This is a fairly short chapter, just light and fluffy, Bella and Edward just enjoying their time together. Edward makes a decision and he has a surprise for Bella. Enjoy!
The sun was just beginning to rise the next morning, the light beginning to creep its way across the room towards the bed. I was still lying beside Bella as she slept, one of my new favourite pastimes, though she still thought I must be bored, just watching her sleep but she was quite an entertaining sleeper.
She often talked in her sleep, giving me an insight into her silent mind and I lapped it all up every time it happened. Sometimes she spoke about her mom and dad, sometimes I could tell roughly what her dreams were about based on what she was saying, but my favourite thing to hear was my name and it often slipped from her lips as she slept. My heart soared every time I heard it, so happy that she was dreaming of me.
Last night, she had whispered, "Edward, I love you," and my heart was still flying high from hearing it. We declared our love for each other a few times a day – I found it hard not to tell her constantly, I just wanted to shout it from the rooftops – but hearing it from her unconscious mind was important to me, particularly because I couldn't hear her mind as I was used to with everyone else.
I had pondered her silent mind often, especially as I lay with her at night, but I still couldn't work out why I couldn't hear her. I had travelled a lot over the last eighty years and had never come across a person I couldn't hear. What made her so different? Was she made especially for me, to give me some peace in my life that others could not? I couldn't deny that I enjoyed the silence immensely, although there were many times that I would love to be able to hear what she was thinking.
I looked down at the beauty beside me, her mahogany hair spread wildly over the pillow, and smiled at the thought that a higher being had created her perfectly for me. There was no other being on this earth so utterly and completely suited to me. Her silent mind gave me peace, her beauty called to me, when no others had, and her ability to see right past my monstrous side made me start to think that maybe I wasn't such a monster after all.
Carlisle had spent a long time trying to convince me that just because we were vampires, didn't meant that we were automatically soulless monsters, that it was what we decided to do with our existence that really mattered, but I had never believed him. Yet, after only a little over a week with this woman and I had already started to change my outlook about myself.
As I thought about Carlisle and Esme again – I had been thinking about them more and more since meeting Bella – I wondered if she might possibly be right about trying to find them again. Carlisle was the most compassionate being there ever was and Esme loved so completely, perhaps they would welcome me back with open arms, and I couldn't imagine them not loving Bella almost as much as I did.
Bella began to stir beside me, interrupting my thoughts, as I looked down at her again, waiting impatiently for her eyes to open. I'd missed her while she slept.
"Good morning, beautiful," I whispered, kissing the top of her head.
"Morning, handsome," she chuckled sleepily, turning around to face me, "I can't believe you still just lie here with me all night, even though you don't sleep. What on earth do you do all night?"
"I watch you, listen to your ramblings," I started, as a blush began to creep into her cheeks, "and last night, I made a decision."
"Sounds... ominous," she hesitated, "Should I be worried?"
"Nothing bad, I promise," I assured, "I just decided that you are very smart and I should listen to you."
"I am very clever and I am always right," she smirked, "But what enlightening remark are you talking about this time?" she asked with a giggle.
"I think... no, I know, I want to try to find Carlisle and Esme. I really do miss them, and as I said I'm beginning to think maybe you were right when you said they probably miss me too and would welcome me back," I said, "Though I think I want to wait a while, until my eyes are showing my 'vegetarian' diet better."
"Your eyes?" she queried, "Will they change because you hunt animals instead of humans?"
"Yes," I began, "When we feed on humans, our eyes are a reddish/burgundy colour but when we feed solely on animals, they turn an amber colour. I'd like them to be amber before I see my parents again."
"That makes sense, I suppose, though I don't think they will care," she replied, "How long will it take for them to change."
"A few months," I said.
"That's good," she whispered, slowly climbing up my body, the sheet falling from around her exposing the silk pyjamas she'd been sleeping in, "I'm really not ready to share you yet anyway."
Her lips ghosted over mine, her warm breath fanning over my face, filling my head with her breathtaking fragrance. I trailed my hands slowly up her sides, over the silk covering her skin, as her arms wound around my neck. I could feel her hardened nipples on my chest, pressing through the soft material separating our bare skin. Moving away from her lips, I moved down towards her inviting breasts and sucked her erect peak into my mouth through the material. Her head flew back, her eyes rolling in her head, as she let out an erotic moan. My hand cupped her other breast, as my thumb ran over the nipple for a few moments, before I swapped sides.
I could feel myself harden beneath her as she rocked her hips over me, her hot core rubbing my erection as I continued to lave at her breasts. I couldn't wait any longer to taste her, so I gripped the hem of her pyjama top, only removing my mouth from her nipples long enough to swiftly lift it over her head. I growled, as I took in her flavour, no longer hindered by the material, the vibrations sending sparks through her nipples and a gush of wetness from her core, straight through her clothing, to my erection.
