Chapter 18 – Soaring

BPOV

"Are you afraid of what is coming?" Edward asked.

"No," I lied. In all truth, I was terrified but there was nothing he or I could do about it. I planned on sharing my fears with Edward, but tonight was not the time.

"The future can change, but right now we have control of it."

I paused a long moment.

"Take me to bed."

"Bella," he started, turning on the bed to face me, "I'm afraid of hurting you."

"I'm part vampire."

"Are you sure?"

I took his hands in mine and waited for him to look at me. "Positive," I said, leaning in to kiss him.

My hands stayed within his for a moment longer before he pulled his away and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me onto his lap. His lips moved slowly across my cheek to my ear.

"How I have missed holding you, wife," he said, sending a thrill of delight through me. His lips moved to the spot where he had bitten me so long ago and nibbled at the pulsebeat throbbing in the creamy base of my throat. He lingered there for a moment longer and with extreme slowness moved back up to capture my lips in a tantalizing and mind-numbing kiss.

I felt Edward's breath quicken as his hands roamed over me, touching, stroking, and setting me on fire. His lips challenged me to stop him before he could hurt me.

I shivered, even as the blood in my veins heated even more. I was tense with passionate awareness wherever his hands touched me. And I was glad I was sitting as my legs turned to water as I allowed entrance to the moistness of his tongue into my honeyed mouth. Without hesitation my fingers twisted in the silky strands of his hair, trying to bring him closer to me.

EPOV

I felt a heady surge of sexual promise cross through me. Bella's response was immediate and I couldn't understand why she wasn't stopping me, she was clinging to me desperately.

Panting, I tore my mouth from hers and stood, taking her with me. A groan escaped from me when the gentleness of her curves was pressed against my throbbing need. I quickly gathered her in my arms and turned, depositing her gently atop the soft bedding. My breath caught as I gazed down at her before climbing to lie next to her.

"I've dreamed of this," she rasped as I continued to gaze at her. Her hands moved up my arm, coming to a rest on my muscular biceps.

I drew her to me and buried my face in the strawberry satin of her hair before I rolled her onto her back and covered her fully. Only a portion of my weight was supported by the mattress, the rest pressed Bella back against the mattress. My mouth found hot skin. The tip of my tongue licked the salty flesh of her neck as my hand slipped up her arms, stretching them above her head. Her breast thrust firmly into my chest. The tempting curves made me groan.

I let my breath whisper over her exposed flesh. She arched her back and though she could go nowhere, I felt the increased pressure between us.

"Ah, wife, I won't last if you keeping moving like that," I growled against her lips.

Bella did something I did not expect. She turned her head and found the curl of my ear. Her tongue playfully teased the pliable flesh before her teeth gazed my lobe in a gentle nip.

I lifted my head and gazed deeply into her eyes. A low growl made its way slowly out of my throat as first my eyes, then my mouth, devoured the shell-pink perfection of her lips.

My insistent fingers made quick work of the buttons of the silk pajama top Bella was wearing and were met with a lacy texture when they pushed the top aside. I slowly broke the kiss and looked down only to see a dark blue lace top.

My eyes widened as I swallowed.

"You don't like it," Bella said.

I looked back up at her. Her lip was thrust out.

"Like is hardly the word for it."

I gave her a quick kiss, knowing my restraint was nearing its limit.

"I'll buy you another," I said as my hands ripped the material. The rest of her pajamas were removed just as fast.

I was about to gaze down upon her, her hands came up and at the same time she sat up. "You have too many clothes on," she whispered in my ear at the same time I heard buttons fly across the room. Before the same could be done with the bottoms, I removed them.

I helped her to lay back and ran a gentle hand from her neck to her hip. "You're beautiful, Bella."

"The way you have always looked at me, Edward, has made me," I didn't let her finish.

Our lips meshed in a demanding kiss. I knew my restraint had long since reached its end. When I nudged my knees between her smooth thighs, I found mine wasn't the only patience that had snapped. Bella's legs opened to me like the dewy petals of a rose blossoming under a summer sun.

I lifted myself above her until the hairs pelting my chest tickled the swollen buds of her breasts. I paused against her dewy softness, and again drank in the sight of her lying atop our marriage bed, beneath me, hot and willing and, oh, so very ready. The image flared in my mind, embedding itself there the same instance I slowly plunged into the moist velvet sheath of her body.

