In the week leading up to Valentine's Day, Bella spent it trying to hound all the Cullen's into spilling what Carlisle had planned for her. All that anyone would tell her was that he'd planned a date for that Saturday. They wouldn't tell her where it was taking place, what time, nothing.

It was driving her insane.

Since being told about the date, she'd reiterated to Carlisle several times that she didn't like surprises. It didn't deter him. He remained tightlipped about it, even when she threatened to kick him out of her room that night if he didn't tell her, he held firm. Despite her threat, she hadn't had the heart to kick him out.

Friday was the first day she got some information on Carlisle's plans. Apparently, Carlisle had planned a weekend excursion that would require her to have a nice dress on hand, which meant Alice was having a field day trying to find her the perfect dress. They eventually settled on a shimmery strapless maroon dress that came to just above her knee. She wasn't thrilled about it being strapless, but it was this or the backless floor length gown with a slit up the thigh. It had looked amazing on her, but she didn't feel comfortable with that much skin showing.

Per Alice's instructions, she'd told Charlie she'd be staying the weekend at the Cullen house, though Charlie had been less than enthused that she'd be staying in the same house as her boyfriend. After multiple assurances that Esme would be home the whole weekend and she'd be sleeping in Alice's room, he had relented to the weekend.

So, there she was in Alice's Porche headed to the Cullen house, with no idea what Carlisle had planned for her. Alice and Edward both knew, but neither would give her a hint, claiming that Carlisle would skin them if they gave it away.

She didn't believe them.

Bella was well aware of Carlisle's pacificism and knew that yes, he might get upset but would never actually harm them. Watching the trees go by, she let her mind wander. Whatever he had planned would take the weekend, could he be wanting to spend the night together, would it be too soon for that? They'd only technically been together for two weeks, but then again if he wanted to, she'd be more than willing to participate. Mentally shaking her head, she pushed that thought away. Other than a chaste kiss now and then, they'd never had any intimate encounters, and she had a feeling he'd be a bit old-fashioned when it came to courting her. Plus, that didn't explain the need for a nice dress.

Sadly, that left her back at square one.

They turned onto the driveway, and she found herself smiling as they approached. Waiting for her was Carlisle leaning against his Mercedes. Affection almost flooded her through the bond as Alice came to a stop next to his car, and she let him help her out of the vehicle, before giving him a quick kiss. He opened the passenger door to his car, and she gave him a questioning look before climbing in. As she buckled, he retrieved her bag from Alice's car and placed it in the trunk.

When he finally climbed in, she couldn't stop herself. "Will you tell me now, what we're doing?"

With a mischievous smile, he started the car and started down the driveway. "We are going to Seattle. That's all your getting for now."

Giving him a harumph, she settled into her seat, a small smile on her face. As much as she wanted to know what he was up to, she really didn't care as long as they got to spend the time together. It wasn't long into the drive before she felt his hand reach over and settle over hers. Her smile widened as she turned her hand to lace their fingers together, her heart fluttering at the gesture.

It was a simple gesture, she knew that, and she knew she shouldn't be as giddy as she was for it, but she couldn't help it. She was eager for his affection and wanted to spend as much time with him as she possibly could. Whether that was the bond talking or just her natural desire for the god of a man next to her, she wasn't sure. Either way, she wanted him anyway she could get.

The first half of the drive they spent in comfortable silence. The second half, they spent discussing the books they were currently in the middle of reading, what music they liked, and what plays they found interesting. The last one had thrown her as she'd never thought too hard about plays before. She enjoyed them, sure, but if she had to pick a favorite she'd go with Romeo and Juliet. A grin spread across Carlisle's face at that, but he wouldn't elaborate on it.

They arrived in Seattle around 1 in the afternoon, the streets were bustling with pedestrians and cars everywhere you looked. Carlisle easily maneuvered through traffic until they came to the hotel entrance, and he pulled in. He hopped out, jogging over to her door and holding it open for her as a valet driver came over and unloaded their bags for them. Carlisle handed over his keys, taking both bags and leading her inside. The lobby had a sleek modern design with marble floors and dark wood walls and check-in desk. A chandelier hung over a seating area and everyone in the lobby was dressed in business attire and fancy dresses.

She felt sorely underdressed in her sweatshirt and jeans.

Seeming to sense her hesitation, Carlisle held out his hand to her, gently pulling her into his side as they approached the check-in desk. Bella watched the patrons of the hotel while Carlisle got them checked in. Thankfully no one seemed to be interested in her drab clothing and were instead transfixed by Carlisle. It wasn't until he'd received their room keys and took her hand that their eyes finally found her, their shock evident. It both made her happy and irritated at the same time.

