I was worried. Everyone was acting very strangely, and had been for a few days now. Edward had gone on a four day hunting trip with Charlie and Carlisle, and during their absence, the rest of the Pack had been on edge. At first I had thought it was because we were three members down – after all we had just moved to a new area, and while it had been almost two months already, we were still establishing a routine and rhythm when it came to patrolling our new territory.
But then I realised that the nervousness I was scenting from my family wasn't nervousness at all it was excitement… anticipation. For what? I had no idea, and any attempts on puzzling it out was met with denials and stonewalled responses. Even Emmett, who usually couldn't keep a secret if his life depended on it, was unusually tight lipped.
It was frustrating, to say the least, but eventually I became tired of being constantly on guard – if my family wanted to keep secrets, let them. See if I cared. I had become preoccupied with exploring the cove that the estate was situated in. Rose and Emmett had been spending more and more time in the western woods, preparing the servant's quarters and clearing a path through the woods that led to the main house – I had taken great joy in travelling through the hidden tunnels only to resurface within the hollowed out interior of the dark grey brick building through the seamlessly hidden trapdoor, my sudden appearance had caused Emmett to shriek like a horror movie damsel.
It was fantastic.
The tunnels also led to the stable barn in the south woods, and I had taken some time to explore the old wooden structure – I climbed up into the hay loft and investigated each of the stables. The last stretch of the tunnels twisted northward, and led to a natural formation of stones, a small outcrop that bordered a crystal clear stream, the entrance was perfectly concealed among the brush and undergrowth, and over the last few days I had taken to escaping through the tunnels to retreat to the calmness of the stream and the tranquillity of the mountain air. The stream that snaked it's way through the woods was a boon, the first day I had found a few small pieces of rough smokey quartz – and the joy I got at finding these small treasures was more than enough to keep my mind off Edward's absence and my family's strange behaviour.
It was the last day, Edward would be home that evening, and I was determined to find him the perfect welcome home gift. I had found a few interesting looking pieces of agate, but there was nothing special about them, their colours were pale and boring, Edward deserved something much nicer. My search led me to venture deeper into the forest than I ever had before, and as I followed the creek up stream, I noticed that the incline was getting steadily steeper as I journeyed out of the cove that housed the estate and into the mountains that surrounded it. The stream narrowed and became more rocky the higher I explored, and I delighted in rooting around in the rubble searching for Edward's gift. With mud covered hands I uncovered a stone that was roughly the size of a marble, even as it was coated in mud I could tell this was something special. I hastily washed it in the stream and as the dirt was scrubbed away the gem was revealed. It was clearly a piece of garnet, it was oddly shaped as if a larger gem had been struck and shattered, and then this piece had fallen into the stream and it's harsher, sharper edges had been smoothed by time. The stone was a deep dark red, almost black, it seemed to devour any light that touched it, and yet, if I held it up to the light and allowed the sun to shine through it, the gem erupted into a symphony of colour, like a burning firework it glittered with the refracted sunlight, each facet of the stone catching the rays and shining with a different hue of blood red crimson.
It was perfect.
I had ventured further into the woods than I had thought, but at least there was no chance of becoming lost in the unfamiliar forest. Even if I didn't have the stream to follow back down ridge I would have been able to find my way. It was like I instinctively knew which direction would take me home, the woods around me, as foreign as they were still felt familiar in a way I could not properly explain.
As I rounded the last copse of trees and entered the fields that housed the estate I noticed that everything was eerily quiet. I walked over the long grass, my boots crunching loudly with each step as I headed towards the main entrance. I couldn't hear anyone moving about inside, but I wasn't concerned, vampires were naturally very quiet people – they had no heartbeats and no need to breathe, and when they did breathe it was usually very subdued and subtle.
I opened the front door and immediately took off my muddy boots, not wanting to incur Esme's wrath should I track mud through the house. I put my boots off to the side and stood up, and when I turned around I noticed Edward standing there in the foyer.
"Edward!" I crowed as I rushed towards him, I launched myself into his arms and embraced him in a tight hug. "You're back!"
Edward caught me, wrapping his arms around my waist he chuckled into my hair, "It's good to see you too."
I pulled back and grinned up at him. "I got you something!" I announced cheerfully. Edward's eyes crinkled in amusement as I shoved my hand into the pocket of my jeans, pulling out the gemstone I had found. I presented the small chuck of garnet, holding my hand out flat, the bauble sat proudly on the centre of my palm. "I found it in the woods, up on the ridge."