Bella's hips arched at the same time she gripped my forearms. She wasn't breathing.

"Bella," I called out, cupping her face with my hand. I was afraid to move. Slowly, she let out her breath and opened her eyes.

"I'm fine, Edward. Just a slight pain as you claimed me. I was not fully prepared for the pain."

"Should we stop?" I asked.

"Edward," she said, reaching up and stroking my face, "don't even think about stopping. The pain is gone."

BPOV

I didn't think Edward believed me. He made to withdrawal himself completely. I quickly wrapped my legs around him and moved my hips up to meet his, drawing him even further into me. This caused us both to moan with pleasure.

He filled me completely, wonderfully. I luxuriated in the feel of him buried inside me before he moved, pulling out almost completely, and then filling me once again.

The demand of his body sent a bolt of sensation throbbing first in my thighs before sweeping to the rest of my body. I arched, meeting each hard thrust, my eyes closing tightly as I strained into the mounting spiral of exquisitely alive senses. My fingers curled, digging into muscled tendons.

My head twisted against the pillow and my breathing was ragged echoing in my ears as my body demanded more. A crescendo was building, like a rhapsody it sang through my blood, setting my nerve endings on fire.

The tempo continued to increase to a breathtaking pitch. Edward's breaths were coming in short, labored gasps. Satisfaction was only a step away, but I had no wish to climb that sensuous peak alone. The throaty moan punctuated the air, and our ragged breath mingled together, had me crying out his name.

Edward tightened his hold on my hips, keeping us joined tightly together before he rolled us. He didn't release his hold on me until the back of his head was cradled against the pillows and I was straddled atop him.

Gently, he grasped my hips and guided me into motion. When I had struck a rhythm, he found a more sensuous use for his hands. He pushed me up until I was sitting atop him, impaled to the core, and then slowly began to explore the curves of my body, the ones he'd previously ignored.

I conformed to this new position easily. Edward's only encouragement was his hands that felt like liquid fire burning my flesh. He gently cupped my breasts sending a moan through my lips. He flicked the nipple until it peaked then rolled the rosy nub between his index finger and thumb eliciting another moan from me. I sucked in a sharp breath, shocked to discover that what he was doing to my breasts tugged and throbbed in another, more intimate part of my body.

The power of the position we were in evoked a heady sensation. The tempo struck was my own. Fast or slow, teasing or hard, was my decision. I kind of liked that. I rocked against him, shyly at first, weighting each movement for the optimum impact. My hesitation didn't last long. I found out that even the simplest movements brought both me and Edward exquisite pleasure. In a matter of seconds, my body had taken control. This time it was my thrusts that were matched. I wanted to slow the pace, wanted to prolong this torture of senses forever. However, Edward growled when I slowed, his hands slipping to my shoulders before sweeping down over her breasts, causing me to once again cry out his name. His hands did not stop but continued over my stomach and settled on my hips.

EPOV

I couldn't help the growl that escaped my lips as Bella slowed the tempo. Why was she torturing me? I moved my hands down her body eliciting my name to escape from her lips as a grazed her soft breast with my fingers. Still moving my hands I grazed her stomach and finally let my hands come to a stop on her hips.

My hands were strongly insistent as they coaxed her to move faster. I felt her body tense with the spasms of pure, raw sensation. I wouldn't let her rest and enjoy the wonderful feeling. I was selfish and needed release. When I thought she was feeling her ultimate release, I drove in deeper and carried her higher and higher until she was screaming my name once more.

At the sound of my name escaping her lips for the third time, I knew I was not far behind and was climbing to meet her. My thrust drove us both higher still. I heard her breath clog in her lungs and heard her heart beating wildly. Over and over again our bodies met, parted, only to meet again until finally, I cried out her name as I exploded within her.

When it was over, when the last wave had receded Bella collapsed weakly against me and buried her face in the hollow of my neck; her breathing was ragged and her heart racing as I wrapped my arms around her. I was concerned. "Bella, love, are you okay?"

She placed a kiss at the hollow of my neck before raising her head. "Yes," she said in a sexy, hoarse voice, "just give me a moment. I feel so weak and shaky."