As they waited for the elevator, she could hear murmuring from behind them but couldn't make out what they were saying. Carlisle, however, tensed slightly, his hand squeezing hers. His hand released her and for a moment, just a spilt second, she thought he was ashamed of being seen with her. That is, until he gently tipped her head up and kissed her for the whole lobby to see.

The elevator dinged and only then did Carlisle pull away, shooting an icy look over her shoulder to the gawking patrons. Taking her hand again, they entered the elevator, Carlisle pressed the button for their floor, the doors closed, and they were alone. She let out a slow breath, feeling herself finally relax. A quick glance at Carlisle, and she could tell he was still tense. Through the bond she could feel his agitation with an undertone of anger.

It surprised her to feel the anger from him, as he was normally very calm and collected, and rarely got riled up. It kind of made her wonder what they'd said to get under his skin. Then again, maybe she didn't want to know. Leaning closer, she hugged his arm to her chest, laying her head against his shoulder. In the reflection of the elevator doors, she could see him smile. The anger washed away, and she felt the tension ease out of him as they reached their floor.

He led her to their room, unlocking the door for them and holding it open for her. Inside there was a king-sized bed, sleek dark wood dresser and table, a decent sized tv and a plush looking couch. On the table there was a bouquet of roses, with several assortments of chocolates laid out around the vase, at the center of everything were two tickets. Curious, she glanced at Carlisle who nodded towards the table. Stepping closer she picked up the tickets and smiled. He'd gotten box seats to Romeo and Juliet, the tickets dated for that night.

His hands came to rest on her hips as he moved up behind her, his voice tinted with a hair of uncertainty. "I hope you like it."

"I can't believe you did all this, and for me." She breathed out in disbelief.

It was slight, but she felt him flinch, unease seeping from the bond. "Do you not like it?"

Setting the tickets down, she turned to face him, placing her hands on his chest. "I love it, but it's too much. You didn't have to do all this for me."

"I wanted out first Valentine's Day to be memorable, would you really deny me the opportunity to make today as special as possible?" His arms wrapped around her waist pulling her flush against him.

"I'm not one for fancy things; this all feels a little extravagant." Her arms moved to circle his midsection, her chin coming to rest on his chest. "I'll make an exception this time but promise not all our dates will be this pricey."

"I promise."

"Good." Bella pulled away from him, turning back to the table and selecting one of the chocolates. "Want to try one?"

He made a face of disgust. "Don't be gross."

Laughing, she popped it into her mouth, stifling a moan at the deliciousness of it, before moving to the window. They had a fantastic view of the skyline of the city, and she found herself leaning against the window trim watching the people and cars below.

"If you're up for it, there's a used bookstore around the corner I tend to frequent, we could go browsing." Carlisle offered, coming to stand next to her at the window.

Grinning, she nodded. "Sounds like fun, let's go."

Grabbing his hand, she pulled him towards the door as he chuckled at her antics. They walked hand in hand to the bookstore, Bella loving that they didn't have to hide their relationship. Sure, they got the occasional look, but she was able to brush it off, especially when she'd glance at Carlisle and find him smiling down at her. They arrived at the bookstore and Bella couldn't help herself and eagerly started browsing through the many books filling the shelves. Her fingers lightly traced the spines as she searched for anything that caught her eye.

Losing all track of time, Bella had found several books, one by her favorite author Jane Austen that she hadn't read yet. It was then she realized she'd lost Carlisle at some point, so with her small stack of books she went in search of him. Thankfully it didn't take long for her to find him, his nose buried in a medical textbook.

"Gangon's Review of Medical Phycology?" She read the title out loud, confused why he would have a medical textbook.

"Yeah, it looked interesting, so I thought I'd give it a try." Seeing the confusion on her face he chuckled and continued. "I might have forgotten to mention that I'm normally a doctor, I just decided to teach this time around."

She hummed trying out the title. "Dr. Cullen, that has a nice ring to it."

A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. "We'll have to play doctor some time."

Biting her bottom lip to suppress her giggle she gave him a once over. "I don't know, I hear doctors make the worst patients. Might ruin my fun if my patient isn't cooperative."

His eyes darkened a shade, sending a shiver down her spine, heat pooling low in her stomach. "I'm sure you could convince me to behave." He stepped closer, guiding her till her back pressed against the shelves. Loaming over her, his voice came out as a low growl. "You'd look amazing in my doctor's jacket, and only that."