Edward plucked the gem from the palm of my hand, holding it carefully as if it were made of glass, he examined the gemstone, turning it over and watching how the light changed the colour from almost black to a bright crimson. "It's beautiful. Thank you, my love." Edward murmured, he pocketed the gem and bent down to press a chaste kiss to my lips. Edward took both my hands in each of his, "It just so happens, I have something for you, too." he smiled playfully as he began to lead me through the house and into the den of the north wing.
The fireplace was lit, casting the room in the flickering firelight. On the rosewood coffee table sat a delicate porcelain vase, the ivory surface was painted with a beautiful cobalt blue floral pattern, with serpentine tree branches and elegant birds – robins, my mind supplied – who sat hidden among the blooming branches. The vase was filled to the brim with powder pink carnations and tiny blooms of dainty baby's breath.
"Oh Edward! They're beautiful!" I gushed as I raced across the room and plopped down on the sofa that Esme called a 'fainting couch'. "I've never been given flowers before." I murmured as I fingered a petal with a gentle touch.
"Well, I promise to make up for that most grievous of errors by making sure you always have fresh flowers on hand to compliment your beauty." Edward was softly spoken as he crossed the room to stand by my side.
I looked up at him with a confused, but amused sort of smile. "Are you alright? You're talking all fancy. You only do that when you're nervous." I reached out and took Edwards hand in mine and with a smile Edward stroked the back of my knuckles with his thumb.
"That's because I am." he replied softly. My heart was thundering in my chest, like a caged bird throwing itself against the bars of my rib cage, desperately trying to break free from it's bony prison, and then it stopped entirely as Edward lowered himself to one knee.
"Edward." I whispered, unable to speak any louder as shock and adoration coursed through me. Everything around us stilled – like a ship becalmed at sea nothing existed outside of us, in this moment – an instant frozen in time.
"Bella," he smiled lovingly in reply. "I wish I could say that I loved you from the first moment I saw you, but I promised never to lie to you." I huffed out a laugh and Edward smirked roguishly. "The truth is, when I first saw you, you confused the hell out of me, and then you infuriated me, because you are the most stubborn, headstrong, and opinionated woman I have ever met." I bit my lip through a smile in order to stop myself from speaking up in argument of Edward's words, because if I did I would just be proving him right, and if the teasing grin on Edward's face was any indication, he knew it. "But that's what made me fall in love with you." Edward took a deep, calming breath and removed his hand from mine to reach into his pants pocket, pulling out a velvet ring box. My breath caught in my throat as I felt tears begin to prick in my eyes. "Bella, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met, inside and out, you are strong and fearless and there's no one I would rather spend the rest of eternity with. Will you marry me?" Edward opened the ring box to reveal a stunning oval cut sapphire, the stunning royal blue jewel was surrounded by clusters of small diamonds, all set into a beautiful white gold band.
I could feel the hot tears streak down my face and I fought back the growing lump in my throat as I nodded frantically. "Yes. Yes of course I will marry you!" I cried, furiously wiping away the tears on my face. Edward beamed up at me, and as he took the ring from its box I happily held out my left hand for Edward to place the ring on my finger. I held out my hand in front of me and gazed at the ring, "It's beautiful." I murmured.
Edward rose up from the floor and sat next to me on the couch. "The diamonds belonged to my mother. My human mother." he clarified. "Charlie gave me the sapphire and Carlisle helped me get them all set into the band."
I smiled up at him with a watery smile, "So that's what the three of you were up to." I accused jokingly.
"I wanted it to be special." Edward replied with a soft smile.
I leaned forward, shifting on the couch until my lips ghosted against his. "I love you, so much." I breathed.
"I love you too," he mumbled in reply.
I pressed forward and captured Edward's mouth in a blazing kiss, I could feel his growing smile underneath my lips as they moved against his. I pushed my advantage, using my body weight to force Edward to lay back on the curved arm of the couch. I swung my leg up and over so I could straddle his hips as I tilted my head to deepen the kiss. I felt Edward's hands come up and grip either side of my hips, his strong fingers digging into my flesh, searching each inch of me – one skirted over my stomach, before wandering up to grope at my breast. I groaned into Edward's mouth and he took the opportunity to deepen the kiss even further by curling his tongue against mine as he explored my mouth. The hand that still gripped my hip shifted until it was cupping the curve of my ass, then, much to my surprise, Edward squeezed my ass as he pulled my hips down to grind against his own.
I could feel the strong length of Edward's cock pressing flush to my core, only a few layers of fabric between us. I pulled back with a gasp. "Edward," I panted, staring into his lust filled eyes with shock.
Edward rolled his hips upwards once, as if to punctuate his words. "Is this… is this okay?" he asked in a deep, gasping voice.
