Chapter 73: Here Comes the Sun
Once they'd left the city lights far behind, Bella slowed to a stop in a quiet, wooded area where moonlight filtered through the branches, casting a gentle glow around them. She turned to Edward, an amused glint in her eyes.
"Alright," she began, glancing around approvingly. "This spot looks perfect." She stepped a little closer, her expression turning playful. "So, here's the plan: I'm going to wrap you in a shield, just like I do for myself when I fly. I'll be controlling both shields, guiding where we go. You won't have any control over where we're heading, but lucky for you, I take requests."
She grinned, a teasing note in her voice. "I've never actually done it this way before. When my mom was still human and I took her flying, she'd always cling to my back with her legs wrapped around my waist. Now… I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be too keen on flying like that." She paused, her grin turning sly. "Or maybe you would," she added, breaking into a laugh.
After a moment, she collected herself, her laughter fading into a calm determination. "But for our first flight together, I think this setup will work fine."
Edward nodded, feeling a thrill of anticipation coursing through him. "I'm ready."
Bella gave a reassuring smile, her gaze intense as she focused on him. Instantly, he felt a strange sensation wrapping around his midsection, like a cocoon of some kind surrounding him. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it was firm. Instinctively, he lifted his hand to his stomach, feeling for the shield, but his fingers met an invisible, impenetrable barrier. He looked up at Bella, noticing her amused smile, and in that moment, she lifted her hand, pointing upward with a slight wave of her finger.
Before he could fully process what was happening, Bella bent her knees and pushed off the ground in a smooth, effortless leap, and suddenly, Edward's own feet lifted off the earth. The world seemed to drop away, and he was ascending, rising alongside her as they soared into the open sky. It was unbelievable—exhilarating and disorienting all at once—and for the first time in both his vampire and human life, he felt truly free.
The ground receded quickly, and soon Seattle stretched out in the distance before them, its lights shrinking into a glittering mosaic as they climbed higher. Edward's gaze darted around, taking in the world from this astonishing vantage point. Buildings that once towered over him became smaller, almost like toy blocks, and the grid of streets looked like threads of golden light weaving through the darkness. He smiled as he saw the Space Needle from a brand new perspective. He could see the coastline in the distance, the black expanse of water reflecting the city lights like stars on its surface. His breath caught at the beauty and sheer scale of it all, laid out like a map beneath him.
As they ascended, they shifted direction, gliding away from the city and out toward the open landscapes. Smaller towns appeared below, their clusters of lights scattered like distant constellations, mere specks on the vast expanse, shrinking with each passing second. The sensation was unlike anything he'd ever experienced. The cool night air rushed around him, tugging gently at his clothes, carrying with it the faint scents of forest and distant waters.
He turned to Bella, whose face was lit with a radiant smile as she glided effortlessly beside him, her body relaxed, arms stretched out at her sides as if she'd been born to fly. Her eyes sparkled with a joy that matched his own, and Edward felt a surge of gratitude—for her, for this moment, for the impossible beauty of what he was experiencing. His smile grew as he realized that Bella was sharing something deeply personal with him, a part of her world that very few had been invited into.
They drifted through the quiet night sky, surrounded by the silence of the open air. It was peaceful, breathtakingly beautiful, and for a moment, the weight of years seemed to slip away. Edward was simply here, with Bella, in a world that was both hers and, now, his to explore.
Edward's voice held a quiet awe as he took in the vastness of the world beneath them. "This is amazing, Bella," he said, stretching his arms out, savoring the feel of the cool wind rushing past. He felt her fingers slip into his, interlocking, grounding him in the thrill of the moment.
"I'm glad you're enjoying it," Bella replied, her eyes gleaming with warmth. She glanced down at the landscape stretched out below, mountains and forests glowing under the moonlight. "Flying has always been… freeing for me. Sometimes, I just rise above the clouds and hover there for hours. Watching the sunrise from that height—it's breathtaking. It makes the world feel so quiet, so infinite."
Edward listened, picturing her in that solitude, high above the clouds, bathed in dawn's early light. "Do you ever get tired, holding these shields up?" he asked, his voice curious, wondering just how much she was capable of.
Bella's gaze drifted as she recalled her early days of struggle and discovery. "Back when I first learned I could do this, I'd get tired all the time. I could barely keep a single rock steady in front of me—it was frustrating..." She smiled, pausing as her voice grew thoughtful. "It took years of practice... constant practice, to get to this point. But now… well, I didn't feel drained when I held up that entire building in Los Angeles. That was the most I've ever pushed myself." She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm sure if I tried to keep something like that up for days without a break, I'd start to feel it. I also think I get hungrier when I overexert myself, so keeping myself full probably factors into how long I can push my abilities. So, no, I don't think my energy is unlimited."
