A/N Keeping my word! Let's reunite our couple, shall we?

Fill Me with Your Poison Chapter 8

I'll be with you momentarily, my love.

Bella breathed a sigh of relief when Edward's thoughts returned to her. The pain in her chest immediately subsided the moment he was in her vicinity. It was the strangest thing, to feel actual physical hurt at being separated from him, even if only for a few hours.

I couldn't be happier to hear you again.

Bella found she was able to focus on her company finally, now that Edward was close. She hadn't missed a word the entire time he'd been gone, but their presence hadn't been forefront in her mind either. He was. Edward always was.

"Seriously, nobody can believe that you're a vampire now. Wait until I show Johnny these pictures. He's gonna die. He was hot for you before you changed but now…you're a total knockout." Jessica snapped pictures and chattered away.

Bella laughed. "Well, thanks, Jess, but I don't care about what Johnny thinks of me, then or now."

"Who's Johnny? Hello, ladies." Edward smiled smoothly as he wrapped his arms around Bella from behind. She turned and kissed him, immediately forgetting about their audience of Jessica, Lauren, Emmett, and Jasper.

Holy shit, that's hot. You just know he's amazing in bed.

Edward stifled his laughter, just barely, and Bella let out a giggle at Lauren's thought. She wanted to confirm it but figured that wouldn't be the best idea.

No, love, she doesn't need to know about our talents. Nor that I'm good in bed.

Bella raised a brow. I believe the word was amazing and even that doesn't suffice.

Edward let out a little growl and nuzzled her neck. Don't make me drag you away from here and live up to my reputation.

Bella leaned into him and laced her fingers through his. And the problem with that would be?

"Okay, you two, enough with the raging hormones. Are we set for the club this week?" Jasper's smirk said he knew just what was going on in the heads of the mates and that he wasn't sorry for interrupting them.

"Oh yes, everything's ordered and paid for. We won't run out of anything," Edward assured him.

Are you sure? Because people were a bit pissed off when we ran out of tequila while you were on your Bella binge.

Edward wasn't remotely apologetic for getting too caught up in his mate to worry about the club's alcohol supply. He shot his brother a dirty look and turned back to Jessica.

"So who is this Johnny that's going to be admiring my Bella's new appearance?"

"Uhhhh…ummm…" Jessica stuttered, completely awed and nervous to be getting Edward's full attention.

"He's president of a fraternity on campus," Bella supplied, stepping in for her normally gregarious friend. She was all too aware of how intimidating and deadly sexy Edward could be, especially to a human girl. "I barely knew him."

"Yeah," Jessica breathed a sigh of relief when Edward's attention shifted to his mate. "Bella never hooked up with him or anything. He was just into her and I thought I'd let him see just how beautiful she is now." Edward looked at Jessica and had her shivering. "I don't have to, though." Please don't kill me.

Bella squeezed Edward's hands and he deliberately relaxed his expression. "I'm hardly worried about some fraternity president. Feel free to show him the pictures and tell him that I'm grateful that he wasn't man enough to pursue Bella when he had the chance."

"Um, well, sure. I mean, you're way hotter than he is. Bella wouldn't look twice at him now, not that she ever did then either. She was mostly into reading in our room and studying and stuff."

"Is that so?" Now Edward gave Jessica a beautiful smile that had her body quaking in a completely different way. "Tell me more about my girl."

"Bella was the shyest of us," Lauren supplied, shaking her head, blond hair shining. "It's hard to believe that she came here with us that night, let alone met you and agreed to become a vampire."

"For real, getting her here was like pulling teeth. But we browbeat her into submission and the rest is history!" Jessica grinned at Bella.

Edward chuckled. Watch this.

"Then I am forever in your debt, ladies." He took Lauren's hand and kissed it, causing her heartbeat to kick up to unhealthy levels and then did the same with Jessica, whose eyes rolled back into her head. Jasper caught her before she fell onto the floor in a dead faint.

"Nice, brother."

You don't play fair, Mr. Cullen.

Edward grinned at the amusement in Bella's mind. You wanted me to be nice. This is what happens when I'm nice to human women.

Jasper brought Jessica back around and she blushed when she saw all eyes on her. "Sorry about that. I don't know what came over me."

"I do," Emmett boomed out on a laugh. "Edward's deadly."

"In more ways than one," Jasper said drily. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Just…wow. You're a lucky girl," she told Bella as she sat up on Jasper's lap.

Bella chuckled. "Yes, I'm quite aware of that."

"It is I who am lucky." Edward kissed his mate's hand next and made her smile. "And I will be forever in your debt for bringing Bella into my life that night. My world was nothing without her."

Hot damn, what I'd give for a man to say that about me. Jessica's thoughts were envious.