One of his arms came to rest on the shelf by her head, his scent wafting over her as she gazed into his hungry eyes, making her whine softly. The image of her in his doctor's jacket, naked under it for him, sounded incredibly appealing. With her free hand she ran her hand up his hard chest, over his shoulder to cup the back of his neck as she stood on her toes to kiss him. He hungerly devoured her lips, forcing a moan out of her as she arched into him as she kissed back with the same fervent desire.

From down the aisle someone cleared their throat loudly, snapping them both back to reality and forcing them apart. Bella felt her face light up in embarrassment, forcing her to hide in his chest as he chuckled.

"Maybe we should get going." He suggested turning her towards the checkout counter.

Following him, he took the books she'd found and paid for them before they headed back to the hotel room. Bella felt herself buzzing from the kiss the whole way back to the hotel room and once they were inside and Carlisle had set the bag with their books down, she gripped his hips and forced him backwards until his legs hit the bed. With a little push he was forced back onto the bed with a little chuckle. Grinning down at him as he situated himself to a seated position, she straddled his lap as his hands gripped her hips to keep her steady. Holding onto his shoulders she descended on him kissing him with the same passion he'd kissed her with in the bookstore.

Their lips moved together in a perfect dance against each other, Bella's hands moving to Carlisle's hair. Burying her fingers into his silky locks she ran her fingers over his scalp earning her a moan from him. His hands toyed with the hem of her shirt for a moment before his fingers slipped under her shirt, cold fingers trailing up her back. Her body shuddered at his cold touch compared to her burning skin, and he started to pull away. Her hands shot down to his, silently encouraged him to keep going, not willing to break the kiss.

Carlisle's hands trailed up her back, her own hands unzipping her hoodie and dropping it to the floor. His large hands kneaded and traced every inch of her back pulling little mewls from her as her hands roamed over his broad chest to his shoulders. Wanting to taste him, she licked his bottom lip asking for permission, and when he opened her tongue dove in to explore him. He responded just as eagerly, their tongues mingling together as they tasted each other. Heat pooled between her legs as her desire for him built.

When she needed to breathe, she pulled away, both breathless. Carlisle kissed her jaw moving to her neck where he sucked lightly at her skin, her head naturally falling to the side to allow him more access. His hands paused having dropped back to her hips, so she laid her hands over his and guided them up her stomach to her breasts.

"Bella." Carlisle groaned as his hands cupped her breasts, giving them a gentle squeeze.

The sound of her name on his lips sounded divine, her arousal continuing to build. Needing to feel him, she rolled her hips, grinding her core against his thigh. Shifting, she rolled her hips again, this time grinding down over his hardened length, sending jolts of pleasure through her. Carlisle hissed, his hands gripping her hips and sliding her back down his thigh.

Confused, she stilled, watching his pinched expression as he seemed to be struggling with something. "Carlisle?"

"I'm sorry, Bella, I…I need to stop." Embarrassment flooded his face, and if he could she imagined he'd be blushing a deep red right now.

"Did I do something wrong?" She worried, he'd clearly been liking it judging by the sizeable bulge she'd felt in his pants, what could she have done to make him stop.

"No, sweetheart." Carlisle sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I enjoyed it, a lot, but tonight wasn't meant to get your clothes off."

"I know." Bella wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers tangled in the hair at the back of his head. "That doesn't mean we can't have a little extra fun."

She tried to lean in to kiss him, but he rolled them, so she was on the bed and stepped away from her. "Not tonight."

Frowning she got up, feeling hurt. "I don't understand. Do you not want me? Am I not enough?"

Carlisle looked ashamed and when she reached out through the bond, she was surprised to realize the shame he felt was directed at himself. "Of course I want you. Your perfect Bella, but I don't trust myself to not hurt you. I…I've never…"

Tilting her head, she waited for him to finish, but the shame just built, and he turned away from her. Reaching up, she cupped his face in her hand, turning him to face her. "It's ok, you can tell me anything."

"I've never…laid with a woman." His gaze dropped, settling on the floor. "That's why I don't trust myself, I don't have…experience…to guide me in this. If I ever hurt you because I got overly excited, I'd never forgive myself."

Blinking, she stared at him for a moment in shock. She hadn't expected that. It was kind of sweet. It also made her feel bad that in all his years he'd had to watch others being intimate and never know the joys of it. She wondered if this meant he wouldn't want to try then because she was human and fragile, he already said he was afraid of hurting her.

Biting her lower lip, she thought about how much that would suck to have to wait 5 years to be with the man. She'd do it if he asked her, but she wouldn't be happy about it. Especially since now, she wanted to teach him about the joys of the flesh, assuming he'd let her.

