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Prelude	By : belladonnacullen Category: Twilight Series > Het > Bella/Edward Views: 5838 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or make any money from this story.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Edward stayed with me each night, but there were boundaries, as he had warned. I knew it was difficult for him, I couldn't imagine how hard. I couldn't imagine any force bigger than the one that was raging in my own body, the desire to have him completely. I hoped that I wasn't only torturing Edward, and that he enjoyed this as well. I hoped that this might make it easier for him, not more difficult. So I didn't push, I tried desperately to hold back and work within the limits of what he could safely handle. I owed him that much.
But each night Edward drove me wild with desire. He was gentle, always handling me tenderly, perhaps overly careful not to hurt me. But his attention was complete, like there was nothing in the room except him and I. He would move slowly over my skin, with his hands, with his mouth. I swear he was studying me, watching what would happen. This drove me wild. But I held back. He could spend twenty minutes enjoying the effect he had on my nipple, and I would die a small death, shuddering, gasping, and hoping for more as his hand and mouth worked their magic there. Trying to be good. Trying not to pull his hand down between my legs. Trying to respect his boundaries. If I showed the slightest sign of being cold, I was often wrapped like a caterpillar in a cocoon. But that didn't stop him from searching out my skin underneath the blanket. He never left, no matter my response.

I wanted to think Edward looked forward to our nightly wedding preparations as much as I did. I wanted to think that he desired me as much as I desired him. I could almost believe it, except that it was Edward that always held back. Something I could never do on my own. Each night when I opened my door he was by my side in an instant. Often he was already in a state of semi-undress, hungry to press his cold skin into mine. Tonight was no different. I fell into his arms almost before the door was safely shut behind us.
He smiled down at me, a playful and pleading look in his eyes. His eyes were always golden caramel lately, hunting often to make sure to keep his thirst at bay. "How is it possible that after each night together I only want you more?" he asked.
"For me too," I said as I softly kissed his waiting lips. "Maybe because each night is always to be continued. Like our own personal One Thousand and One Arabian Nights."
"Is marrying me so distasteful, that you would compare it to Scheherazade's impending death?" I knew he was joking, but there was an edge to his voice.
I put my hands on Edward's shoulders and looked him square in the face to convey the serious undertone to the joke at hand. "I was talking about how each night Scheherazade spent with her husband allowed her to avert death in the end. How each night you spend in this room with me is laying the groundwork for our eternity together."
He looked at me like he was trying to figure something out, a new softness in his eyes. "This is one of those times when I wish I could hear what you're thinking. How could you know that?"
I didn't completely understand, and searched his face for some indication of what he might mean.
But his tone changed and he smiled. "Scheherazade is hardly a perfect comparison," he quipped.
"Has there ever been a perfect comparison for you and I?"
"No, I don't suppose there has. So what story do you have in store for me tonight my love?"
I trailed both hands from his shoulders over his marble chest and let them rest on his hips. Grasping there I pulled my body against his and I felt a ripple run through his frame. "Seeing as how you can't read my thoughts, I suppose tonight it's a mystery," I chuckled playfully.
"You are always a mystery to me, but one that I'm unraveling slowly, over time."
"Too slowly for my taste," I teased. But I certainly felt somewhat unraveled in his arms as he knotted his hands in my hair and pulled my face to his. His kisses began softly and then grew in intensity as his mouth sought out my ear lobe, my neck and my collarbone. Then with his tongue he lightly traced a path back to my lips. My mouth was poised and ready and greeted his warmly. Our lips parted and I breathed in his scent as our tongues met.
As always, the force or our passion was too much for me. The room suddenly swam and my knees buckled slightly. Edward's arms were instantly around my waist holding me up. I noticed him hesitate for a split second. Each night his pauses were becoming fewer and farther between. Most humans wouldn't notice it at all anymore. But I was completely attuned to him. My breath caught in my throat as I braced for his next move. I knew he was steeling himself to continue.
