A/N: I really appreciate all the reviews and love. Its very encouraging. Its one thing for me to think that the story is good, quite another to have other people think so too.

Disclaimer: I am not Stephanie Meyers

Chapter Five

Needing

"I mean, I guess that makes sense," Bella whispered. She honestly thought that I wouldn't be able to hear her conversation. "I don't know if I should though."

"Well, we'll need at least a two-week notice if you decide not to keep the room. Just keep us in the loop with whatever you decide," the voice on the other side of the line said. "The room and board payment is coming out of your paycheck for the internship, Miss Swan. There's no reason why we just can't keep doing that even next semester."

I heard her shuffling in the hall. "Kind of like a safety net."

I clenched my fist, focusing all my energy on keeping my anger in check. The very last thing Bella needed was a safety net.

"Exactly," the other voice said. "In case things don't work out."

Bella's sigh was more resigned then relieved. How little faith she seemed to have in me. With carefully controlled movements, I finished packing her things. She really didn't have much. A handful of shirts, jeans, and underwear, college textbooks, and some pictures. There was nothing terribly personal about the dorm she had been living in. It seemed to me that this was just where she came to sleep, not where she lived.

Had she ever lived at all, I wondered.

I had her life here in London packed into two duffle bags. I waited until she hung up with the receptionist for the dean of student life at King's College, before venturing out of her dorm, her luggage in hand. When our eyes met the sadness vanished in an instant. That was a promising reaction.

"I could have helped," she said, gesturing at the bags.

I shrugged. "There wasn't much." I took her waist and began leading her out of the dorms. If I had it my way she would never step foot in here again.

"Yeah, I didn't bring a lot with me. I honestly thought I'd have flunked out of the program by now."

I stopped once we'd reached the exit and looked at her. "You got a scholarship?" She nodded. "They're paying you a stipend to teach a class?" Another nod. "Yet you're convinced you would have failed?"

"I guess," she admitted. I let it settle on her how ridiculous that sounded. "On the bright side, though, it means I don't have as many bags to carry."

Shaking my head at her, I said, "One day I'll have to pick up something really heavy for you. These are nothing."

She skipped, by my side, a sweet smile plastered on her face. "And what's heavy to a vampire?"

I thought a moment. "A small house. But mostly because its awkward." She was silent beside me, while I stored her bags in the boot of my car. When I looked over, her mouth was hanging open. I touched her chin, it snapped shut.

"A house?"

"A small one," I amended, guiding her to the passenger door.

She nearly jumped across the center console once I'd situated myself at the stirring wheel. I tried and failed to conceal my smile at her enthusiasm.

"You're telling me, you've picked up a house-" I opened my mouth to interject, but she beat me to it, "- a small house." I nodded. "Under what circumstances did you need to pick up a house?"

I eased into the mid-day traffic, quickly navigating our way back to my place. Traffic was easy to avoid when you could read the minds in the cars around you. I tried to focus on that instead of on Bella's question. I cursed myself for bringing it up at all. But she'd asked and I'd be damned if I denied her anything. I needed her to know that I could and would give her everything.

We had moved to Forks in 1998, having found a private property, well away from the unknowing human population. Small towns had their pros and cons. On the one hand there were fewer people to see how different we were. On the other it was harder to keep a secret. Gossip moves quickly in small crowds. But Forks had potential. A high school for us kids, a hospital for Carlisle and a house for Esme to decorate.

While investigating the property we'd found a small cottage, falling to pieces and in a bad location. Esme asked us to move it. How could we say no? It took Carlisle, Emmett, Jasper and myself, each of us at a corner, to lift the awkward structure and move it to the spot Alice told us it would look best. Afterwards, while Emmett complained about how he could have done it all himself, Esme cupped my cheek in one hand and Jasper's in the other, smiling up at us, she said, "My strapping young men."

