands up to lock them around his neck. I then used one hand to delve my fingers into the softness of his bronze locks as I gently grazed his scalp. This elicited a moan from him when tightening his grip around my waist. One of his hands then slipped down to my thigh as he hitched it up to his hip. I complied and pulled him closer because I was far beyond control.
After a few minutes, we both regrettably pulled away, he leaned his forehead against mine and gasped, "That was…."
"I know" I whispered, still breathless.
"I'm sorry. I should have-" he began but II cut him off when pressing my lips back onto his. This time, we were gentle, with the shared desire of prolonging the moment.
After several more kisses, we swam back to the shore and laid on the grass to gaze up to the stars. However, even as we lay there, Edward hovered above me placing butterfly kisses all over my neck and up my collarbone and back to my ear.
His gentle caresses and kisses were the last thing I felt before slumber swept me away.
I realise now that I must have fallen asleep because when opening my eyes, I was back in my bed.
Morning was here and there was no sun.
Nothing could make me happier.
A/N: Sorry again guys – hope you loved the update and the kiss. Still very busy with revision but I'll try my hardest to bring the other updates. Please review below…