Then one of his hands moved from my hip, following the edge of my pajama bottoms, until it paused on the drawstrings in front. His hands knotted through the cotton strings, breathing deeply through his nose, his eyes closed. Then his eyes fluttered open and through lids heavy with desire I could see the depth and intensity that was barely held there. He bit his bottom lip. "Is this OK?"
It was all I could do to look him in the eyes and shake my head yes. I couldn't have moved another muscle.
And without another movement the drawstrings on my pants were undone, and they rested lower on my hips. Edward's cold hands moved down to meet them, and he lightly traced a path along their edge. I felt pricks of electricity erupt in response to his touch. I was holding my breath. He pushed my pants a little lower, and he found the waistband of my cotton underwear. He bit his lower lip again. I knew that all it would take was the slightest movement and my pants would fall to the floor. But I was stuck firmly in place, unable to move.
"You're sure?"
I remembered to breathe. "Are you?"
And my pajama bottoms were on the floor at my ankles. Edward's cold hands traced the top edge of my cotton underpants, and then along their seam where my thighs met my bottom. I shivered, but not from the cold, and I worked to steady myself so that Edward didn't flee for a blanket. So I grasped his shoulders more firmly and pulled myself into him for support. His hand gently grasped my bottom and he took a deep breath. Then he moved his hand to the back of my thigh. "I missed the feel of your legs," he said. "I haven't felt them since that night." I stood patiently as he took his time tracing a line from the back of my knee to the edge of my panties. Back and forth, over and over, eliciting sparks that travelled to my toes, and between my legs. My breathing started to turn to heavy sighs and with the arm that held my waist he pulled me in a little more.
"Am I still going too slowly for you?" he murmured. "Somehow I'm not getting that impression."
Still supporting my weight with one hand around my waist, the other moved across my behind, to my hip and then down along the length of my thigh. With one small motion he lifted me off the floor and brought my body firmly against his. I wound my legs around his waist and pressed myself as closely as I dared. I wanted to take full advantage of this closeness, because this was one of his limits. I knew it would be only a matter of seconds before Edward pulled away.
I pushed my hips into his, and wrapped my legs around him tighter. While Edward's grasp remained gentle, his kisses grew in intensity until I was gasping for air. Again I suppressed a shudder. Electricity ran through my limbs, starting at the points where his hands touched me, on my waist, on the back of my thigh. I took full advantage of this unusual closeness, moving my hips, pushing myself into him. It was going to be over soon, I hoped he wasn't too upset.
But then I felt the slightest movement. Edward shifted his weight so that his hips moved in towards mine ever so slightly. This was all the encouragement I needed. I gasped and pulled myself in to him, pressing my inner thighs against his hard hips. I pulled myself into him again and again, and there was a change. Suddenly underneath me I felt Edward grow, and I could feel the length of him between my legs. A deeper cold radiated from him at this point, and I ran my body over it thrilling at the sensation.
I expected him to pull away, and he did pull his head back from our embrace. I held myself as still as I humanly could and opened my eyes. His were closed. He took in a deep breath through pursed lips, paused, and then opened his eyes. I know Edward didn't believe that he had a soul, but I could have sworn he was bearing his soul to me right there. The look he gave me was so intimate that I was only able to hold it for a second. I looked down to give him privacy. But with one hand he touched my chin to tilt my face up to meet his gaze. Looking into my eyes, his voice was breathless. "I love you." And he slowly moved in to kiss me again.
Our kisses were tentative, but the force that my body was able to muster as it moved against Edward surprised me. Edward crossed the floor. He gently deposited me on the closest surface and freed his hands. He braced his hands on the wall at either side of us. I heard something crackle, and felt a fine dust settle on my face. Only now that he was able to grip something besides me did I feel him move as well, tentatively at first, and then in time with me. My body moved against his instinctually and despite the intense coldness emanating from him, I grew very warm.