We laughed together. Jasper was older than Esme, I'd been a vampire longer, but that hardly mattered. Right then, and for years prior, and we thought for years to come, we were her sons.

I shook the memory from my head, coming back to this moment with Bella. She was looking at me in a way I hadn't seen before and didn't like. She looked concerned, then certain.

"Someday I hope to find out everything about you," she whispered.

"Am I that hard to read?"

"Oh yes, you're very mysterious. I'd wager you're the most enigmatic man I've ever met." Her voice was light and teasing.

She was letting it go. I didn't deserve that kindness. I should have to suffer every ache that memory gave me. Not only because I wanted to tell Bella everything, I needed to, I knew, but because of the pain I knew I was causing them every day that I was gone. I should be able to withstand the sting of those happy moments. The pain, sometimes, felt like the only thing reminding me that we'd once been happy.

"I'll tell you when we get home," I promised.

"You don't have to if you don't want to," she said quickly.

I shook my head. "I will give you everything that is within my power to give. Telling you a story is no hardship." She sighed, biting her lip. "What?"

"I love it when you talk like that. All old fashion and formal. No one has ever talked to me like that before. Its…" she blushed but said no more. I could smell it though.

I sucked in a deep breath. Fire burning in my throat. Not just for her blood but for her body. My little lamb was aroused by how I spoke to her. "You shouldn't tease me, Bella," I warned. "We're in public."

"Then get us to private."

She was gripping her seat belt, twisting it around her hand. It looked like she was fighting the urge to climb into my lap. Fucking her in the car was an appealing concept, but not in the middle of traffic.

"So demanding," I commented, keeping my voice cool. However I spoke, I swiftly moved the car through the street, parking in front of the house. "Topping from the bottom, little one."

Bella grinned, unbuckling and opening the door at the same time. She nearly fell headlong onto the pavement. I was there before she could. I glared at her, but she waved a dismissive hand in my face. "I'm a disaster, I know."

Pushing her against the side of the vehicle, holding her there until I was sure she wouldn't move, I retrieved the bags from the boot and came back to her side. I wrapped my arm around her waist, leading the way inside. Leaving her in the sitting room, I raced around the house collecting what I thought I'd need. I was back in front of her in an instant. She squeaked, and then lightly hit my chest.

"You scared me," she accused.

"I should terrify you, Bella," I said, honestly. I dropped the chest I'd collected on the coffee table, catching her eyeroll in my periphery.

"Oh, sure, the guy who sang me to sleep last night and made me waffles this morning is so scary." Her voice was light, I could hear the humor in it. She was teasing me again. I'd never had a sub tease me this much. It was refreshing.

With one hand, I picked her up and tossed her onto the couch. She flailed for a moment before realizing that she flown halfway across the room. I was treated to a rather adorable glare. She didn't seem at all put off by the vampire side of my nature. If I didn't know any better, I might think it amused her.

"Tell me, mon petit agneau." She sat up straight on the couch, her eyes locked on me. I kicked the ottoman over to her. "How did you think I would respond to you teasing me?"

She bit her lip, trying to stop the smile threatening to spread across her face. Ah she had been bating me. Well, I hated to disappoint her. I slowly walked over until I was in front of her, cupping her chin in my hand, I tilted her head back. Watching her eyes as they strove to stay on me, I wondered at the woman in front of me. Right now she was so eager to keep her eyes on me, where moments before she'd been teasing me. I smiled.

I pulled her up, letting her flounder as she tried to stand.

"Strip."

Her eyes went wide and she froze.

"Now."

Bella fumbled, nearly falling over in her haste to comply. She tugged off her shoes and socks, then shucked her pants. I watched from across the room as she got herself tangled in her shirt. In this moment I did nothing to assist her. I had given her an order and it wouldn't do to override myself by helping. I'd strip her one day, but not today. Eventually she managed to get free of her shirt. She stopped again. Staring at me. Her heart was pounding, her breath shallow and fast.

I quirked an eyebrow at her.

