EPOV
It was our first Christmas as a family. It was hard to believe that two years ago I didn’t yet know my wife and a year ago I was wallowing in self-pity for having lost her. Now here we were, together for all time. It was amazing how much my life had changed so quickly. What if Bella had never come to Forks? What if I’d never returned after the first scent of her nearly drove me insane? I was thankful every single day for the twist of fate that had brought Bella into my life.
Alice was in her typical holiday mode. The main house was decked to the nines, mistletoe and pine garlands and wreaths and ribbons everywhere. There was a huge tree taking up residence in the living room corner, to the right of the fireplace. Below it were countless presents. She’d been busy this year. I wasn’t sure when she’d found the time with all the drama lately but that was Alice for you; she never let real life get in the way of celebrations. I smiled at her laughing with Bella as they hung the last of the ornaments on the tree.
Bella…she astounded me every single day. Her power could be intimidating at times but it couldn’t be in better hands. She would never abuse it; she even felt terrible about testing it on me. Not that I minded in the least. That first time she used it on me, in our bedroom, was the most erotic experience of my life. I begged her to repeat it daily and so far she’d given in a few times. There was just something incredibly exciting about Bella telling me what she wanted and making me give it to her.
“Yo, bro, what are you doing standing around and letting the women do all the work? What happened to my chivalrous brother?” Emmett clapped a large hand on my shoulder, his momentum propelling me forward a few inches.
“I tried to help but Alice didn’t care for my ornament placement.”
She frowned over at me. “Don’t think I don’t know you did that on purpose, Edward. You know perfectly well what the tree is supposed to look like.” I smirked at her and shrugged. So I wanted to admire my wife instead of making our tree look the exact same way it did every year, what was so wrong with that?
“Better watch out man, she’s vicious when you make her angry,” Emmett’s face fell into a sulk as he thought of Emmett Junior. “Please, Alice?”
She giggled and shook her head. “Put the star on top of the tree for me and I’ll consider giving you another piece.” He took a graceful leap and had the star on the tree before Alice even finished the sentence. Bella’s shoulders shook with her laughter, her mahogany curls bouncing in her ponytail. I wrapped my arms around her tiny waist and pressed a kiss to her neck.
“Why don’t we go home and celebrate our first Christmas together alone?” I suggested in a purring voice. Bella titled her head to give me better access and melted into me.
“Oh no, you don’t! We delayed decorating for Christmas this year because…”Alice broke off, glancing at Bella, “of stuff and now we’re going to celebrate it, together!” I looked down at Bella and saw that she didn’t seem to be upset by Alice’s words. Between deaths and funerals and mind control, it had been a hectic month for us. I wasn’t sorry to see it coming to an end. The New Year would hopefully be less eventful and far less angst-filled.
“It’s Christmas Eve, Alice, not Christmas day. We plan on spending it with you, I promise.”
“No, no, no!” she waggled her finger at me. “You boys are always monopolizing her! She’s my best friend and we’re all going to spend time together. You can have her later!”
Bella’s lovely face was alight with joy, she hadn’t looked this happy in a long time. I decided to drop the getting her alone plan and just wait until midnight. We were exchanging our gifts in private, I had things that were just for her and she said her gifts to me were personal as well.
“Fine, you can have us until midnight, then she’s all mine,” I kissed Bella’s neck again and she hummed in pleasure. It was only an hour away; I could wait that long, barely.
“Edward! We are opening all the presents at midnight! You can have her right after.” Alice shot me a look that told me arguing was going to be a waste of time. I watched as it played out in her mind and decided to avoid the drama and give in.
“Alright, Alice, I know better than to argue with you.” I turned to Bella. “Our presents will wait until we’re alone, okay?”
She nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. I was dying to know what she’d gotten me but of course she wouldn’t give me a hint. None of our family members knew, or if they did they weren’t thinking about it so I had to wait. It was both frustrating and refreshing, typical where my inability to read Bella’s mind was concerned.
“All set!” Alice pronounced, regarding the tree happily. She’d slowly decorated the house but saved the tree until Christmas Eve so that we’d all be together. Emmett and Jasper had been sent to find the perfect tree, Esme and Rose were assigned fresh balsam branches for the mantle, Carlisle and I had to procure poinsettias and Bella and Alice took care of the mistletoe.
I took a seat next to Esme on the couch and Bella plopped down on my left side. I put an arm around her and rested my head on her shoulder, the soft red cashmere sweater tickling my cheek. “Did you put mistletoe in our house too, love?”
Both Alice and Bella giggled. “Yes, it’s there,” she told me with a happy grin. I saw what it looked like in Alice’s mind, there was mistletoe hanging from every doorway and one in the shower and over our bed. My Bella had certainly been thorough.
