As always thanks go out to all my readers and reviewers. For those who might be wondering, I will soon start to interweave more elements and characters into the story. Only, I felt that it was important to focus on Carlisle and Bella's new relationship at this point. So all of this to say, there will be more plot ahead.

Once again, thanks to all who are reading this. Your continued interest has encouraged me to keep going.

CHAPTER 26

A NIGHT WITH YOU

"Hello, Isabella."

"Carlisle," was all she said, smiling broadly as she opened the door the rest of the way.

Even if they had talked on the phone throughout the week, it wasn't the same as being face to face. "How was the drive?"

"It was alright." For some reason, Carlisle winced just then. He seemed embarrassed. "Except for the part where your father pulled me over for speeding."

"What?" Bella nearly choked out, then stifled a laugh. "You're kidding."

His smile turned sheepish. "I wish I was."

"Did he give you a ticket?" she asked, then closed the door behind him.

"He let me off easy this time, though I'm not sure that would have been the case if he had known I was on my way to see you."

"Ah. Well I, for one, am glad you're here."

This sentence alone was enough to shift the mood between them.

"You are?" he flirted, playing along as she stepped closer.

"Uh-huh." Hands finding his hard shoulders, Bella rose on her toes, and brushed a kiss to his delicious mouth. God, she had missed this, missed him.

As his arms slid around her body, pulling her closer, heat filled her veins. Such was the effect he had on her.

But the poor man hadn't even taken off his jacket. Let him breathe, Bella. You don't have to jump his bones right now. No matter how badly she wanted to.

It took a fair amount of effort, but she managed it in the end, her lips leaving his on a soft smack. She hummed. "That was nice."

His forehead coming to rest against hers, Carlisle sighed, and whispered, "I've thought of this all week. I missed you, Bella."

"Missed you, too." Leaving his arms, she motioned to his jacket. "Want me to take that?"

"Sure." Carlisle removed his jacket but, shy of handing it over, he seemed to remember something. "Oh wait. Before I forget…"

He reached into his pocket to retrieve one of those resealable pouches. The packaging being familiar, Bella asked, "Are those cat treats?"

Carlisle gave a self-effacing smile, and shrugged. "The odds of succeeding are probably slim to none, but since Lollipop seems terrified of me, I thought I'd try something to gradually win her over."

Bella's mouth quirked. His idea was pretty darn sweet. "It can't hurt to try," she said, then hung his jacket on a nearby hook. "But you'll probably have to wait until she comes out of hiding. I'm fairly sure she darted in the bathroom when you got here."

And so began their evening together. As always, his company was delightful and comfortable.

By the time eight o'clock came around, the two were still engrossed in conversation. The lights were turned down low. Soft piano music played in the background.

Sitting on the sofa, with her legs tucked beside her, Bella sipped at a glass of white wine, while Carlisle told her about the first movie he had ever seen, way back in 1910.

"It was a silent picture," he said. "It was called As it is in Life. I was living alone in those days. I had just moved to Chicago. I remember standing by the movie house, waiting in line for three hours to see the film, which ran for a whopping sixteen minutes, by the way."

As the two shared a quiet laugh, Carlisle floated on the memory for a moment longer. "I'll never forget that feeling, of seeing those black and white images come to life. It was remarkable."

"You've seen a lot of changes in your life."

"Yes, but never so fast or extraordinary as the changes I saw in the twentieth century."

"I know you said that you avoid leaving traces of your existence every time you move to another place. But do you have any pictures of you in those various decades?"

"Our family is always careful, but yes, we have some pictures locked away, along with home movies. Some are projector movies from the mid nineteen-sixties. The rest are beta and VHS tapes from the seventies and eighties. Even if we have perfect recall, there's something special about seeing a memory in a picture or on a screen. I could show you one of these days."

"I would like that." Bella took a sip of wine before setting her glass down on the end-table. When she turned back to Carlisle, she found him watching her.