Carlisle moved to step away from her, and she realized he likely took her silence as a bad thing. Slipping her arms around his waist she hugged him tightly. "It's ok. I don't mind that you're a virgin."

He flinched at the word virgin. "It doesn't bother you?"

"It was a surprise for sure, but it doesn't make me care about you any less. In fact, it makes me want to be the one to teach you the joys of sex."

His arms wrapped around her. "I'd like that, but be patient with me, sweetheart. I may know the mechanics of intimacy but as I mentioned, I can't lose control with you."

Bella nodded. "I understand, but we can still try now and then, right?"

Carlisle's chuckle was light, and it made her smile, the shame from before having dissipated. "Yes, we can still try, but not right now. We should get ready to go or we'll miss our dinner reservation."

Smiling, she pulled away to go to her bag to get what she needed. "If you'd like you can shower first."

"You wouldn't mind?"

Shaking her head she smiled. "I'll probably take longer than you so it's fine, go ahead."

With a quick peck on the lips, Carlisle disappeared into the bathroom. While he showered, she gathered her dress, makeup and hair supplies, and set them on the bed and waited. She had wanted to tease Carlisle about sharing the shower, but had thought better of it, figuring that it might be pushing it. She hadn't lied when she said she didn't care that he was a virgin, but it was an interesting surprise and now made her a little unsure of what the boundaries were. She decided she'd ask him after the play, she wanted to make sure they were open with each other when it came to this. The last thing she wanted was to push him and make him be uncomfortable with trying again.

Chewing on her bottom lip, she got so distracted by her thoughts that she didn't notice Carlisle coming back into the room until cold fingers gently pried her lip from between her teeth. "You're going to bleed if you chew any harder."

A light blush creeped into her cheeks. "Sorry, was thinking." Her eyes focused on him, and she nearly whined in want.

Standing in front of her was a half-naked, perfectly sculpted adonis of a man. His hair damp and hanging down just above his eyes, he smelled slightly of floral soap and shampoo, which was a stark contrast to his normal spicy scent that she loved so much, and he was wearing only a towel hanging dangerously low on his hips. There was a light patch of golden curls that trailed down under the towel, and she so badly wanted to follow it.

"Bella?"

Blinking, she brought her eyes up to meet his, an amused glint in his eyes. Pouting like a petulant child, she crossed her arms over her chest. "Not fair. You say you want to go slow then you temped me like this."

"Have to keep you interested somehow." Carlisle chuckled leaning in till his lips brushed against her ear. "I could wear nothing instead."

A full body shudder ran through her as her mind supplied images of him naked, her face felt like it was on fire. She wanted to see it, and since he felt the need to tease her, she decided to tease him right back. Reaching out, she tried to snag the towel from around his waist, but his hand caught hers just as her fingertips curled around the top of the towel.

"Nice try." Carlisle stepped away, one hand keeping a firm hold on his towel, and a smirk on his lips. "You should go get ready and we'll head out."

"Tease." She stood and grabbed her stuff and headed into the bathroom.

Bella took her time showering and doing her hair before dressing and attempting to do her make up like Alice had shown her. When she was confident that she didn't look like a clown she double-checked her hair before stepping out of the bathroom. Carlisle was standing by the bed buttoning the cuffs of his white dress shirt, his hair styled in his normal slicked back style, and looking damn good in those black dress pants. She took a moment to admire him. It still felt like a dream that she was even here with him.

Padding softly over to him, sure that he knew she was coming, she wrapped her arms around his middle laying her head against the back of his shoulders. It smelled like he'd just put on his cologne, so it was nice and strong. Humming she breathed in his scent, trying not to get her make up on his clean shirt as she nestled against his back.

Carlisle chuckled, his cold hands coming to rest over hers. "Are you trying to distract me?"

Humming, she shook her head. "More like you distracted me. How can I not be distracted when you look and smell so damn good."

"My apologies." She could hear the smile on his face. "I'll try to be less distracting."

"Don't you dare change a thing." She poked him in the side. "I like you the way you are."

Pulling away from him, she went to collect her shoes from her bag and nearly cursed. She'd packed some nice shoes that were flat and safe, but apparently when her back was turned Alice had taken them out and replaced them with heels. Turning to Carlisle, she sighed holding the offending shoes up.

"Alice." They said together.

Sitting down, she slipped the shoes on, praying silently that she wouldn't fall. Carlisle slipped on his suit jacket and grabbed his wallet and helped her to her feet. "You look stunning."