“You don’t need mistletoe for me to kiss you, you know,” I informed her.
She laughed. “I know.” Then she stared at me for a moment and all of a sudden my lips were on hers. How I loved her power! I didn’t hear her command, I just acted. She pulled back as the room erupted into laughter. “I’ll use any method I can to get you to kiss me,” she said with a little giggle. I tightened my arms around her, more than willing to keep on kissing her.
“You’re more likely to need use your power to get them off you than on,” Jasper informed her sarcastically, ruffling her hair as he walked to the loveseat. Alice danced over to join him.
Emmett ran from the room and was back a moment later, a Santa hat perched on his head. He looked rather ridiculous and Bella burst out laughing. “I guess you’re big enough to be Santa.”
“Hey, there is not one ounce of fat on this body!” he gestured down at himself.
“I’m sure there’s an ounce or two in there somewhere,” Alice said with conviction.
“No way! I’ll prove it to you!” Just like that his shirt was off and his hands were on the button of his jeans when Rose smacked him upside the head.
“Don’t open my Christmas present in front of everyone,” she said with a smirk.
Emmett looked momentarily dazed but snapped out of it quickly and gave Rose a giant smile. “Okay, that’s just for you. But you tell them there’s no fat on me.”
Rose laughed. “Oh but there is.” My big fathead, she thought fondly.
Emmett’s face fell comically. “What? Rosie…”
“It’s in your head, of course,” she ran her hands through his hair.
Jasper laughed. “You are a fathead, Emmett, she’s quite right.”
“Humph, none of you are getting your presents now.”
Bella shrugged nonchalantly. “I can do without another key book anyway.”
Emmett started howling, gripping his stomach as he laughed. “That was so awesome! You know there’s a whole series? I think I’ll get you one for every single birthday.”
Bella rolled her eyes. “I guess it’s a good thing I won’t be getting any older then. No more birthdays.”
“Says you! We will celebrate every year, just you wait and see. Really, Bella, you’re not going to deprive me of the chance to give you presents, are you?” Alice demanded; a scowl on her little face.
“Like you need an excuse to buy me things? You get me stuff all the time, what does it matter if it’s for my birthday or not?”
“It just does!”
Esme laughed gently. “Trust us, Bella; you will be unable to forget birthdays. We don’t want to forget the moment we became a complete family.” I knew there was no way Bella could fight with Esme on that point.
Sure enough, she just looked embarrassed and defeated. “Okay, but we need to celebrate everyone’s birthdays then.”
“Naturally!” Alice announced with a big smile.
“Do you even know all your birthdays anymore? And do you celebrate actual birthdays or vampire birthdays?”
“We tend to celebrate the vampire birthdays. I don’t remember anything from before I was turned. It’s just easier that way.” Alice spoke in a subdued way; she’d long ago learned to live with the fact that she knew little of her past. Jasper ran his hand down her arm and linked his fingers with hers.
“That makes sense,” Bella said softly and I knew she was feeling bad for having asked the question.
“Hey, let’s not get all maudlin, it’s Christmas!” Emmett pulled out a bag that he’d stashed behind the couch. I groaned. Shut up, Edward, it’s awesome!
Emmett plunked a Santa hat on each of our heads. Alice muttered about her hair but then decided we all looked adorable and started snapping photos. I had to admit the red hat looked lovely on Bella, but then again, anything did. “Can we open presents now?” he demanded, sounding like a five year old.
We all looked at Alice; she was the one in charge of such decisions. She scrunched up her face for a second but then decided. I smiled; maybe I would get Bella alone at midnight after all. “Alright,” she allowed.
“Yes!” Emmett shouted and dived underneath the tree. He dispersed the presents in a matter of seconds; we all had rather daunting piles in front of us.
Carlisle cleared his throat. “I just wanted to say, Merry Christmas. I am very grateful that we’re all finally together. I’m thankful that Bella has joined this family and made it whole. I look forward to spending every Christmas from here on out just like this, united and happy.” Esme gave him a hug and we all seconded his heartfelt emotion. I loved Bella even more at that moment; her presence really did make us complete in a way I’d never realized we weren’t before. Even Rosalie was happier though she’d probably deny that if asked.
“Let’s get to it, shall we?” Emmett asked before tearing into a brightly wrapped package. I was far more interested in Bella’s gifts than my own, particularly when she opened a red negligee. God I loved Alice.
Jasper felt my response and glanced up from his own gifts and chuckled. “You should have had Edward open that one, Alice; it’s clearly more for him than it is for her.” Everyone started laughing and I shrugged. I couldn’t help it, I was a newlywed. I was supposed to feel this way.
“If you wear that for me later, it counts as one of your presents to me,” I pointed out hopefully to Bella.
