A/N: All mistakes are mine as I unfortunately haven't had time to do my usual second run over, but hopefully you'll forgive me and enjoy!

CHAPTER NINE

Bella

"I like the sound of that," I found myself admitting with a blush on my cheeks. I noticed if anything Edward looked both elevated and immensely relieved that of my confession. "Did you think I would say anything different?" I was curious.

"It isn't every day that you have to confess to a seventeen year old that their destined to be with you," he smirked.

I laughed, relieved that it wasn't something more serious. Don't get me wrong, of course it was serious, but compared to the previous thoughts which were running through my head it was a relief to know that I wasn't about to lose him.

I didn't know if I would have been able to cope if he did.

Hearing my phone go off I gave him a sheepish grin, watching him smile before he was gone in a blink and back in seconds.

I stared at him in wonder, in particular at the brick of a phone in his hand.

"Did you- did you just run to your car and back again, for my phone?" I gaped.

He smirked. "Vampire remember," he chuckled, as if I could forget.

"Do you mind?" I gestured to my phone when I it was Renee calling me. She may not have been the best mother, but she seemed to care enough to call so the least I could do was answer. Plus, I was curious to what she had to say considering she hadn't replied to any of my e-mails, clearly already getting into her new life without having to worry about me.

The thought was both depressing and unexpected.

"Of course," he moved to sit next to me.

"So, how's all the baseball stuff going?" I asked after exchanging hello's and how are you's.

"Oh, Phil's working so hard" she sighed. "You know, spring training."

Right…that was the reason why you couldn't even call your own daughter to ask how she was settling in sooner. I rolled my eyes, staring blankly Edward's impressive section of books.

"We're looking for a house to rent encase things become more permanent. You'd like Jacksonville, baby."

Feeling Edward stiffen out of the corner of my eye I was reminded that he could clearly hear the other side of the conversation, or more in particular, Renee's comment about Jacksonville.

I shook my head at him, smiling in what I hoped to be a reassuring manner as I settled his obvious nerves. Now I knew there was a reason for what I was experiencing with him, I wasn't going anywhere.

"I'm really liking Forks," I told her honestly.

If I was being completely honest though I liked the fact I didn't have to watch over her constantly, worrying where she was or what she was getting herself into. It was nice not to have that kind of responsibility anymore. I didn't want to give Forks up, I didn't want to give Charlie up and I definitely didn't want to give Edward up.

Moving to Jacksonville was just not going to be happening.

"What?" she snorted as if the whole idea of me liking the small town was ridiculous. I rolled my eyes.

"Fork's is growing on me," I couldn't resist reaching out to brush my fingers against Edward's bare arms. God, how was it possible to be so clearly defined without seeming bulky? He was far from as muscular like Jacob, more lean but just as toned.

In my eyes he was more than perfect.

"Could a guy have anything to do with it?" immediately I pulled my hand back with a flush, watching as Edward's smirk deepened causing me to playfully glare at him.

"Uh, Yeah."

Oh my god, did I really just answer so breathlessly. Fuck!

Hearing that purr like rumble again I shuddered, catching sight of Edward's piercing eyes as they flickered over my form. His gaze was intense enough that it made me feel as if I was wearing nothing as I sat next to him.

I really needed to get Renee off the phone before she made me admit something in front of him, embarrassing me completely.

"Wait, tell me everything! What does he, jock, Indie, smart?"

I sighed, expecting nothing else.

"Mum, can I talk to you later?"could this get any more embarrassing?

"What? I thought we were going to talk boys. Are you being safe?"

Apparently yes.

Mortified, I quickly hung up the phone before practically throwing it across the other side of the room in an effort to rid my mind of what Renee had just asked me. Seriously, are you being safe? Could she get any more personal?

Groaning out loud in embarrassment I pulled my feet up on the lounge, turning to face Edward as I crossed my legs in front of me, barely managing to stay on the one armed sofa.

"Can we just pretend for a minute that you don't have supernatural hearing, and that you didn't just hear my mother ask me that?" I asked hopefully.

He smirked, reaching out to once again brush against my red stained cheeks. Suddenly he looked a lot less smug and a hell of a lot more serious.

"I just want to try one thing," he murmured, mirroring my pose even though he had a good few inches on my height.

I fought back a scowl when he seemed to move so gracefully while I had probably looked like a complete slob in comparison.