Blushing, she thanked him and followed him down to the lobby. Carlisle helped her into the car when the valet brought it for them and soon, they were parked outside a very fancy looking restaurant, and she gulped audibly. She'd never been to a fancy place like this and wasn't even sure if there were special rules like she'd seen in movies. Carlisle turned her towards a smaller building nearly hidden by the restaurant and led her towards it.

As they reached the door, she realized it was a little family-owned hole in the wall restaurant. A smile spread across her face, she much preferred this to a fancy restaurant. The waitress led them to a little table and handed them menus almost completely ignoring Bella's presence as she focused on Carlisle. She couldn't blame the woman, Carlisle was captivating.

"How did you find this place?" Bella asked as she looked over the menu.

Carlisle grinned a sly little smile. "A small, short haired young woman that has visions and likes to meddle might have had a hand in helping me with this."

Laughing, she set the menu down having decided on the grilled chicken sandwich. "We could have gone through a drive thru or something, then you wouldn't have to pretend to eat."

"I don't mind, it's fun watching you enjoy your food."

The waitress came back with glasses of water for them and took their orders. Bella was genuinely curious how he was going to make it look like he was eating without actually eating. While they waited for their food, they chatted about the books they'd picked up earlier that day. Carlisle told her about the information he'd gleaned from the medical book so far with an excited glint to his eyes. It was really cute seeing him so excited about the topic and she let him ramble on a bit about it, enjoying the sound of his voice.

Their food arrived while he was explaining some medical theories that were way over her head, but she still smiled. After a while, he seemed to realize he'd been talking for a while, and fell quiet, picking at his plate with a hint of embarrassment. With a smile, she reached over and took his hand.

"It's ok, I was enjoying listening to you." She smiled earnestly.

He squeezed her hand. "I'm sure you'd rather listen to something other than boring medical theories."

"It's a bit over my head, but it was fun watching you look so excited over it."

"I do get a bit over excited about medical journals and new theories and techniques. It's a bit of a passion project for me, but we can talk about something else for now. I'll bore you later." He smiled, slipping some of his food onto her plate.

She chuckled at him. "Is that how you're going to pretend to eat?"

"It's one way." He grinned at her. "Another way is to hide it in a napkin."

Shaking her head, she ate the bite he'd slipped her. "Seems like a waste."

"Why we try to avoid gatherings that serve food. We buy groceries every two weeks for appearances, but we donate the food, so it doesn't go bad."

"Really?" Thinking about it, she realized it made sense why they seemed to have food in the house when she'd come over even though they didn't eat. "I suppose that makes sense; it would be weird if no one ever saw you buying food."

"I've also been swapping our water glasses, so it looks like I'm drinking it."

Bella blinked at him before looking down at her their glasses, she hadn't even noticed him doing it but both glasses had clearly been drunk from. "Clever. I didn't even notice."

"Good, means the illusion is working."

Smiling, she stole a bite off his plate now and then as she worked through her sandwich, until she was full. The waitress offered to box up their leftovers, but Carlisle turned it down as he paid for the meal. They headed back to the car and soon they arrived at the theatre, Carlisle letting the valet take his car as he escorted her inside. The lobby was beautiful, Carlisle letting her know it was done up in the art deco style, as they followed the crowd of people towards the theatre doors. He led her to a private box, and they settled into their seats while the theatre slowly filled up.

"This place is amazing. Are these tickets expensive? Maybe I could help pay you back for it?" She shifted nervously, feeling uncomfortable again at the money he likely spent on this whole event.

Carlisle took her hand, kissing the back of it. "You're not paying me back, and the box is prepaid for. Sometimes I use it, sometimes Edward and Esme, and on a rare occasion Alice and Jasper use it. You're just giving me a reason to use it today. Also, you need to remember I have several centuries of money saved up, and a prescient daughter/sister that can help with investments in the stock market."

Bella sighed. "You're going to teach me to allow you to spoil me, aren't you?"

He laughed, squeezing her hand. "No, I promised you I wouldn't make all our dates like this. I also wouldn't want to force you to except my money if you really didn't want it. Just know that if you ever need anything, I'm more than happy to help you with it."

Turning to look up at him, she asked the question that had been stewing in her brain. "So, you'd be ok if I worked then to make my own money?"

"Of course."

Wrapping her arms around his arm, she laid her head on his shoulder. "You're really one of a kind. You're old-fashioned but also modern. It's a nice combination."

His cheek came to rest on top of her head. "I'm glad you approve. I just want you to be happy, so if I do overstep, please tell me."

"You won't be mad if I do tell you to back off on something?"

"Never, I may offer an explanation as to why I do whatever it is, but if it truly bothers you, I'll do my best to avoid that behavior."