I think I just came. What a sexy vampire. Lauren's lecherous. Both made Edward feel smug and Bella feel even more blessed for having him in her life.

"On that note, I think we'll leave the lovebirds alone." Jasper stood, carrying Jessica in his arms. "We have other things to attend to."

"Damn right we do." Emmett grabbed Lauren's hand and tugged her to her feet. Thanks for getting them all worked up, Eddie. We'll take it from here.

"Have fun." Edward didn't even bother to watch them head downstairs. His eyes were only for his Bella.

"You're incorrigible, Mr. Cullen," Bella told him after he'd thoroughly kissed her hello.

"Hmm, do you need to punish me, Miss Swan?" He filled her mind with images of him tied up and her spanking him that had her laughing and shaking her head, but squirming in her seat at the same time.

"Or do I need to punish you? Who is this Johnny person?"

She shrugged. "We had a class together but I barely knew him and I certainly didn't know he liked me. I wasn't interested in any boys."

"My clueless, gorgeous girl. You didn't understand how utterly beautiful and perfect you were, did you? That's why you settled for unworthy bastards like Jacob. You didn't see what you were meant to be. A queen. My queen." His fingers cupped her face and he kissed her passionately. Her hands gripped his forearms and held him tightly to her, his words stirring something deep inside of her.

"You make me feel like I could rule the world," she murmured when they broke apart.

"You could." You will, one day.

She shook her head. I couldn't fathom that. Aloud, she said, "I have you. You're all I need."

"Then let me give you what you need." Edward swept her up and carried her to the door that led to their room. She pressed her hand to the panel and they hurried into their bedroom.

"Wait." Bella stopped Edward's busy hands before he could get her blouse completely undone.

How did it go?

Perfectly. Demetri's already got a sense of your mother and he's going west to find her. He'll let me know when he does.

Edward slipped the blouse off Bella's shoulders and admired her creamy, soft skin as his fingers moved down her arms.

Thank you for doing this for me. I can't even begin to tell you how much it means.

He smiled and shook his head. You don't have to tell me. I know. I can feel it.

Mmmm, feel this. He moaned as her fingernails scraped up his torso as she tugged his shirt up and over his head.

Perfect, love. He kissed her softly as his hands moved down to cup her ass. Were there any thoughts that concerned you while I was away?

Edward had hoped that whomever was spying on them, on him, would let down their guard when he was away. Since Bella had his same ability, she might be able to catch something.

No. But I can honestly say I wasn't really focused on anything but you while you were gone. I was able to talk to the girls and your brothers but I wasn't really all there without you. I got a sense of what everyone was feeling, but nothing that we should worry about.

Interesting. He unfastened her jeans and guided them over her hips. Perhaps you just haven't learned to compartmentalize yet. We can do so many things at once, even when we're not fully focused.

I don't know but oh! That feels good. Edward grinned as he nipped at her neck again. Your brothers were bored having to make small talk. I think they just wanted to get laid.

Edward laughed out loud at that. Can't say I blame them there. And the girls? He rubbed her through her skimpy underwear and made her shudder out a breath.

How am I supposed to think when you touch me there?

You're not. He steered her over to the bed and pushed her down upon it gently. I was just testing your focus.

"I can't focus on anything but you when you're half naked."

Edward chuckled. "Good. How about now?" He whipped off his pants and boxers and stood before her in nothing.

"What?" she asked, making him laugh harder. He stopped laughing when she ripped off her own bra and panties, though.

Hmm, it seems that I can distract you just as easily as you distract me, my Edward.

"Never have any doubt about that, Bella." His body was practically shaking to touch and be touched by her, so he lowered himself down upon her and breathed her in. "I don't feel right when I'm not with you."

"Oh, Edward, it was the same for me. Jess was so excited to see me and tell me all about school and Lauren was even happy to be here and all I could do was wish you were with me so I could feel good again."

"I'm sorry I had to leave you, love. Next time I'll take you with me."

"Okay. I felt like part of me was missing without you."

"We're both whole again, my beauty." He shifted and slipped inside her and felt that feeling of peace he only got when it was just the two of them, joined as one.

"Yes. I love you."

No words ever meant more to him. "I love you, too."

They moved together, their bodies so in tuned, as if they'd been mated for centuries rather than weeks. She opened herself to him, wrapping her legs around him, lifting her hips to meet his every thrust. Their eyes held, red to red, as neither one wanted to miss a moment of their love making.

They rolled as one, their minds as connected as their bodies, and Bella sat atop him, never losing their rhythm as his hands came up to cup her breasts.

Touch yourself. It wasn't an order, but a plea, and she slid her hand down her body, touching herself just above where they were joined. Edward had never seen anything more beautiful than his mate as she pleasured herself, both of them, as her hips moved above his.