"Everything, master?" she whispered.

I sucked in a deep breath instead of answering. Bella quickly unclasped her bra with one hand and tugged her panties down with the other. She straightened a moment later, one arm over her breasts and the other between her thighs. My lamb was shy. I didn't order her hands down. Instead, I let my eyes take it what was revealed.

She was thin. I thought perhaps she might have been thinner when she was younger. Now in her early twenties her hips were fuller, her breasts pillowing up over her arm. She was a woman. Just as I liked them. Slender, but shapely. She hid it so well behind her baggy clothing. I slowly made my way in front of her. She was shaking a bit, but nothing like she had the night before. This was from arousal. I could smell it permeating the air.

Cupped her cheeks, staring deeply into her eyes, I gently took both of her wrists pulling her hands away, directing them to her sides. She was stiff in my arms, worrying her lower lip. There was deep discomfort in her eyes. I didn't like that. She needed to be distracted from her nudity. I thought a moment for the best way to do that.

When I pressed my lips to hers she froze for a second before she was all over me. Her arms around my neck, hands in my hair, body flush against me. I let her have her way for a moment, allowing her to get so caught up that she forgot her discomfort. It didn't matter that she was naked just that I was kissing her.

With my hands on her cheeks, I gently pushed her away. She seemed to understand and disengaged herself from me. Her eyes were completely relaxed now, her hands by her side. I turned her around, bringing her hands behind her back. Slowly, allowing her to hear everything I did, I lifted the top of the chest, reaching in without looking to retrieve the leather arm braces. I swiftly buckled her into the soft leather. The black leather braces buckled every few inches, all the way up to her shoulders. She was completely relaxed throughout, not fighting against the bonds.

"Color?"

"Green, master." Her voice was soft and aroused.

With firm movements, I directed her to the ottoman, bending her at the hips until her cheek pressed against the cushion. I nudged her feet apart before taking a seat on the couch behind me. While studying the soft pink flesh between her legs, I wished I could sip a drink. Just so that she could hear me doing something behind her, seemingly unconcerned with her naked cunt a few feet from my face.

Every few seconds she shifted. Her feet shuffled, hips wiggling, shoulder blades moving. I watched her twitch under my inspection. Eventually everything stilled but her hips, swaying slowly back and forth. I don't think she realized she was doing it. Every time they moved, I caught her at a different angle, watching in awe at the wetness gathering on her lips. I hadn't touched her in nearly ten minutes, but she was already aroused beyond reason.

Lack of touch was its own kind of torture. I knew she longed to have my hands all over her. Our kisses told me as much. Touching her everywhere wouldn't be enough for my insatiable sub. Not touching her all? The perfect punishment for her teasing.

But not enough for me either. I was quickly running out of patience. As much as she wanted my hands on her, I did too. I wanted to know every inch of her body and was intent on starting now.

Standing from the couch, I moved slowly enough to allow her to hear me. I rested my hands on her hips, bringing her elegant movements to a halt. Her heartbeat spiked, fist clenched at the small of her back, the scent of her arousal intensified.

"Mon petit agneau, do you like teasing me?" From this angle I couldn't see her face. Her head jerked. It could have been a nod or shake, but I couldn't tell. I brought my hand up quickly and down. The smack of my palm to the fresh of her bottom rang throughout the room. She gasped. "I asked you a question," I growled.

"Yes, master," she struggled through the words, her voice thick with excitement.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, little one," I drew my fingers over the heated flesh I'd just abused, "Yes, you enjoy teasing me or yes, you heard my question."

"Both, master."

I leaned over her prone form, resting my chest against her back, bringing my mouth to her ear. "So, you will be courting your own punishment?" She bit her lip, squeezing her eyes shut, she nodded. "What a naughty girl you are, petit agneau." She squeaked but kept quiet.