Tilting her head up, she kissed his cheek. "You're too nice to me."

His fingers interlaced with hers, a strange feeling coming through the bond. It was like a warm little flame burning from Carlisle's side of the bond and she wanted to reach out to touch it, but was worried it would shy away from her. The flame flickered in the recess of the darkness and after a moment, it seemed to fade away as the lights of the theatre lowered.

The first few acts, they sat in silence watching the production. Bella stayed leaning against Carlisle's shoulder, hugging his arm and holding his hand. She was thoroughly enjoying the play, the troupe did a good job portraying all the characters and even though she'd seen and read the story many times, she still found herself getting engrossed by the retelling. Around the end of the 3rd act, Carlisle gently pulled out of her grip, making her pout. That is, until his jacket was placed around her shoulders.

It was only then she realized she was freezing.

The combination of the chilly air in the theatre and Carlisle's colder temp had started to affect her. Shivering, she slipped her arms into the oversized sleeves and pulled the material tighter around her much smaller frame. How she hadn't noticed she was cold, she had no idea, but she knew now. It didn't take long for her to warm up and she quickly found herself wanting to be cuddled up to Carlisle again. Glancing as inconspicuously as she could towards him, she found he'd shifted away from her, likely to keep his naturally colder temperature away from her, but it still saddened her.

Fiddling with the ends of the jacket's sleeves, she wondered how to get him to move closer again, not even paying attention to the play anymore. After a few minutes, she decided to be bold and go after what she wanted. Standing, she nibbled her bottom lip as Carlisle looked at her with a questioning glance before she gingerly sat down on his lap. She caught the flash of a smile as he shifted her so they were both comfortable and she could still see the play, his arms wrapping around her and holding her close.

For a moment, she closed her eyes, and she just relished the feel of him holding her. Her head resting against his shoulder, his cheek against the side of her head, his thumb caressing the back of her hand. It was all so perfect, and she couldn't believe she was here with him. It all felt like a dream that she would wake up from at any moment. Reaching a hand up, she cupped the side of his face, a low hum vibrating his chest. He turned slightly and kissed her wrist over her pulse point as her fingers traced his features, trying to memorize everything about him.

If it was a dream, she'd make sure it lasted down to the last detail.

Despite her love of the play being performed below, her attention now was only for the man behind her. Opening her eyes, she sat up so she could face Carlisle, her other hand coming to join her other hand as she slowly mapped out his face. He said nothing, just watching her with a curious expression as her fingers traced along his jaw, his lips, his nose, the edges of his golden eyes, and up to his hair. He really was perfect in every way.

As her hands finished their exploration, they came to rest against his chest, her head dipping a little from embarrassment for her actions. Carlisle's thumb and finger gently gripped her chin lifting her head to face him, his thumb running over her bottom lip, and his eyes full of what she could only describe as love. It hit her like a brick through a glass window then. She knew she was in love with the man, but she'd doubted that he loved her.

The flickering light from before re-appeared in the bond, and this time she reached out to grasp it. Almost instantly she was overwhelmed by the love she felt pouring from the man in front of her. Love that he'd held onto for centuries, waiting, just for her.

Tears filled her eyes as she leaned in, and in a voice so soft only he'd hear; she whispered the words she'd wanted to say since his study. "I love you."

In that moment, all the insecurities she could feel from him, the loneliness that still hung heavy on his shoulders all seemed to drop away, leaving only his love and adoration for her. "I love you too, my sweet Bella."

With the play forgotten, their lips came together in a tender embrace. It started slowly with gentle kisses, and little murmurs of affection between them, but it soon grew more heated as their desire for the other grew. Remembering Carlisle's request to go slowly, Bella was tempted to pull back, concerned she might overstep his boundaries, but through the bond, she could feel his desire for her burning as hot as her own.

"Carlisle." She panted out as she rose long enough to straddle his thighs, the skirt of her dress rising up her thighs. "Shouldn't we stop…I don't…want to push you."

She could feel his smile against her lips as he continued to kiss her. "Probably."

When his hands dipped under her the hem of her dress, she found herself returning his smile. "We're not going to, are we?"

"Not yet." He growled out, as his hands gripped her hips hard.

Needing some kind of friction on her aching core, she shifted over one of his thighs and ground her hips down against him. She let out a soft moan, her head falling back as she did it again, pleasure pulsing through her. Carlisle took the opportunity to move down to her neck, sucking and kissing down her throat to her panting chest. His hands guided her hips, grinding her harder against him.

