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Chapter 24

Days of Grace

Bella

I awoke to loving kisses on my nape.

"Edward," I whispered happily, instantly feeling really good again.

"I love you so much, Isabella," he whispered tenderly in my ear, putting an arm around me and gently pulling me against his body.

But that was too little for me. I pushed his arm away, which obviously frustrated him.

But I just wanted to turn around and face him. So I put his arm around me again and snuggled up close to him, nestling my face against his chest.

"Edward, I love you too ... so much," I said.

He smiled happily.

I slid higher and kissed his dear mouth. He returned the kiss and it tingled all over my body with desire and longing for him.

My kiss became more demanding and he moaned as I began to stroke him.

"Isabella," he breathed tenderly, "if you don't stop, I'll fall all over you!"

Now I smiled.

"That's exactly what I would need right now," I whispered, sliding my hand inside his boxers.

I embraced his penis, which had already grown to its full size, and tenderly stroked it up and down.

Edward moaned with pleasure.

I slid down and kissed his best piece, sucked on it, circled its tip with my tongue and his increasing excitement let me get wetter too.o.

Edward tenderly stroked my head, my shoulders and gave himself completely to the feeling.

I sucked, he moaned, I rubbed up and down while stroking his testicles.

All of a sudden he tried to push me away.

"Please, darling, I'll get off right there. I'm sure you don't want that in your mouth," he said anxiously.

But I wanted, I wanted all of him and felt no disgust. I felt that he was a little worried about that, but I didn't let him irritate me and kept sucking until he really got off. I did not mind and enjoyed his emotional outbursts.

He gently pushed me away, pulled me up to him and looked at me.

I smiled at him and kissed his mouth, lying down next to him and caressing his chest.

"You really love me," he stated softly.

"Did you doubt it?", I asked a little indignantly.

"No, but I didn't think the feeling would be as intense with you as it is with me. I never thought any woman would ever do that for me willingly. You must love me."

I laughed.

"Yes, I already told you that. I certainly wouldn't have done it otherwise."

Tenderly he looked at me and then he kissed me passionately. All his love, his happiness and also his satisfaction lay in this kiss. I gasped for air.

"Oh ... what have I done to deserve you," he sighed and began to caress my body.

He nibbled my ear, kissed it, licked it until I squealed, kissed my neck, my shoulders, my breasts, my belly. Now I was moaning with pleasure. He slid between my legs, threw away the panties and kissed my vagina, sucked and sucked my clit.

"You are so wet and only because of me. You taste so good and smell like my Princess again," he said and his voice sounded husky with excitement.

He continued sucking and kissing my most intimate place, letting his fingers slide inside me, and I now gave myself completely to the beautiful feelings he triggered in me.

After a while I felt my orgasm approaching and Edward moaned enthusiastically as I came.

"That's good, sweetie," he said, thrusting his fingers further into me until I stopped quivering.

"Oh Edward," I moaned contentedly.

"Yes, my sweet, I'm here and all yours," he whispered, kissing my belly and giving me a quick breather.

When I had recovered a bit, he slid on top of me.

"Spread your legs for me, please," he whispered, and I did.

Quickly he penetrated me and I cried out.

Enthusiastically, he found a fast rhythm.

I clung to his arms and we looked at each other.

His gaze was so intense and full of love that I completely sank into it.

"Come again for me," he demanded with a moan.

"No, not yet," I said.

It was too early, I still wanted to enjoy it.

He smiled.

Beads of sweat formed between my breasts and I gasped with excitement.

Edward slipped a hand between us and began circling my clit with two fingers.

"This ... is ... unfair," I moaned between his violent thrusts, and he laughed.

"Come ... now ..., let ... it ... out," he demanded, gasping.

I whimpered and closed my eyes.

"No ... look ... at me!" he demanded.

Moaning lustfully, I looked at him and came.

It was as intense as a volcanic eruption.

I yelled out and he yelled, "YES!"

But then he pulled out of me and poured himself on my belly, slumping on top of me and kissing me hard.

"And what's the point?", I asked with a smile after the kiss, nodding at the mess between our bellies.

"We forgot the condom," he whispered in my ear, smiling.

"I see," I sighed. "It doesn't matter. We're getting married soon," I said, and he kissed me again.

Afterwards we showered together. He washed me devotedly and tenderly from top to bottom. I hugged him once very tightly afterwards.

"What did I do to deserve this?" he asked as he gently returned the hug.

"Because I'm so happy," I whispered.

