Edward

Jacob's taillights fade into the darkness, along with his atrocious smell. But Bella still stands at the window staring out into the darkness. It's like she's staring through me, but I know she sees me out here watching her. She knows she's not alone. And it terrifies her. I can smell her fear from here and it sends electric tingles zipping through my body.

Jacob almost told her tonight. Unraveled everything about his kind and my own. His thoughts were frantic between wanting Bella to know the truth and the overwhelming urge to return to his pack in the woods.

Bella's mind is still a complete blank to me. Like she has some shield guarding it. No other human has been able to keep me out. It's infuriating, and intriguing.

After Emmett could get a scent on the stranger creeping around the manor, and trail her almost all the way to Seattle, I was able to piece everything together. She wasn't hard to track down once we knew who we were looking for. Victoria. One of our own kind. A vampire.

I was correct that she's also the owner of Witherdale Manor. Left to her by her mate, James, after we had to dispose of him for killing humans around Forks five years ago.

But what did she want with my little mouse?

The lights in the house mark Bella's trail as she turns off everything downstairs and a single light in her room comes on. I've been coming to watch her sleep every night since our brief encounter before the snowstorm.

My anticipation grows as I climb up the fir tree right outside her window, keeping myself hidden in the branches. If she was looking close enough, she might be able to see the disturbed snow drifting down from my ascent. But she's not paying any attention to the monster right outside the safety of her room.

Bella is breathtaking. She's finishing up her nightly ritual of checking her phone one last time and putting away anything out of place, a habit she picked up after I left the chess piece. Her lilac pajama shorts and tank top are too thin for the draftiness of the old house. So her skin is covered in goosebumps and her nipples are pronounced through the fabric. I suck my lip through my teeth at the thought of placing each one into my mouth, nibbling them just enough for the blood to bead up. A sample of her sweetness.

My cock is rock hard inside of my black jeans. Yearning for release against the zipper. Pulsing with the venom that flows through my veins. I strain to adjust myself without causing the whole tree to sway with my movements.

Tonight will be the night I finally taste her. A night there will be no coming back from once I ultimately cross this line. Venom pools in my mouth at the thought.

Once she's finally in bed, I wait for her breathing to slow. She's asleep and it's my signal that I'm safe to pass through her window unnoticed. Bella has no idea how vulnerable she is right now. My little mouse is already in my trap before she even knows she's been caught.

My body hums with the thrill of being so close to having what I so desperately want. Her.

I creep over to the side of her bed and sneak in behind her. Careful to not move enough to wake her. Her scent is overpowering being this close. The floral of the freesia and lavender, with the sweetness of strawberry. I inhale deeply and let a shudder of desire roll through me.

Reining in control over my bloodlust, I reach out and twirl her whiskey colored hair with my fingers. It's soft, like everything else about her fragile nature. I want to break her and put her back together, over and over again. But I'll never be able to love her delicate human body the way it deserves. I won't be able to worship her without destroying her or turning her.

Fuck, Edward, now is not the time to let your fragmented morals get in the way.

I let go of her hair and trace a line gently down the nape of her neck. I continue the trail down her spine until I get to her waist. Then I slide my hand across her stomach and down to her center. Heat radiates from her and I feel the warmth travel up my arm.

Her body responds to my touch unconsciously. The curve of her ass presses into me and she arches her back. Curving it to my chest.

I groan lowly and grit my teeth to contain all the primal noises trapped inside of me. The monster inside of me is demanding to be released.

I slowly draw my tongue along the shell of her ear. "Little mouse," I whisper.

She stirs slightly, caught between her dreams and waking. I move my lips to the sensitive spot just behind them. Leaving a trail of cool kisses down her throat, I'm engulfed in her scent, now tinged with arousal. I pause at the spot where her pulse thrums steadily. It takes every ounce of self control to keep from tearing into her soft flesh.

My cock pulses against her. The desire consuming me has reached a breaking point. I'm about to burst into flames and she lights the match by rolling her hips into me.

"My shadow," she coos. I hum against the contour of her shoulder in response. She wants it to be me behind her. Molding myself to her and taking her all in.

I feel her still, no longer under the spell of sleep. Fear pours through her pores. I grin and give her shoulder a small nip, just enough pressure to pinch but not break through the skin.

Bella lets out a soft cry and tries to push away from me, but I hold her in place with my hand firmly against her stomach.

"Don't scurry away now. You were being such a good girl for me." I glide my tongue across the spot I just bit, giving cool relief to the sting.

"What are you?" she whispers. "You're so cold. You move faster than any human. And…your eyes."

"Is that all you can think of right now? Even while I'm pressed against you, ready to devour you."

"Are you in my dreams now?" She presses the heels of her palms to her eyes, rubbing them. Attempting to wake herself up from a dream she's not having.

"I can be all of your wildest dreams, Bella. Just give in to me. Accept that you're mine."

"Yours," she lets out breathlessly and closes her eyes again. Her body sinks back against mine.

I resume worshipping her. Moving my mouth down her back as I shift lower on the bed. When I reach the swell of her ass, I pull her tiny shorts down to where the curve meets her leg.

My body almost betrays me. I feel my climax coiling at the base of my spine, as my balls pull upwards.

She is beautiful. And I'm starving.

A howl rings out from the ground outside her window. I freeze, rage and annoyance crash over me violently. Leave it to that obnoxious dog to ruin my fun.

The click of the front door sends me back out the window, but not before I put Bella's shorts back in place and leave her with a kiss on her cheek.

"Sweet dreams, Bella."