Bella couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that Edward, the most beautiful creature that had ever existed, was hers. She didn't question it, or doubt it; she just couldn't believe her luck. For surely there wasn't a man or vampire or anything else that could hold a candle to him. His face, his hands, his body…there was nothing better as far as she was concerned. Not even the finest carved statue came close to the perfection that was her mate.

You're the perfect one.

He admired the way her body moved, with more grace than that of a female panther hunting her prey. Her breasts fit his hands as if they'd been molded for him alone, which as far as Edward was concerned, they had been. Her alabaster skin glowed in the dim light of the room, glinting like a fine cut diamond. He smiled at that wayward thought.

"Edward!" Bella cried as her fingers combined with his cock to send her over the edge. As she tossed back her head and clamped around him, he found his own release, growling and crying her name as his came deep inside her.

They remained joined, and Bella lowered herself down to rest on his chest. He smiled as he twirled a lock of her hair around his finger.

"I love you more than words can ever say."

"You say it in everything you do." She kissed him softly. "I talked to Billy after you left."

"Oh?" Edward grinned. "Did he like my surprise?"

"A truck full of new furniture and a crew of twenty to fix up the house? I think you can safely assume that he liked it." She grinned at him. "Seriously overkill, Edward, but he was thrilled. He couldn't exactly give a gift like that back."

Edward chuckled. "The old man has pride but I figured if someone started fixing up his house with him in it he could hardly make a move to stop them. Was he truly happy?"

"Yes. And I'm happy that you'd do something like that for him."

"He loves you and he'd do anything for you. He's like a father to you, more so than the one who made you, and he deserves to be comfortable. It was the least I could do."

"Well, he thanks you and so do I."

"I believe you've given me your thanks but if you'd like to again…" he broke off when she poked him in his ribs. "Hey, just saying."

She laughed. "I'm not done with you yet, mister."

"There is a God," he muttered, making her giggle harder. "It's a shame that Jacob has to benefit from my generosity, but I suppose I can't ask the man to kick out his own son."

"No, you can't, but I'm sure Jake's going to throw a fit when he finds out who paid for all the upgrades."

Edward found that rather satisfying. "He'll be right pissed, huh? Maybe he'll even come over here to threaten me again." One could hope.

"He'd be a fool to do so."

"He is a fool. He had you and he let you go. I can think of nothing more foolish than that."

Bella smiled softly. "I wanted him to let me go. I would never want that of you."

He moved them so that they lay side by side, staring into one another's eyes. "Good, because that's one thing I'll never do. You're mine and I'm yours and nothing will ever come between that. Nothing," he vowed, his voice getting darker at the very thought of anything trying to separate them.

"Hey." She brushed her fingers through his hair. "Nothing will. Not my father. Not yours. Not my mother. Certainly not Jake. This, us, is all there is."

They came together again, not slowly and sweetly like before, but madly, claiming one another with hard lips and hands, fucking their way right off the bed, but not stopping when they hit the floor with a loud bang. They kept going until they were both completely spent. Had they been human, they'd have both been bruised and battered and swollen. As it was, they were actually tired when they finished, which was rare for a vampire.

"That was…amazing," Bella said, when she could speak again, using Lauren's word for lack of anything better.

Edward laughed. "I had to live up to my reputation." Then his mirth died off his face and he touched her cheek gently. "I want you to be mine in every way."

She kissed his palm. "I am."

He shook his head. "No. I mean, you are, in our ways, but I want you to be mine in the human way as well. I want you to be my wife, take my name, and wear my ring. Will you marry me, Bella?" It wasn't how he'd planned to ask, but it felt right to him to do it now, after they were reunited and sated.

Her eyes softened and she swore she felt her heart start beating at his words. "Of course I'll marry you, Edward. I can't wait to take your name and wear your ring."

The word ring had Edward springing up and grabbing his pants. "I can't believe I forgot. I ran an extra errand when I was out."

He took a box out of his pocket and knelt beside Bella on the floor again. "I was going to do this with more finesse."

She laughed and shook her head. "I think it's a beautiful proposal."

"That's because you're meant for me." He kissed her softly. "I love you. You're my entire world and I'll spend my existence making you happy. Will you marry me?"

"Yes," she whispered, her voice hoarse with emotion. He slid the large cushion cut diamond onto her ring finger. "God, it's beautiful."

"Nowhere near as beautiful as you are. I can't believe I lived a century without you."

"That was just time you needed to practice so you'd be perfect when I came along," she teased. "You don't have to live another second without me."

He laughed. "Then it was worth it. How about we practice our honeymoon now, so that it's perfect as well?"

"I like to practice," she murmured as he climbed on top of her and slid inside her again.

"Me too."