"Oh, baby," I hissed, "I can already feel how wet you are for me. I need to taste you."
I lifted her up, as I removed the rest of our clothing, before sliding down the bed until her centre was hovering just above my face. Slowly, I swiped my tongue, from her entrance to her sensitive nub, her legs wobbling as I did so. Carefully, supporting most of her weight with my hands, I licked and sucked at her, alternating between twisting my tongue inside her and flicking it across her clit. Her panting quickened and the moans coming from her continued to increase with my ministrations and I could tell she was getting close to her climax. With one last suck of her clit into my mouth, I growled again, sending vibrations through her core and she came with a scream as her legs eventually gave way from beneath her.
When she came down from her high, I flipped her over so she was lying beneath me, taking most of my weight on my hands, but allowing her to feel me right down her body. She spread her legs, wrapping them around my waist, as I sank my arousal into her warm centre.
"Mine," I cried, as I pulled myself almost all the way out of her before thrusting right back in as deep as I could go. "You were made for me. We fit together in all ways possible. I love you so much!"
"Oh, yes, right there," she screamed, as I hit that sweet spot in her over and over, "I'm yours, completely and utterly, forever. I... love...you!"
I continued to drive into her, feeling her muscles get tighter and tighter with each thrust. Looking into her deep, brown eyes and seeing nothing but love and lust there, I knew I wouldn't last much longer.
"I'm gonna... oh, baby, come with me," I groaned, as her eyes shut and she screamed my name, her insides clenching around me, my own release following instantly.
We lay like that for a while, still inside her as I dreaded leaving her warmth and she seemed to feel the same. Eventually, we had to move and I groaned at the loss of her as I slipped out of her, pulling her as close to me as possible, wrapping my arms around her, lying in comfortable silence.
We spent the rest of the day, snuggling up in the cosy living room watching movies, Bella eating popcorn while I played with her hair. It was such a normal boyfriend/girlfriend way to spend the day and I revelled in it, having never done anything like this before.
"This is so nice," I commented, "I've never enjoyed sitting watching movies like this before. I've never had someone to do this with. It's so human..."
"Well, I am human," she chuckled, "and this is the perfect way to spend the day."
"I have spent so much time on my own, being anything but human, even when I still lived with Carlisle and Esme, I didn't indulge in this kind of human activity much," I told her, "I spent time reading, playing piano etc. but I did most of that on my own, just something to pass the time. Now, I can think of nothing better that spending time with you being 'human'."
"I'm sure I can come up with many other human activities we can do together," she said, smiling up at me.
We spent the next few days doing exactly that, we watched movies, I taught Bella how to play chess, she taught me some card games I'd never heard of and we talked about some other games and DVD's we could pick up next time we headed into town.
As we sat across the chess board from each other, Bella contemplating her next move, my mind wandered to Carlisle and how I missed playing chess with him. It was something we had done a lot when I lived with him, though I often won as I could read his mind and pick his strategy out of his head.
Though Bella was only a beginner, she was smart and picked up the nuances of the game fairly quickly, and because of her silent mind, I could actually be challenged playing with her. I smiled, thinking again just how perfect she was for me. It wasn't very often in this life that I was challenged, having a vampire brain with lightening quick reflexes, the ability to think about many things at once and being a mind reader, meant that I found almost everything easy.
"You're up to something," she said, looking up at me warily, "That smile makes me nervous."
"Not at all, dear," I assured her, "I was just thinking about when I used to play chess with Carlisle, and despite him being very clever, my mind reading meant that I wasn't ever really challenged. You challenge me, in a good way. Sometimes it's frustrating not to be able to hear what you are thinking, but the peace it give me is amazing, plus I can play games like this with you and really enjoy them as they are supposed to be played."
"You're still kicking my butt, though," she grumbled, taking her move.
"Well, it's nice to win something," I chuckled, "You beat me at crazy eights, gin rummy and go fish! A man's gotta keep his dignity somehow!" She giggled, looking up at me from under her eyelashes.
"Besides," I continued, "You're really good for a beginner. I don't doubt you'll be kicking my butt soon."
The next day, I was very excited and could hardly sit still, a rarity for a vampire, and Bella had definitely noticed.
"What's up with you today?" she asked, "You're bouncing around like a kid at Christmas!"
"I have a surprise arriving today," I told her, "I don't want to spoil it for you, but I'm very excited about it! It'll be here in a few hours."
We passed the time playing a few more card games, Bella still kicking my butt, though I did manage to win a few games. Soon there was a knock at the door.
"It's here!" I exclaimed, jumping up and running to answer the door, with Bella following quickly behind me.
"A piano?" she squealed, when she saw the delivery men starting to unload it from the truck, "I had forgotten all about that!"