Edward was captivated by her words, his gaze drifting to the jagged mountain peaks below, glinting faintly in the moonlight, while the endless forest stretched beneath them like a dark, quiet ocean of trees. He looked back at her, his voice filled with quiet hope. "Can we go higher? Above the clouds? Maybe… we could watch the sunrise together?"
Bella's smile deepened, and she nodded, a glimmer of anticipation in her eyes. She shifted their trajectory, guiding them higher. The stars appeared closer, sharper, as they climbed, and the world below became shrouded in soft wisps of clouds. Finally, they broke through, reaching a quiet stillness where the stars and the distant horizon lay before them like something out of a dream.
In this quiet, Bella drifted closer, her hand still in his, until they were inches apart. Without a word, she leaned in, her lips finding his in a gentle, lingering kiss. The feeling was almost surreal—floating together in the sky, surrounded by silence, without the need for words. It felt as if time itself had stilled, leaving just the two of them, alone in the night.
Edward wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer, and Bella melted into his embrace. It was strange, kissing him at eye level, where she didn't have to tilt her head up, nor did he need to bend down. She simply let herself savor the moment, losing herself in the quiet, endless sky and the feeling of Edward holding her close.
Hours slipped by, and much to Bella's delight, they continued exploring each other's bodies, becoming more familiar and comfortable with every touch. Each caress felt fresh and electric, each whispered word carrying a weight and thrill she'd never experienced with anyone else. At Edward's suggestion, she'd crafted a wide, invisible shield beneath them, giving their bodies the freedom to move unencumbered by the protective barriers that would have otherwise surrounded them.
As they settled onto the makeshift platform, they couldn't help but laugh, marveling at the surreal sensation of lying on what felt like open air, with nothing below but Bella's shield and the endless sky stretching below down. Edward, feeling elated from their shared experience of flight, wrapped his arms around her, letting her melt into him, savoring the warmth and press of their bodies together. Each kiss he gave left her increasingly breathless, her excitement building with every touch.
Their fun continued unabated, and soon Bella found herself straddling Edward's waist. She sat up, gazing down at him, marveling at the man beneath her. Somehow, his shirt had conveniently become unbuttoned, revealing the hard lines and defined muscles of his chest. As Bella admired him, she couldn't help but feel grateful that Edward must have been doing some type of manual labor before his transformation.
Edward relished the way she moved her hands over him, almost reverently, and he wasn't about to let the opportunity pass to reciprocate. His hands slid along her back, guiding her closer, his fingers tracing the curve of her spine, then moving down to her sides, skimming around the edge's of her breasts. Bella's responses were undeniable—the quiet moans that escaped her lips as he teased her, especially when his hands brushed over her breasts, only encouraged him further, each sound she made spurring his own need to continue.
As Edward kissed along the curve of her neck, Bella gasped, her body instinctively arching against him. He stayed there, sucking and kissing that same spot, and every touch sent a surge of pleasure through her. She rocked her hips against him, feeling the firmness of his dick pressing against her, and the sensation was electric, setting off waves of need deep within her. The way he felt beneath her only heightened her desire, making her crave the moment when they would finally give in to everything they wanted.
A part of her wanted nothing more than to reach down, grab hold of him, and fully explore the intense connection building between them, but she held back, reminding herself of their upcoming trip to Forks. She wanted their first time to be free of distractions, a moment where they could truly take their time and savor each other's bodies. Edward's hands and movements mirrored her own longing, yet he matched her restraint, as though he, too, understood they were saving something even deeper for later. He seemed to enjoy keeping them both balanced on that tight edge, bringing her right to the brink of ecstasy but never crossing past the point of no return.
Lost in her need, Bella's breath quickened as Edward's hands moved over her body, his touch lighting up every nerve. She moaned deeply, her head falling back as his hands settled on her breasts, his thumbs grazing over her hardened nipples in a slow, teasing rhythm. Each stroke, every firm squeeze, seemed meant to pull her deeper into the moment, sending powerful waves of pleasure through her. God, he was making it almost impossible to think, her mind slipping further into the intensity of what he was doing to her.
As Edward continued, clearly enthralled with her breasts, Bella's moans grew louder. Her hands clutched his shoulders, her fingers digging in as his touch overwhelmed her senses. She instinctively ground her hips against him, wanting to give him the same pleasure he was bringing her, hoping her movements drove him as wild as he was driving her. But as her eyes fluttered open, she caught sight of the first faint streaks of morning light breaking across the horizon. The sight tugged her reluctantly from their passionate haze. Every fiber of her resisted, but she managed to whisper, breathless and torn, "It's... time, Edward. The sun—it's rising."