"Yes," I groaned in reply. "God yes." I nodded as I lowered my head nuzzle at Edward's throat. The hand on my breast moved to join the one on my ass, and as Edward bucked his hips up into mine he used his hands to guide me to mirror his movements. Edward groaned in pleasure as I panted in time to each roll of his hips. I trailed wet kisses up his throat, over his jaw, before finally reaching his lips once more.
Everything felt so good, but I couldn't help but feel like something was missing, that if I just shifted my weight it could feel even better. I wriggled slightly, just enough to change the position of my hips, and when Edward pulled me back down to rut against his clothed cock once more I let out a strangled gasp, reeling backwards as Edward's rock hard dick pounded deliciously against my clit.
Edward stilled, every movement came to a sudden stop, as if someone had pressed pause. I blinked down at him in confusion, my breath coming in heavy pants.
"Bella… what… are you okay?" he whispered uncertainly, his eyebrows furrowed in fear and concern.
"Yes. God yes." I panted, "Don't you dare stop." At Edward's doubtful expression I continued. "Felt good, really good." I groaned with a determined roll of my hips. The added friction melted the last of Edward's reservations and with a hand on the back of my neck he pulled me back down into a heated kiss as his other hand continued to guide my hips. Not that I needed the extra help anymore, I knew exactly what I wanted.
I rolled my hips down with determined intent, relishing in the way the pressure against my clit sent waves of roaring pleasure through my body. I pulled away from Edward's lips and rested my forehead against his as I continued to grind against his cock. I whimpered as Edward's grip on my ass tightened, urging me to move faster, to grind against him harder. "Edward," I whimpered.
"Fuck, Bella, you feel so good." Edward groaned, his voice deep and raspy with lust. At hearing the curse pass Edward's lips I moaned wantonly, my body shivering in delight. "Oh, do you like that?" Edward growled, a smile in his voice.
"Uh-huh." I nodded uselessly. I was overwhelmed with all encompassing pleasure, rational thought had left the party long ago and I was utterly incapable of forming a complete sentence. I could hear Edward's answering growl as he rutted up against me, each thrust of his hips caused the head of his thick cock to press against my clit through our clothes. I could feel it, building in my gut like a tightly wound spring about to explode. "Ugh, Edward-I'm gonna… God." I panted and whined against his lips, pressing messy kisses to his mouth in between words and moans.
"That's it, love." Edward growled, his hands now groping at my hips and ass with a grip that I knew would leave bruises behind. The thought made me moan loudly – I wanted to have bruises, even though I knew they would heal within minutes, seconds even, I wanted the reminder, the proof, that Edward had held me, had used my body to find such intimate pleasures.
"Oh God, Edward." I whined as I continued to grind desperately down onto his cock. I was so close, the heat pooling in my gut was building, sparks of pleasure coursed through my clit and I could feel it pulsing deep inside my pussy. "Please. Please. Please." I chanted breathlessly, each word accompanied by the movement of hips. Then, the damn broke. "Oh God, Edward. Yes!" I cried out as my climax rocked through me. Like fireworks on the fourth of July, pleasure exploded throughout every atom of my being.
Even as I rode out the end of my orgasm, Edward was relentless, his bruising grip urging me on as his rutted up against me. "Yes, Bella, just like that." he encouraged, his voice a deep growl. "Close. I'm close." he panted against my lips. Even as exhaustion filled my body as I came down from my own high, I continued to grind against Edward's cock, urging him towards his own end. Edward tensed below me, each muscle locking in place and trembling with the strength of his orgasm as he roared out my name, "Bella!"
Edward's hips stuttered as he thrust up against me a few more times before he collapsed back down against the couch like a puppet with his strings cut. With an exhausted, but happy, sigh I allowed myself to follow his lead. It took a moment for both of us to catch our breath, and as quiet began to surround us I felt Edward's hand come up and begin to card through my hair. I relaxed into Edward's embrace, only to be jolted out of the calming bliss by a worrying thought.
Edward noticed the way I suddenly tensed in his arms. "What's wrong, my love?" he murmured softly.
"Alice is going to be insufferable, isn't she?" I groaned pathetically.
Edward barked out a laugh that rocked us both, "Yes, yes I'm afraid she will be. There's nothing Alice loves more than a wedding."
I wriggled in Edward's embrace until I could lean back to look him in the eye, "Any chance we could just elope?"
Edward's eyes twinkled in amusement, "For you, my love? Anything."
A/N: Thanks for reading! Hope you guys enjoyed the update. Let me know what you think.