I made to get up and reluctantly she let me. I walked into the bathroom and started filling the tub with warm water before dampening a cloth. I left the bathroom and sat on the bed next to her. I gently began to clean between her legs and she gasped but didn't stop me. I then scooped her up and walked back into the bathroom placing her in the tub. "I'll be right back," I said, turning off the water and walking back out of the room.

I remembered from my talks with Carlisle that the likelihood of Bella being sore after our lovemaking was a strong possibility. I had asked his advice and was now following it. Whoever had set up the room for me and Bella had done a wonderful job. There was cranberry juice and soda in the mini-frig and a bottle of Tylenol sitting on the dresser. I mixed up the soda and juice in a fluted glass and counted out two pills into my hand. I head back into the bathroom and handed the pills to Bella asking her to take them.

"I will be fine, Edward."

"Humor me please, Bella."

"If it will make you happy," she replied, popping the pills and then taking the proffered drink. "Yuck, I hate cranberry," she said after taking a sip. Her face made me smile, and I was surprised I didn't have to ask her to finish the cocktail. She quickly downed the rest before handing the empty flute back to me.

"Join me," she said once I had placed the glass on the counter.

I didn't hesitate as she moved forward to allow me to climb in behind her. I pulled her back to me and she rested her head against my shoulder. "Not to ruin this wonderful night, Edward. But I have to know. Is Alice mad at me?" she asked, not opening her eyes.

"No, why would she be?"

"Milan? We were supposed to go."

"Don't worry about Milan. A few days after you disappeared, Charlie talked with her and told her Iain was not participating in Fashion Week."

"What!" she exclaimed, trying to get up.

I wouldn't allow it and tightened my grip. I was glad when she didn't try to fight me. I didn't mind having this conversation just as long as Bella stayed exactly as she was.

"Charlie told her that Iain felt responsible for your disappearance and would not pick up a pencil to sketch until you returned."

BPOV

"I'm sorry for disappearing, Edward. It must have been hard for everyone, especially you."

He chuckled behind me. "You have no idea, Bella. I locked the third-floor bathroom and your bedroom doors and threw the keys away."

"I know."

He chuckled. "Why doesn't that surprise me?" He chuckled again before continuing, "I couldn't even go into the music room but Carlisle wouldn't let me locked it up. School was even harder. I dropped music and Ms. Brandt couldn't understand and called me repeatedly wanting to know why. She even called Esme. No one could explain. If it wasn't for the instance of Carlisle, I probably wouldn't have hunted."

I started to turn and this time he allowed me. "Edward, I am so sorry. I had to go, you know that."

"Yes and I think that's what kept me together. Knowing you had to try to save Maribella."

"Until I read her journal, I didn't know there was no saving her. She was lost to time."

"Wait, then what happened during the ceremony?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, looking at Edward with concern.

"I saw Maribella and called out to her. You wouldn't let go of my hands so I could stop the ceremony."

"You saw that," I said before continuing, "I didn't think you would."

He looked at me. "You didn't think I would."

"It wasn't Iain she was marrying. It was Ewan, that's why I wouldn't let go. I knew when you called out that you were possibly seeing what was going on. She planned to marry Ewan on this day. She understood the mages were less likely to prevent her union, but they had other plans. They forced her with compulsion to marry Iain. You escorted her to the church, Edward."

"I did nothing on the sor," he stopped, remembering. "Bella, you were there that night, were you not?"

"Yes. I was sitting with Carlisle." I reached up and stroked his face before moving in to kiss him.

Slowly, he wrapped his arms around me and deepened the kiss. I felt him hardened against me once again and smiled into the kiss. Turning in his arms, I was glad that the tub was not full and large, and straddled him. He filled me.

He moaned into my mouth never breaking the kiss. I moved against him and all too soon we both cried out each other's name.

"I hope nobody heard us," Edward said as I nestled against him sometime later in bed. I wasn't at all tired and knew I had about two weeks before I had to sleep again.

"Nobody can hear us. This room is magically soundproof."

"Well, in that case," he said, flipping me on my back and at my shocked looked he laughed before pulling me back against his chest.

I playfully hit him on the chest. "How about a ride out to the coast instead?" I asked.