Edward, lying flat on Bella's shield with her straddling his waist, tilted his head back to see the faint glow of dawn. Yet even with the sun creeping in, the urge to continue their closeness remained. He couldn't believe how incredible the night had been, a night beyond anything he'd ever experienced, even with the restraint they'd held. His eyes, dark with longing, drifted back to Bella's face, taking in her blissful expression. It had been one of the best nights of his life... and they hadn't even made love. Her moans echoed in his mind, her taste still lingering on his lips, and he nearly groaned with frustration. He knew they should stop, but he couldn't resist one last moment, his hands lingering on her breasts, gently squeezing, savoring the feel of her softness. Her breasts were truly spectacular, and he hated letting them go. With a quiet, reluctant sigh, he finally released her, his hands trailing down her sides before dropping away.
Bella slowly sat up, her breath still uneven as she adjusted, feeling Edward's solid frame beneath her. Her hands drifted to his chest, her fingers spreading across his skin, relishing the firm lines and strength she found there. She took a moment, savoring every inch of him in this last bit of closeness, letting herself soak in his warmth. With one final, deliberate roll of her hips, she pressed against him, feeling that unmistakable spark between them flare one last time. Finally, she eased off him, allowing him to sit up beside her as dawn began to break around them.
Edward's gaze lingered on her in awe, as though he couldn't quite believe she was real. In his solitude, he'd conjured countless fantasies, brief visions to pass the time, but none of those nameless women compared to the force of nature that was Bella. As the first rays of dawn stretched over the horizon, a soft, warm glow cast over her features, illuminating her in a way that took his breath away. She looked radiant, her wide smile breaking through the early light, her joy so pure it stirred something profound within him. Unable to hold back the thought, he leaned in, his voice low. "You know," he murmured, his eyes tracing her body, "we haven't really seen each other as we truly are. How about you let go of whatever it is that stops the sparkles… and let the sunlight show us, just as we really are?"
Her smile deepened, and with a slight nod, she let her natural glow come through, her skin beginning to shimmer and catch the soft morning light in a way that made her look ethereal, almost otherworldly. Edward reached out, his hand brushing against her cheek, feeling her warmth and the softness of her skin as it sparkled under his touch. He noticed his own hand, realizing it, too, had begun to catch the light, sparkling in a way he hadn't seen in years. They were truly bare before each other now—no shields, no disguises—just them.
Without a word, Bella crawled closer to him, and he instinctively parted his legs, guiding her back against his chest as she nestled into him. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her close, breathing in her familiar scent, letting it anchor him in the perfection of this moment. Together, they turned their gaze east, watching as the sky gradually shifted from the deep blues of night to the soft pastels of dawn, hues spreading across the horizon and casting light over the mountains and forests below.
As the sun rose higher, Edward found himself captivated not by the view, but by Bella. She was still watching the sunrise, her eyes filled with a quiet, simple happiness that stirred something deep within him. In that moment, something shifted—a truth he'd felt growing but hadn't dared to acknowledge. He loved her, completely and profoundly. Bella was the missing part of him, the one he'd waited for, and now, here beside her in the early light, he felt that truth settle inside him like a final puzzle piece falling into place. A gentle sigh escaped him, a breath of pure contentment and realization, and without thinking, he leaned in, pressing his lips to the curve of her neck in a slow, tender kiss.
Bella's eyes drifted shut, a soft smile touching her lips as she tilted her head, inviting him closer. His mouth traced a line of lingering kisses along her neck, each one a silent confession of the emotions he could no longer deny. His arms tightened around her, holding her close, and she pressed herself back against him, basking in the warmth and the strength of his embrace. They stayed like that, sharing soft touches and quiet whispers, lost in each other as the dawn unfolded around them.
At around 11:00 a.m., Bella lifted her head from where her lips had been pressed to Edward's neck. They had both discovered that sucking and licking each other's necks was yet another shared erogenous zone. She hadn't mentioned it to Edward yet, but while she had been kissing him, she'd felt an almost primal urge to sink her teeth into him, to bite down hard and push as much venom into him as she could. The impulse puzzled her; he was already a vampire... yet the need seemed to resonate from somewhere deep inside, like a calling she couldn't fully understand.
She brushed her fingers over the place her lips had just left, her mind lingering on that strange craving. She planned to bring it up to him eventually, hoping he might have some insight, but for now, there were other things pulling her attention. As the morning ticked closer to noon, she knew they'd need to make their way to Forks soon.