He then hugged me tightly and kissed my forehead.

"I'm happy too and it will always stay that way now, my sugar!" he said.

"I hope so. It's so ... hmm ... coherent. I feel so safe with you ... at home. Oh God, what have you done to me?", I whispered and he looked at me lovingly.

"You did it to me. You transformed me. You are the fulfillment of my existence, Bella. Sei il grande amore della mia vita." (You are the great love of my life.)

I swallowed.

What a declaration of love.

We got dressed again, talked and played the piano and harp. (My Heart Will Go On – harp and piano)

In between, I had to lie down a bit every now and then, but I was fine.

Rose and Grace came to visit briefly. Grace had drawn me a picture which I hung over my bed.

Alec had sent me flowers again, which Edward was terribly upset about.

Then Jasper and Emmett came by and I was able to thank them personally.

"I'm glad we found you in time," Emmett said.

And Jasper said to Edward, "What's going to happen to the wolf now, anyway?"

I looked irritated.

"With the wolf? Jake?", I asked.

Edward looked at me.

"He's down in the dungeon. We took him with us."

"No," I breathed in horror!

"Yes, Your Highness," Jasper said gently, trying not to agitate me. "Dad also doctored him, and we also offer more than bread and water. Edward has been with him briefly every day, informing him of our Princess's poor health. Still, he deserves a proper punishment. We can't release him, because who knows what he'll think of next?"

I was shocked. He was here with us. I was uncomfortable with it.

Edward felt it and pulled me to him.

"Isabella, he took you against your will and ours. He harassed you, caused you physical harm, didn't listen to your wishes, and almost caused your death. I couldn't let him go. I was afraid that he would take advantage of you again and I had such hatred for him. Four days you suffered, four long days I suffered, we were separated and almost passed away from longing for each other. I ..."

I put my finger on his mouth.

"Edward, it's fine, it's okay, I can understand. I hate him. He can never make it up to me. But he's always been my best friend. I don't know if I can stand it if you punish him badly. How do you guys punish someone?", I asked.

"It varies," Emmett said, "depends on the offense. We can leave him in the dungeon eternal. We can inflict the same bruises on him that he inflicted on you and leave him without water or food for four days. We can put an ugly woman in his dungeon who kisses him by force and cuddles up to him at night against his will. We can whip him, cut off his balls ..."

I looked at him in horror, not knowing whether to cry or laugh.

Jasper snorted and Edward laughed too.

Emmett and his funny jokes.

I sighed.

"We can also lock him up with me for an hour, then the issue will be settled," Edward said, and he was serious about it.

"No ...", I said firmly.

Edward stroked my back and kissed me on my cheek.

"I told Seth that I would take revenge if you died. You survived, that was her luck. Bella, I swear to you, I would have wiped out all of La Push if you died because of that incident. I love you and no one ... no one should hurt you like that. Do you understand that?" he said.

I kissed him.

"Yes, but La Push is also home to young children and innocent women who can't help it if the pack leader is a libidinous idiot. Edward, we have each other again and Jake will never be able to do that again. I'll go to him … and talk with him."

Edward sucked in his breath in horror.

"I will do that, and I will see what he says and how he behaves. If he repents, we will give him his freedom. I will call Sue and Billy and let them know that YOU pardoned him at my request. They will appreciate it because no one will expect it. After all, he deserved a punishment. They will look at you as a gracious man of honor and give Jake a piece of your mind. He will be ordered never to come near our palace again, and certainly never to come near me. If he should disobey this order even once in his life, he will be destroyed immediately. Believe me, this is the most sensible and fair solution, for the innocent people in La Push who love Jake - and probably for me - that we can find."

The three men looked at me in silence.

"That was a true Queen speaking, Edward," Jasper was the first to quietly take the floor.

"You're too dear for this world, but I guess that's what makes you," Emmett said with a smile of approval.

Edward pulled me tightly against him and pressed his face against my chest.

"You're amazing, Isabella."

"Can I talk to him now?", I asked.

"Talk to who?" suddenly asked Carlisle, who stood smiling in the doorway.

"Hi ...", I said kindly.

He came to us and looked at me.

"You look good. I'm glad, Isabella!"

"Thank you, I have only you to thank for that," I said.

"No, your willpower and your love for Edward," he said.

I fell silent, embarrassed.

Jasper explained to his father what I had just said.

Carlisle eyed me and I looked away.

I was embarrassed.

"Let's go," he then said approvingly.