"Just stay very still," he continued as he began to lean forward.

Oh god, was I about to have my first kiss? Right here, right now?

I fought the urge to unwrap my legs before moving to straddle his lap, to be that close to him that we were both emotionally and physically connected.

I let out a shuddered breath, Edward's cool hands moving to gently cup my cheeks as he seemed to be concentrating firmly on keeping his strength controlled.

Thumbs brushed lightly at the loose strands of my hair which were caressing my cheeks until being pushed behind my ears, intense eyes flickering from my own and to my slightly parted lips.

He was really going to do it, I thought. He was really going to kiss me.

The closer he got the more I seemed to be affected by his presence, my heart beating a mile a minute as I tried desperately not to embarrass myself and allow the moan to fall from my lips when he hadn't even touched me yet.

Was this due to the whole being mate's aspect?

If it was I wasn't complaining in the slightest.

Not being able to help myself, like a moth to a flame I found myself leaning towards him, desperate to feel his lips against mine.

"Don't move," he rumbled.

I stiffed, not having it in me to apologise as curled my fingers into the denim of my jeans in a desperate attempt to give me some sort of distraction. Don't think I didn't want to be completely focused on the kiss, because I did, but if it meant me risking jumping him and him freaking out I needed the spark of pain or discomfort on my mind.

I stayed still, with effort.

I knew I was panting embarrassingly loudly, Edward being close enough for the tip of his nose to brush against my own. Delicious and addicting tingles broke out against my skin, my lips trembling as he tilted his head further. He was close enough that I felt his cool breath on my lips.

I gasped.

He paused momentarily, his own breathing rough and uncontrolled. I didn't push him, however much I wanted to.

The first moment his lips touched mine I gasped, warmth running through my entire body at the sensation the action brought.

I wanted more, so much more.

As he pulled away I took note of the strain it was taking him, his lips trembling as his upper lip twitch enough that I could see the whiteness of his teeth.

He shouldn't have been that beautiful to me.

I couldn't help it, and before I knew what I was doing I was ignoring his previous demand of "don't move" and leaning in for more, my limbs trembling as I felt an unfamiliar sensation begin to pulse between my legs.

I flushed.

Lips touching his again in an innocent touch of the lips I almost purred at the return of the addicting feeling of being so close, so connected to him.

The next thing I knew I was shifting onto my knees, still balancing on the small lounge as I leaned closer, breathing in his scent and burning for his touch, his lips…

I ran my fingers through his coppery hair, feeling the softness of the strands glide across my fingers. I gasped at the sensation, my entire form trembling at the feeling of such a simple touch.

My lips still tingled from the previous light kisses, and while they couldn't have lasted for more than two seconds, it was enough to have me craving for more.

Curling my fingers in the soft strands I moved closer, shifting until my knees touched his. I needed to be closer to him, my face flushed and lips already swollen with arousal I had never felt so intensely before, or full stop if I was being bluntly honest with myself.

"Edward," I breathed as I pressed my lips against his.

I pulled away only to shift closer, my breathily gasp of his name causing that familiar rumbling in his chest as one of my hands moved to cup the back of his neck. It didn't register that he was no longer touching me as he had at the very beginning, his breathing just as ragged, if not more so than before.

"Oh god," I gasped as I straddled his thighs, barely resisting the urge not to shift forward to be fully onto his lap.

Lips connected more firmly, both of us gasping and fuck if his light grunts weren't making me feel things I hadn't felt before.

My face was flushed, eyes closed as we kissed closed mouthed over and over again, Edward's chest rumbling in that familiar sound which reminded me of a cat purring in content.

"Edward!" I cried out softly before I could help myself, my back pressing against the softness of the cushion as all of a sudden he was leaning over me, lips connected repeatedly as he grunted at each touch.

Reaching up my fingers soon found themselves in his hair, tugging at the roots causing a strangled sound to fall from his mouth as he whined, whined, and fuck if it wasn't the hottest thing I had ever heard.

"Ow!" I hissed when I felt myself fall roughly onto the floor, my side smacking against his bedroom carpet and I was relieved it wasn't a wooden flooring instead. It seemed I had Esme to thank for that.

"Oh crap, Bella!" Feeling cool trembling hands gently roll me onto my back I knew my side was going to be bruised by tomorrow, but I found myself too blissed out to care. It was totally worth in in my opinion. "I am so sorry, Bella. It's just-I don't have that much control…" he trailed off.