I was stunned by this new turn of events and clung to him, panting and pulling Edward impossibly closer. Our breathing was audible as I clutched him, driven, our bodies moving like one, led by startlingly similar instincts. His breathing came deeper, and stronger, until it registered as a low growl that set body on fire. I dug my nails into his back, trying desperately to obliterate any space between the two of us. Our hips pleaded with one other and I slipped backwards on my perch under the force of Edward's desire. My back came firmly against something cold and smooth. Only then did it register dimly that I was sitting on the windowsill.
Edward's hands were at my collar, twisted in the straps of my tank top in his clenched fists and he buried his head in my hair. Our breathing was rough and labored. My skin was covered with a thin veil of sweat. My mental faculties were overtaken by the electric current that set each of my nerve endings on fire. All there ever was, was here in this moment, and a low moan escaped from my lips.
I heard a soft growl catch in Edward's throat as his grip on my tank top tightened impossibly, and the muscles on his arms rippled. The three things happened all at once. Edward moaned deeply, his hands shot out sideways to brace himself on the window frame tearing the straps off of my top, and his head fell forward, hitting the corner of the windowpane.
Our breathing was shallow as we collapsed into one another, suddenly loose and relaxed. Plaster rained to the ground from the walls around us, and with a small tinkling sound a jagged crack cut the windowpane in two. I reflexively reached to hold my torn top in place and reluctantly looked into Edward's eyes, unsure about what I might see in their depths.
But his eyes were dancing, with pinpoints of golden light that I had never seen there before and his smile was unabashed. "Interesting, a mystery indeed," he crooned and nuzzled my ear playfully. I felt him lightly nibble on my earlobe, his lips guarding his teeth. His smile broke into quiet laughter and he picked me up and brought me to the bed, tucking the blanket between us.
"Well I kind of threw the 'to be continued' out the window that time. What could I possibly offer to keep you coming back now?" I joked, smiling openly at his beaming face.
"Now you could never keep me away," he corrected, pulling my body into his and kissing me warmly. "But now I feel for Scheherazade, the pressure is intense."
"Funny, this is one of the few times since we've met where I can't sense any pressure between us at all." We held each other, laughing, and it was so easy in this moment. Chuckling in each other's arms, kissing lightly, letting our hands run over each other's bodies without any urgency. I smiled up at Edward, but then watched a shadow flit across his brow. "OK, no, I take that back. Pressure returned."
"Bella, I think we have to be more careful, that's all. What if that windowpane shattered and fell onto you?"
"OK, OK, no glass. Got it. But that's on you, I didn't even know where I was!"
"It's more than that Bella. It took all of my strength to keep from tearing off all of your clothes just now and taking you completely," he said as he played with the ragged straps of my tank top that had fallen to the bed.
My heart sped and I was suddenly thrilled, unsatisfied and disappointed all at once. "I wouldn't have minded," I replied.
But my brain raced ahead of my emotions and quickly registered something significant. I looked up to meet Edward's gaze. "That's all? It took all of your strength not to make love to me?" Did he really mean that, or was he just leaving out other urges to protect me?
Edward looked like he was intentionally holding back. But then a smile washed over his face and his eyes lit with joy. "No, nothing else. Not a thought. No other impulse but to make you mine." His eyed smoldered, but then he closed them and took a breath.
With his eyes still closed he said, "Bella, we're on a precipice, one that I don't want to breech. We agreed to draw lines, no regrets. Let's rein it in a bit. For me?"
I sighed, resigned. "Uh huh," I pouted.
"But maybe," he opened his eyes, still smoldering beneath his lashes, and he looked up to meet my gaze, "maybe I can keep the ending just as satisfying, for you?" Our lips met and his kiss was strong and sure. I wound my arms around him and my torn top slipped. Edward's hands were gently on my breasts, teasing my nipples. I moved my hands underneath his shirt, pulling it up so that I could lean my naked torso into his. I moved my mouth from his lips to his ear and sucked and nipped at his earlobe, one hand searching him out under the covers.
But Edward shifted and pulled away. "Bella."
"Sorry."
"I can't trust either of us right now. Tomorrow?" But he wasn't upset and chuckled, still smiling.