She had to bite her lower lip to keep from moaning too loudly as she rocked against him, her panties soaked with her juices and likely causing a wet patch on Carlisle's thigh. The thought only turned her on more, knowing he didn't care that she might be ruining his slacks as she shamelessly rode his thigh. As she continued to ride him, one of her hands stayed buried in his soft golden hair, while her other roamed over his chest, wishing she could feel more of him.

Carlisle's fingers dug a little harder into her hips, she was almost certain she'd bruise from it, but it felt good, and she wouldn't dare tell him to stop now. Riding him faster, she could feel her release building, her breath coming out as pants as her hands fisted his hair and shirt.

"Carlisle…I'm close…almost…" She gasped, her hips starting to jerk as the coil inside her tightened and tightened until she was sure it would snap at any moment.

He pulled away from her neck, his eyes hungry and full of lust. "Come for me, sweetheart."

Crashing their lips together, she came moaning into his mouth, her body shuddering and spasming against his hard frame as she rode through her orgasm. As she came down, her body occasionally twitching as she came back to herself, Carlisle's lips continued to move against her, grounding her. Pulling away so she could catch her breath, she leaned her forehead against his, letting her eyes close as her body buzzed pleasantly.

Carlisle's grip on her hips loosened, and trailed down her thighs in a soothing gesture, before lifting her pliant body and settling her so she was cradled against his chest. Under her, she could feel his straining arousal, and guilt began to flood her, ruining her pleasant buzz. Tilting her head up, she met his gaze.

"What about you?"

His smile was gentle as his fingers brushed against her cheek. "I'm fine, sweetheart."

She wanted to be stubborn, to ask why she wasn't allowed to get him off too, but before she could he placed a finger over her lips shushing her.

"We can try soon, but not here. I already took a risk tonight allowing what we just did, I'm not willing to do it a second time for my own pleasure. Besides, seeing you was satisfying enough for me, and I want to enjoy this moment with you."

Deciding not to fight him on it, she nodded and relaxed against him. Letting her eyes close, she listened to the last act of the play, nearly falling asleep in his arms. His scent surrounding her, his arms holding her close and his jacket keeping her warm. It was the perfect combination to lull her into sleep. When the audience applauded at the end of the play, she finally opened her eyes with a little frown. Carlisle made no move to get up, instead letting the majority of the theatre empty before kissing the top of her head.

"Want me to carry you?" He offered.

Shaking her head with a little grumble. "No, I'm awake, I can walk, but I'm keeping your jacket."

"That's fine, let's get you back to the hotel."

Carlisle helped her to her feet and led her out to the valet, helping her into the car. It was a short drive to the hotel and soon they were back in their room as she let out a yawn. It was only once they were back in the room that she finally relinquished his jacket, though she missed his scent almost immediately. Grabbing her pajamas, consisting of short shorts and a t-shirt, she slipped into the bathroom to remove her makeup and change.

When she came back out, Carlisle had changed into sweats and a t-shirt and was busy pulling the blankets back on the bed and positioning the pillows. As she approached, he motioned her to the side he'd just been prepping with a smile. She noticed he was positioning her closest to the room's heat source, which she could hear running. Smiling, she climbed into bed as he moved to turn off the lights and climbed onto the bed next to her, staying above the covers.

"Not going to climb under with me?" Bella teased as she waited for him to settle before moving closer to him.

"You'll stay warmer if I don't. I don't want you to get sick." He tucked her in as she settled against him.

"Be worth it." She mumbled, her eyes already drooping.

She could hear his smile as his hand gently brushed her hair back. "Sleep, love."

Humming, she drifted off to sleep. When she woke up, she was alone in bed. For a moment, she was confused as to where he'd gone, but then she heard the shower running and relaxed back into bed. Drifting into a light sleep, she was roused sometime later by cool lips pressing against her forehead. Her eyes fluttered open to find a freshly showered Carlisle, hair still slightly damp and tussled, with a smile on his face.

"I ordered you some breakfast if you're hungry."

Her stomach growled at the prospect of food, and she slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Sounds good. Thank you."

He brought over the plate of eggs, bacon, sausage and toast and a glass of orange juice, which he set on the nightstand. She happily dug into her food, making a breakfast sandwich out of the bits of food. Once she'd finished off the food and her juice, Carlisle took the dishes and placed them on the table for the hotel staff to collect later. Climbing out of bed, she stretched before she headed towards the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day.

As she showered, she noticed little bruises on her hips and couldn't help but smile. They didn't hurt, and frankly, it excited her knowing he'd marked her. The question now was how Carlisle would take to having bruised her. Licking her lips, she debated between hiding them or being honest about them and that she liked it. Once she'd finished brushing her teeth, she'd decided on the latter of the two. Slipping on her bra and panties, nothing fancy as she didn't own anything fancy, she walked out of the bathroom, her face bright red as she walked around the corner towards her bag.