The cabin was fairly small and there wasn't enough room for a grand piano, like I would have preferred, so I had settled for an upright piano in a wooden colour to match the décor of the cabin. The delivery men manoeuvred it into place, as I sat on my hands trying not to interfere knowing I could have it done in seconds, but I had to keep up the human act.
As soon it was in place and the delivery truck was driving away, I sat on the stool, gesturing for Bella to sit beside me.
"I haven't even touched a piano in eighty years," I commented, "It's a little surreal to be sitting in front of one now. What would you like me to play?"
"Anything," she said.
I started with Clair de Lune, one of my favourites, the notes coming easily to me as though no time had passed since I last played. Bella lay her head on my shoulder, just listening to me play.
"I love Clair de Lune," she said, when I had finished, "My mom used to play it all the time when I was growing up. Keep playing, I don't care what, I just want to hear you play."
I played a few more classical songs that I loved, before starting into the song I had composed for Esme.
"What is that one?" she asked, the last note still hanging in the air, "I don't recognise that one. It's so beautiful."
"I composed that one," I replied, hanging my head, knowing I would be blushing if I could, "I wrote it for Esme, a long time ago. It's based on her love for Carlisle."
"Wow," she breathed, "You are so talented. I'm glad you have started playing again."
I continued playing for her until her eyes started drooping. I scooped her up into my arms and carried her up to bed.
"You're eyes are very black today," she commented the next morning, "Does that mean you are thirsty?"
"Yes," I sighed, "I've been putting it off as I really don't want to leave you. It hurts to be apart from you even for a short time."
"And I can't come with you?" she asked.
"No, it's too dangerous," I replied, "Even though I feel no bloodlust towards you, I couldn't risk you being too near me when I hunted. We go solely on instinct to hunt, giving ourselves over to our baser instincts, letting smell and sound guide us to find our prey. If there were any humans around during that time, it would be very hard to resist their blood in that state. I couldn't risk that with you."
"Okay, I understand," she said, sadly, "But you do have to go. I don't want you feeling uncomfortable, just so you don't have to be away from me. I'm going to make myself some dinner now anyway. Go, get your dinner and hurry back to me."
"Fine," I grumbled, acting like a child but I didn't care. I was going to miss her, even for a short time. I kissed her quickly, before heading out.
Running quickly at my top speed, getting myself far enough away from Bella and other humans, before readying myself to hunt. I bent to a crouch, taking a deep breath and listening carefully, searching for my prey. Just then I came across a scent I hadn't smelled in over eighty years, but I recognised it straight way, running in the direction of the scent.
I crouched behind a tree, watching the mountain lion stalk it's own prey, as I thought about how they had been my favourite animals to hunt. I licked my lips, venom filling my mouth, as I readied myself to pounce. The lion noticed me just as I began to move and lunged towards me, trying to protect itself, but he was no match for my strength and soon I had him pinned to the ground, my teeth at his throat. As I gulped down the warm liquid, the taste sating my thirst much more that my previous meal, I savoured every mouthful remembering just why it was my favourite before. Just as I had drained the animal, I smelt another and raced after it, determined to catch it too.
After I had finished the second mountain lion and disposed of both bodies, I found myself standing in a beautiful meadow. The small, circular area of grass was covered in hundreds of wildflowers. White, blue, purple and yellow flowers covered the entire area and I could hear the trickle of water running along a river close by. It was the perfect place for a picnic with Bella and I couldn't wait to show her.
I sprinted back to the cabin, cataloguing exactly where the meadow was so I could return soon with Bella. I reached the cabin in record time and found Bella sitting on the porch swing, her eyes closed as she swung back and forth in the chair, her hair moving gently in the breeze. I sat down beside her, as she opened her eyes, smiling at me as I took her in my arms.
"You're happy," she noticed, seeing the sparkle in my eyes, "Good hunt?"
"Great, actually," I sighed, "Apart from missing you, of course. I found my favourite animals to hunt, mountain lions, and on the way back I found the most beautiful meadow. I want to take you for a picnic tomorrow, I think it's supposed to be dry and not too cold. What do you think?"
"Sounds amazing," she said, "It can be like our first official date."
"Oh," I exclaimed, "I can't believe I haven't even taken you on an actual date yet! What was I thinking? Yes, it'll be our first date. I'll make it the best first date ever."
"Anywhere with you would be the best first date ever," she claimed, smiling up at me. "I can't wait."
Recommendation for this chapter is
Eight Days by Windchymes
A lot can happen in eight days...
This is a great story with a very interesting premise. Edward leaves in New Moon, but doesn't return and this story starts a few years after that. It's not officially complete and hasn't been updated in a few years, but it ends at a point that you wouldn't realise it wasn't complete. I didn't realise it wasn't complete the first time I read it. Also, check out some of windchymes other stories too, she's a great writer.