"I don't know if I can wait until tomorrow," I gasped.
"I think we may have had the roles reversed here. It's I that must come to you each night, keeping alive my chances of having you finally marry me."
"No, that's backward too. You couldn't stop me from marrying you now." I surprised myself with the earnestness of that statement. Edward sat back from me slightly and stared with wide eyes.
"Bella, you don't have to say - "
"Edward, I couldn't lie that well. You know that." And he brought my body to his, kissing me firmly on the lips.
"Thank you," he breathed.
"Maybe there's something else we can do tonight, Bella. There's a story I'd like to tell you. Perhaps I identify with Scheherazade after all. This one is different, though, and it's never been told before. Not another mystery, but a horror story turned romance." Edward pulled the blanket closer to me, and wrapped his arms around me. "Close your eyes my love."
I sighed, but just a look at Edward was enough to melt away any resistance on my part. His eyes were pinpoints of liquid sunshine on melted butter. I had never seen anything so beautiful as his eyes right now. His impossibly gentle embrace calmed me, and I was happy to lie next to him and listen to the music that the deep notes of his voice created. I would listen to whatever he had to say. I took one more look at his face, and then closed my eyes as I nestled my head into his chest. "OK."
"Before I met you Bella, I was a monster hiding in the shell of a man." This was an unexpected start and I opened my eyes to look at Edward. He stroked my cheek.
"Shh, love. Let me tell the story."
I hated when Edward spoke of himself in such disparaging terms. But one look at his pleading eyes and I gave in, settling my head against his chest again.
"My decision to abstain from murder was a clinical one, one that could be reasoned to be just and right. But justice was only a word. Beauty was a word too, melody was a sound, and harmony was it's mathematical inverse. Everything was gray and meaningless without my love for you. When I met you Bella, you made me confront the monster that I was. I was walking in the cloak of civility, a wolf in sheep's clothing, that had begun believing rather naively that I was the sheep. You stripped me and made me realize that the monster was always there."
"You may be human and a bit accident prone my dear, but you were the only person that could vanquish that monster within me. In nearly one hundred years you were the only thing that was able to really change me. My love for you turned beauty into something I could feel and turned music into song. It gave not only a reason, but a purpose to every choice and every decision I made. It took me from observer of this world to participant, someone that wanted to change things so they would be better, for you. I felt happiness, I saw beauty, and I heard music for the first time."
"The longer I am by your side, the more my heart has been uncovered. At first I didn't believe it was there. But then there was an ache, and little by little you brought it out, uncovered more of my human heart. Bella, when you came back to me after I left you, I was made whole. When you agreed to by my wife I was better, complete. Tonight my dear, my heart has been laid bare. There is nothing between my heart and your hand." And with that he laid my hand on his chest, and held it there in a tight embrace.
"So you see, when you say you have nothing to give me, your words are absurd. You have given me more than I could ever have hoped for. You have made a monster into more of a man. Anything I could give to you is nightmare and shadow in comparison."
He had been whispering in my ear, his breath tickling the hair along my neckline. I realized my eyes were wet, and I turned to gaze at Edward. His eyes were gentle and soft, still alit with golden sparks of light.
"Our story Bella may be the best story that has ever been told." He lowered his head to mine and kissed my lips lightly. "Now it's time for sleep my love."
But I shook my head, struggling to tell him what that meant to me. I wanted to convey the love I felt for him right now. I opened my mouth to speak, but couldn't find the words to start.
"Shh," he put his finger to my lips. "It's OK. Sometimes you don't have to say anything darling for me to know your heart. Everything I need to hear I can see in your face." Edward paused as he peered deeply into my eyes and I was surprised at how calmly I was able to look right back at him. My home, my forever. Edward sighed. I didn't think his look could get any more open, any more penetrating, but it did. Finally my heart came back to life and fluttered.
"It's done. I can believe now, Bella. Rest knowing that you have brought peace to a monster's heart, forever."
- 13
- 14
- 15
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Prelude