"Did I mention," he murmured to her, "that I missed you?"

"You did. But nothing wrong with saying it again. I'm happy you're here, Carlisle."

He sighed then, his eyes soft with yearning. Seeing that look did things to her. Wonderful things.

Last week, when she had told Carlisle that she was falling for him, Bella had meant it. Even if this was new, there was no awkwardness between them. She felt completely at ease with him. Secure in her womanhood, Bella even made the first move.

Speaking with nothing but her eyes, she slid closer to him, then straddled his thighs.

Carlisle's breath caught, his head tilting back against the sofa's backrest. Beneath her hooded gaze, he whispered her name. And the way he said it… like she was the most precious thing to him…

A heaviness settled in her chest. As her womb quivered with want, her beautiful vampire placed his hands on either side of her waist. A gentle hold, as soft as his eyes.

Bella could have kissed his mouth just then, but in the calmness of the room, she chose another route. Breathing the scent of him, she leaned forward to press a kiss to the side of his neck. The coolness and hardness of his flesh was no longer alien to her. Comfortable but hungry for more, Bella relaxed into the kiss, then started working her way down.

She had thought about this, longed to do this. To please him in the way she was about to.

When she dropped to her knees in front of him, Carlisle froze, his eyes widening in alarm. "Bella."

But she sought to reassure him. "I trust you, Carlisle. Let me?"

Conflict filled his gaze. He clearly craved this sort of intimacy but was afraid. "What if I lose control?"

"You won't."

Her heart warming at the sight of him, Bella waited for his consent. When he finally nodded, his need straining against the front of his pants, she smiled and proceeded to undo his belt buckle. His zipper, when she pulled it down, seemed louder than the piano music in the background.

When his length finally sprang free, Carlisle shifted and swallowed. His chest already heaving, he waited.

At first, Bella merely used her hand, running her encircling fingers in a featherlight touch. Up and down, then up and over, twisting her fist before reversing course.

And so she milked the length of him, thrilling at the way he threw his head back and moaned.

It was decided; she would never get enough of this, of hearing and seeing his pleasure. Eager to give, Bella kissed the very tip of him, tasting the little bead that had gathered there. Then she glided down, taking him in as he shuddered beneath her lips.

Delicious minutes went by. As the air thickened, a gentle hand found the crown of her head, not guiding or forcing, just touching.

"God, Isabella." Carlisle allowed a few more passes before he warned, "I'm too close. Stop."

She did.

From there, the two made their way into Bella's room, where they undressed in the soft glow of her bedside lamp. Once they were lying on the mattress, Carlisle kissed his way down her body. "I want to taste you," he said, parting her thighs.

The first gust of his breath, the first touch of his lips, right there, where she wanted him most, sent her body ablaze. Arching like a bow, Bella gripped the sheets, and lost herself in his soft, erotic growls, in the languid swirls of his tongue.

"Carlisle…"

"You taste amazing," he breathed and kept on going, edging her closer to the brink, until she shattered against his ravenous mouth.

But even as her limbs grew heavy, Bella wasn't done. She wanted him. Above her. Inside her.

Remembering his fears from the week before, however, she twisted in order to reach her nightstand. There, in the shallow drawer, she retrieved a little foil packet, and handed it to Carlisle, who wasted no time in opening it.

Once he had sheathed his length in the condom, he crawled over her body until they were aligned. And then they were one.

It was remarkable how right it felt. As new as this all was, Carlisle already felt like home to her, like she belonged in his arms, and he belonged in hers.

"Making love to you," he whispered in between kisses, "nothing comes close. Nothing."

Her eyelids falling shut, Bella smiled. She couldn't argue with him. Being with Carlisle… nothing compared.

Thanks for reading. If you feel inclined, I always enjoy hearing from you. Reviews are like writing fuel. They keep me going when I doubt myself.

Love,

CygnusRift