Edward put on my shoes and got me a cardigan. Then we went down together to the basement vaults of the palace, which I did not know yet.

Edward held me tightly by the hand.

It wasn't as bad down here as I had imagined. I guess I had too many feature films in my head. Everything was modern here.

We arrived in front of a heavy oak door, in front of which two guards stood - in the usual palace uniform. They bowed to us.

"Open the door," Carlisle said.

The right-hand man unlocked the door and we stepped into a bright, white-painted room. The ceiling was very very high, certainly 33 feets. At the top of the walls were barred windows that let in daylight. The room was clean, had a new-fashioned bed, a table, two chairs, paper and pen, a few books, a shelf and a small bathroom with a sink, toilet and shower.

Jake sat at the table and looked towards us. He stood up slowly.

We positioned ourselves in front of him, Edward took me tenderly in front of him, put his hands gently on my shoulders.

Jake eyed us in turn and his gaze stopped on me.

"We came because I wanted to talk to you," I began. "First of all, I have to say that this place is much more humanely than what you expected me to endure in this captivity last week."

Jake looked at me sadly and was silent.

"Jake, you abducted me from here against my will. You treated me badly, touched and kissed me against my will, you didn't listen to my pleas. I have suffered four days, not only from hunger and thirst, but especially from separation pain to my future husband, whom I love more than anything. He also suffered terribly for four days and almost perished from worrying about me, because he cannot imagine his life without me. I explained this to you several times, but you didn't care. That's why I hate you and you will never be my friend again."

He swallowed.

"You're right, I'm sorry, Bella," he said.

"In addition, however, you have also harmed all the other beings here who love me. My soon-to-be mother-in-law, my sisters-in-law, my niece. And not only that, you also hurt your tribe. No one could understand what you were thinking in doing that. They were not on your side. Even though they don't understand why I decided the way I did, they saw right away that you had no right to impose your will on me. So by doing that, you also hurt Sue and Seth and got them in trouble. When Edward found me, I was almost dead. My father-in-law could not guarantee that I would survive. Edward would have destroyed all your tribe if I died because of you. Do you realize that?"

Jake nodded, concerned.

"Jake, you are the chief of an entire people and you should act like it. I am sure that you will also find in a gentler way a woman who loves you, because I know only too well that you are basically a nice man. Only ... I am not your wife and never will be. I belong to Edward, forever."

He nodded again and I almost felt a little sorry for him.

"Jake, your offense - namely, kidnapping the Crown Princess - is punishable by death here."

He looked at me in horror and fear.

"You guys can't do that," he breathed.

"What do you have to say for yourself?", I asked.

"I'm sorry, Bella, you're right. It was wrong. It was a stupid knee-jerk reaction. But I don't know how to make it up to you," he said sadly.

And I believed him.

"You don't have to, Jake, because I never want to see you again. Still, I think it would be wrong to kill you. I used to like you and you've always been a good friend to me. Your father has only you left and Sue and Seth love you too, the wolves and your people need you. So I think, especially for the tribe of La Push, that we should let you go."

He looked at me in surprise.

"However, with conditions. You will never go near the Volturi estate again. You will never come near me again. And you will strive to be a good chief for your tribe. They deserve better than your knee-jerk reactions. If you ever come here or near me again, we will not hesitate to kill you."

Jake looked at me.

"Were you allowed to decide that?" he asked.

Carlisle answered for me.

"Isabella will marry my son and is therefore the Crown Princess of the Volturis. She is entitled to make decisions. We all would have killed you and certainly not let you go. But Princess Isabella apparently rules with kindness, foresight and love and we will not oppose that. You are lucky that she has such a thoughtful and kind nature. And you are certainly not worthy of her. Isabella, you never cease to surprise me. I am proud that you are part of our family."

He kissed me tenderly on the forehead and left the dungeon. The guards bowed.

"You can go, Jake," I said.

He nodded.

"Thank you, Bella, I will never forget this and will abide by your terms. If you ever need help, we will be there for you. And you can wear the bangle of the elders with pride and dignity. I'm ashamed of the fact that I'm not so worthy," he said, and he meant it.

I turned to Edward.

"Please carry me back. I can't anymore," I whispered and immediately he took me in his arms.

"I'll take her back to bed," he nodded to his brothers, who nodded at us in understanding.

"Thank you," I said, looking lovingly at Edward.

"I don't even know what I did to deserve a woman like you by my side," Edward said as we walked out, and there was awe and love for me in his gaze.