Lust and desire flared from the bond, and she could almost hear Carlisle's self-control cracking. "And you called me a tease."

Grinning to herself, she pulled out a shirt and jeans for the day. Cool hands found her hips, his fingers tracing the bruises he'd left on her. The lust and desire were gone in an instant replaced by guilt and shame. Turning around, she laid her hands over his, pressing his palms against her skin.

"Don't do that. I'm showing you on purpose because I'm not ashamed of them. Even if you weren't a vampire, you could bruise me, and if I'm honest, these kinds of bruises I don't mind. They remind me of a pleasurable time with my boyfriend, and I expect it will happen again as I tend to bruise easily. You never hurt me; I promise you if you did, I would tell you."

There was unease in his eyes as they flicked from her bruised hips to her eyes. "You're sure you're ok with this? I didn't hurt you?"

Nodding, she stood on her tip toes and kissed him. "Yes, I'm perfectly fine. They don't hurt, and you didn't hurt me last night."

"If you're sure, I will do my best to not worry then. I will try to be more careful next time though."

She smiled patting his chest. "I'll take it. Now what's on the agenda for today?"

Turning, she grabbed her clothes and started to dress. She got as far as getting her pants on, when Carlisle gently pulled her hair away from her bare shoulder, laying a kiss to the skin there. His hands returned to her hips, pulling her back against him. She hummed, loving how well she fit against him.

"We could sight see for a while, though we'll have to start heading home around noon. I don't want to worry Charlie by keeping you too late." One of Carlisle's hands came up to trace along the underside of her bra, tickling her skin. "Or we could stay here until check out, then head home."

"Will you let me touch you if we stay?" His hands stilled and his body tensed. It was all she needed to know. Pulling out of his grasp she donned her shirt and pulled on her hoodie. "Let's head back, I'm sure Alice is dying to know how things went, assuming she doesn't already know."

Carlisle didn't argue as he went to pack up his things. Bella stashed the chocolates he'd gotten her in her bag, and once ready they headed down to the lobby. She waited while he checked them out, and about half an hour later they were leaving Seattle. While they drove, she ruminated on why Carlisle seemed so against her reciprocating in their sexual activities. He'd been fine touching her, judging from their little tryst at the theatre, so why couldn't she touch him.

About an hour into the drive back, Bella had hyped herself up enough to confront him about it. "Carlisle, why won't you let me touch you?"

He sighed softly, running a hand over his face. "The honest answer, because I almost crushed you. When you ground against me, my instincts said to grab you and hold you close with all my strength, and I almost did."

Reaching over the console she took his hand, lacing their fingers together. "But you didn't. You stopped yourself."

"If I hadn't…if I'd given in to my desire…" His hand squeezed hers, the fear he felt at the idea of harming her evident on his face.

"Then why take the risk at the theatre? You had a chance to stop, but you didn't."

"I'm still a man, Bella. Nothing pleases me more than to see you happy, to give you what you want, and in that moment, I wanted to pleasure you. So, I took a calculated risk." Carlisle looked conflicted, his other hand gripping the steering wheel tighter. "I want you, more than I can put into words. It's hard, fighting my instincts with you, but I'm trying. I just need you to be patient with me, I hope you can understand."

Falling silent, she considered his words.

On the one hand, she did understand. He was a vampire after all, he had superhuman strength and could easily hurt her with a flick of the wrist. On the other hand, he'd shown he has the restraint to not hurt her, so why continue to push her away. It was just like before, when he would pull her in, but then keep her at arm's length. She wanted to understand, but she didn't, not fully. He told her he wanted her, but his actions said otherwise. It was all a confusing mess, and worse, she couldn't get what Jessica said out of her head. If he wouldn't let her please him physically, what else could she do?

Were they destined to keep doing this over and over. Pulling her hand out of his, she spent the rest of the drive wondering what kind of future they could have if this was going to be their pattern. Would there even be a future. Would things change when she was a vampire, would he be less inclined to pull away, could she really wait that long.

When they arrived back at the Cullen house, Alice greeted her with a big hug and offered to take her home so they could talk without eavesdroppers. Bella spent the drive telling her how much she'd enjoyed the trip, leaving out the turmoil at the end, and thanked the girl for helping Carlisle set it up. Once home, she headed to her room after a quick hello to Charlie, and worked on homework till it was time for bed.

For some reason, Carlisle didn't show up that night.