As I stood, I drew my hands along her sides. Feeling the curves at her breasts, waist and hips. Standing at my full height behind her, I rolled up my shirt sleeves, moving with deliberate slowness. The tension in her form was obvious. She didn't know what I would do but couldn't wait for me to do it. I gripped the braces, pulling her up, continuing to pull until her back arched, thrusting her breast out. Her head fell back against my shoulder, she gasped again but said nothing.

"Color?" She hesitated, worrying her lip. "Now, mon petit agneau."

"Yellow." A whisper, so unsure.

I released my hand on the braces, encouraging her to stand straight. Instead I tilted her head back to kiss her once more. The softness of her lips against mine, the warmth to my eternal coldness, it was bliss. Within seconds her body relaxed. I let my lips brush across her close eyes, keeping myself firmly and completely in control. The skin was so soft there, so impossibly soft. It would be so easy to let myself go and hurt her without meaning to.

I kept her here, kissing her lips, her cheeks, her eyelids, bringing my hands slowly to her breasts. She gasped at the contrast; her nipples immediately pebbled against the cold assault of my fingers. I plucked the small tips, pinching until the rose color turned red. Bella gasped against my lips, a low keening sound began at the back of her throat, building slowly.

I continued to torture her nipples. Knowing full well that she was coming to end of her rope. The delicious pain mixed with her perpetual arousal; she couldn't stand it much longer. A moment later she was on her toes, not pulling away from my fingers, but unconsciously letting me know she'd had enough. I released both nipples to cup her breasts. Two small handfuls that I palmed greedily. The coolness of my skin soothed the ache of her areolas.

My face had found its way into the heavy waves of her hair, breathing in her heavenly scent. The terrible fire in my throat seemed a constant companion in her presence but oh how I welcomed it. The pain of my hunger proved that we were both alive, her here in my arms, and me the statue of a monster behind her. We both lived in this moment. So focused on one another the rest of the world didn't matter, it couldn't matter. She was so vital to me, I fought the urge to crush her against my chest. I wanted to hold her so close we ceased to be two people.

I contemplated taking her now. Bending her back over the ottoman and thrusting into her heated flesh. It was beyond tempting. But my Bella was untouched. I needed to be more mindful of her when the time did come for me to take her. The reminder of her innocence shook me from the moment. I placed a soft kiss against her throat.

"You've been good, mon petit agneau," I whispered. She shivered at my frosty breath.

"I have, master?" she said, her voice relaxed and euphoric all at once.

"Oh, yes," I assured her. "Do you know what you did?" She shook her head. "You told me the truth. And I think honesty should be rewarded."

Slowly I moved my right hand down the silken flesh of her abdomen to the apex of her thighs. She shuddered against me, moving her hips once more, trying in vain to bring my hand closer and more firmly to her cunt.

"Be still, or I will have to punish you again," I laughed, darkly. She froze in place, even going so far as to hold her breath. "Breath, little one. You need to focus now."

My fingers slipped through the impossibly soft fresh of her pussy, pushing back the hood of her clit. At my first touch she gasped, thrashing her head back and forth. I pulled away.

"Please, master!" she begged.

"Your pleasure is mine, mon petit agneau," I reminded her. "You will keep still. And you will not cum until I let you."

"Yes, master," she agreed, quickly.

I brought my finger back to her clit, moving it so quickly over her excited flesh, to her it would feel like a vibrator. The keening began again. She shook from the exertion of keeping still. Grasping, quaking with the need to release, I held her in place against me. I let her feel my erection against her hands. She was opening and closing her fist, looking for purchase. I reveled in the simple pleasure of her fleeting touch. The brush of her fingers against my engorged flesh was sinful. It might have hurt a human male, but it felt like heaven to me. I needed my own release, the razor-sharp edge of my control kept me in check. This moment was all about Bella and Bella's pleasure.

"Now, little one," I ordered

The keening finally released into a shout, her whole body shaking, legs going out beneath her, I held her in place as she succumbed to her climax.