Opening my eyes, not having realised they were still closed, I took in the pained looked Edward as he hovered over my, his hands hovering over me as if he wanted to help but was terrified of hurting me.

"Sorry," I winced, knowing I had been the one to push for more. He had told me not to move and I had, as far as I was concerned I was to blame.

Edward didn't seem to even hear my response, still fretting as I pulled myself upright.

"Edward, really, it's ok."

He shook his head rapidly so it was almost a blur. "It isn't, I cannot lose control with you Bella, ever."

I didn't know whether he was trying to reassure me, or himself.

"You didn't lose control Edward, you stopped, its ok" I tried to tell him, but one thing was running through my mind. "W-what are you w-worried about happening?"

He laughed, though it sounded all wrong as he stared at me through solid black eyes.

"You have no idea, how irresistible you are to me, Bella" he spoke slowly. "You are like my personal stash of heroine. I can touch you, but kissing you…I-I find it, difficult, to fight back my instincts with you."

"What instincts?" I curled my legs back into a crossed legged pose as we both sat facing each other on the floor. "For my blood?" because that was the most obvious reason, wasn't it?

He breathed out a laugh.

"You are my mate, Bella" he stared at me intently. "The last thing my instincts are telling me is to kill or harm a single hair on your head. That is unacceptable."

I nodded, my own gut having told me as much.

"So, what…?"

I hadn't realised I was still panting and probably looked a flushed wreak until I saw Edward reach out as if to touch my flushed cheeks, only to hold himself back. I didn't like it.

Reaching out I clasped my fingers around his wrist, tugging it until he made contact with my still stained cheeks. He sighed out long and deep, carefully caressing my heated skin with the gentlest of touches.

It seemed like hours before he finally spoke. "You have no idea how hard it is not for me to claim you, Bella" he spoke completely serious. "Kissing you is already pushing my limits."

"C-claiming me?" I stuttered. "As in…sex?"

Edward chuckled, "Do you want to sit somewhere more comfortable?" he gestured to where our previous extremely hot and rememberable make-out session had taken place.

I shook my head, "I'm fine."

He looked as if he wanted to disagree before he caught himself. To be honest I didn't know if I would be able to control myself if I sat back down there. Too many delicious memories in my opinion.

"I told you I was more animal than man, Bella" he reminded me. "In a truly primal sense, not that I am seeing you as an object because I am most certainly not, but you would be seen as unclaimed, a factor which the instinctual side of me does not approve of."

"Oh," I pursed my lips as I let it sink in. "So you want to have sex with me?" I flushed deeper, but I needed to clarify what he was telling me.

"I don't have that kind of control, Bella" he didn't hesitate to reply. "You are a human, and I am clearly not."

I nodded in understanding, and while the thought of being that intimate with Edward was very appealing I knew not to push my luck.

"Is touching ok?" I shifted forward to fun my fingers lightly thought his hair, his fingers still lightly caressing my cheek.

He laughed in delight, the sound truly impeccable to me. "I do not know how I could possibly not be at least this intimate with you," he confessed, his thumb moving lower to run along my swollen bottom lip.

"Is it a mate thing?" I questioned.

"The constant desire to touch one another?" I nodded. "I believe so. This is a first for me as well, Bella. Rosaline may have met Emmett when he was human but Carlisle changed him in a matter of minutes afterwards. Esme was already in critical condition and Alice found Jasper herself."

I thought about it. "They were all vampires."

Edward nodded. "I am not completely educated on what occurs when a mated couple involves a human, but the urge to be with you constantly I believe is what the other mated couples feel as well."

"I don't have a problem with that," I replied teasingly, fingers still playing with his dark copper hair.

He laughed. "No, I don't suppose I do either."

For the next few hours we talked and laughed about nothing in general, sticking to safe topics. I discovered that while Edward was extremely reserved in some matters due to his human upbringing, it didn't change the fact he was both a gentleman and incredibly charming.

His gentlemanly attitude wasn't put on; he generally believed that was how a man should act. It made me question, how did I get so lucky?

"Is this ok?" I asked hesitantly, the both of us curled up on the small lounge, my head resting against his upper arm as it pressed along the back.

Looking down at me Edward gave me a crooked grin. "Just perfect," he bent down to press his lips against the crown of my head. "You're perfect."

So, pleased that I updated? LOL.

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