"Are you ready to head to my dad's house?" Bella asked, glancing at Edward, who nodded, as she reapplied her shields, letting their appearances shift back to normal, the sparkling vanishing from their skin. As her gaze lingered on him, she noted with satisfaction the light red hue in his eyes. Not yet the full ruby red of her own, but a softer, gentler crimson. She figured just a few more feedings and his eyes would be fully restored. The thought brought a hint of pride to her smile.
"Looks like last night's contacts dissolved," she observed. "Let's put in another set before we go. Charlie and Sue know our eyes are red, but I'd rather not freak them out any more than necessary." She gave Edward a gentle smile. "Also, don't take it personally if Sue seems uneasy around you. She has a deep-seated fear of vampires from years of horror stories. It's… ingrained. It took her a long time to warm up to me, but even now, I can tell there's a part of her that's still unsettled."
Edward nodded in understanding as they both reached for fresh contacts. As he carefully placed his in, he blinked a few times, adjusting to the sensation. When he looked back at Bella, he was struck by the transformation—the vivid, mesmerizing red of her eyes had now softened to a muddy brown.
"All set," he said with a small smile. He glanced around, still in awe of how high they were in the sky, both of them acting as if it were no big deal—when, in truth, it felt like the most extraordinary feat in the world. "So… are we flying or running there?"
"We'll fly low above the trees," Bella said, her voice steady but her eyes glinting with excitement. "Once we're close enough to Forks, we'll switch to running if it seems safer." She watched Edward nod, then her grin widened. "Want to try something fun? How about we jump off my shield? We can free-fall until we're close to the ground." Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "I've done it… more than a few times, intending to see what it'd feel like to go splat… but, well, I always chicken out right before hitting the ground and pull up my shield at the last second."
Edward glanced down at the drop, the vast emptiness below stretching like an endless void. It was difficult to judge their exact height, but he could tell they were high up. He had to admit, the idea was thrilling in a way he hadn't anticipated. He looked back at her, a grin slowly spreading across his face. "Sure," he replied, feeling a rush of anticipation. "That sounds… fun."
Bella laughed, her excitement infectious. "Alright," she said, stepping closer, "the edge of the shield is ten feet away. We'll walk to the edge, and on my count, we jump. Deal?"
He gave a quick nod, and together, they approached the edge. The anticipation built as they both took two quick steps forward, then leaped into the open sky, feeling the dizzying rush as they plummeted toward the earth.
Edward plunged through the sky, gravity pulling him downward, his senses alive with the exhilarating rush of free-fall. Outside Bella's shield, he felt the unbridled force of the wind tearing past him, buffeting his clothes, tugging at every inch of his body. Each gust seemed to shift his trajectory, sending him tilting one way and then the other, but he embraced the feeling, letting himself be carried by the natural currents. Below, the world stretched out like a vast, painted landscape, its sprawling forests and winding rivers peaceful and still from this altitude. The contrast was surreal—the chaos of the wind against the serene beauty of the earth below.
He caught sight of Bella just a few yards away, her hair whipping wildly around her, framing her face in a dark, untamed halo. The look of pure exhilaration in her eyes mirrored his own. They were falling in the most unrestrained, reckless way he could imagine, plummeting downward with nothing but Bella's shield to catch them. Bella's laughter rang out, wild and free, carried off by the wind, and he found himself laughing with her, swept up in the sheer thrill of the moment.
As they descended closer to the tops of the trees, the landscape rushing up to meet them, Edward couldn't help but think back to Bella's words about "going splat." The ground was closing in fast now, every detail of the trees below sharpening, each leaf and branch taking form. The thought of crashing wasn't exactly inviting; plus he didn't relish the idea of meeting her father covered in dirt and debris either.
Just as the forest canopy loomed close, he looked over at Bella, and she gave him a quick, reassuring nod. A second later, he felt the familiar sensation of her shield enveloping him, a gentle but firm barrier that shifted his fall into a smooth, controlled glide. Their descent softened instantly, and they began to soar parallel to the treetops, catching every nuance of the forest below. The sunlight filtered through breaks in the canopy, casting dappled patches of gold that lit up the forest in a thousand shades of green and brown.
Daylight transformed everything around them, each detail brighter and more vivid than the midnight flight they had shared. Edward was captivated by the view, each sweeping stretch of trees below them alive with depth and texture, and the endless blue sky above adding a vastness he couldn't get enough of. He glanced over at Bella, and his dead heart surged at the sight of her. She was spinning in a tight, joyous spiral, her laughter echoing through the air as she twirled over and over, the pure delight radiating from her in waves.
I hope you enjoyed the buildup to Bella and Edward's romance. After their brief visit to Forks, they will finally go all the way... and boy, do they ever. I'm still fanning myself just thinking about it as I write this. As always, comments are appreciated—I really enjoy reading your thoughts and feedback.