She giggled. “We’ll just have to see if Santa has deemed you naughty or nice won’t we?” I didn’t really have anything I could say to that so I tore into my presents, wanting them open so I could unwrap my wife instead. I liked all the clothes and books and electronics my family had bestowed upon me. Jasper’s gift, in particular, thrilled me. He’d always been good with carpentry, but it was apparent I hadn’t really known how good he really was. He’d carved Bella’s face into a large chunk of wood, it was a perfect likeness.
“Jas, man, this is gorgeous. Thank you.”
Bella sounded equally awed as she held a replica of my face in her hands. “Jasper, I didn’t know you could do this. It’s beautiful.”
He shrugged self-depreciatingly. “I had a lot of time to learn.” Bella handed me her carving and went and wrapped her arms around him.
“Thank you, it’s incredible. I can’t wait to put them in our home.” Jasper returned her hug and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“I’m glad you like them.”
“We love them,” I corrected, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Thanks, Jas.”
“Seriously, bro, these are great!” Emmett exclaimed, holding his own Rose replica. I saw that everyone was holding one; Jasper had carved one for each of us.
“You’re an artist,” Bella told him and all of us seconded the motion. Alice was beaming with pride at Jasper’s work.
“Okay, enough! Back to your presents, people,” he murmured bashfully. Bella gave him another squeeze before returning to her gifts.
I was done before Bella was so I admired the clothes Alice had chosen for her, they were very stylish but also still Bella, not revealing or overly fancy. Bella was actually pleased by them and Alice was happy with her reaction. Emmett disappeared and came back with a gigantic panda bear, around five feet tall. “For when I’m not around to give you a hug, not that I won’t be around often,” he informed Bella as he handed it to her. Bella laughed and told him she loved it.
She picked up a box and read that it was from Rosalie. This should be good, Jasper thought. We weren’t exactly sure where Rose and Bella stood these days. The open hostility was gone but Rose was wary of Bella’s gift and Bella was scared of making her angry so they just gave one another tight smiles and mostly ignored each other. Bella took a deep breath before prying the lid off the box. Her face wrinkled in confusion as she reached in and took out some metal. Rose laughed at her perplexed expression.
“It’s a crankshaft for your car,” Rose informed her, amusement clear in her tone.
“Oh, um, thanks Rose,” Bella glanced at me and I shrugged. Then I got a flash from Rose’s mind and smiled at her reassuringly.
“I’m going to be replacing it, the pistons and spark plugs. I thought you could do it with me, learn some more.” It was a peace offering, in a matter of speaking.
Bella’s face lit in a smile. “Thanks, Rose, I’d really like that.”
Rosalie nodded. “Let’s see what you got me.”
Bella’s giggled. “You girls have to open them at the same time. I got you all the same thing.” So Alice and Esme sorted through their packages, Alice with a wide smile on her face as she’d clearly already seen what Bella got them. I was insanely curious because Bella wouldn’t tell me and Alice wasn’t letting me see what they were. They all had the same package, a long thin box wrapped in dark green paper. They exchanged glances and pulled off the paper at the same time. They lifted the lid and identical smiles illuminated their faces followed quickly by peals of laughter.
“What is it?” Emmett demanded, thankfully just as curious as I was. As if coordinated, they all lifted their presents at the same time and then the room shook from the raucous laughter of all of us. Bella had gifted them with a silver belt, from which dangled a pretty silver key. My girl had a great sense of humor, clearly. The key hung just far enough to point the way to the other key.
“I thought I’d give your men a little assistance,” Bella giggled and then bit her lip, watching us with wide eyes that belied her words.
“Epic,” Emmett gasped between laughs.
Carlisle’s shoulders shook with his laughter as he attempted to thank Bella. “Thanks, I mean, not that I need the help, but…” he broke off, not sure what to say, sending everyone into more gales of laughter. He stopped trying and just snickered with the rest of us. You go, Carlisle! Even Jasper’s mind sounded amused. I always knew the old guy had it in him! I wonder what she got me! Emmett’s mental voice mind started producing images I didn’t want to see so I quickly tried to tune him out.
“I’m almost afraid to open mine now, Little Sis!” Emmett exclaimed but he tore into the package anyway. He grinned in delight as he held up a plaque that said Number One Teacher. “I’m number one! Take that, Jasper!”
Jasper laughed and held up his matching plaque. “I don’t know about that.”
Emmett’s face fell. “What gives?” he demanded to Bella who was giggling again. I loved seeing her so happy.
“You’re tied for first place so you both got one. I know they’re kind of funny but they’re both really true. I wouldn’t be nearly as functional today without both of you.” Emmett was clearly satisfied and he gave Bella a big hug.
“I had a lot of fun training you.” He turned to Jasper. “Maybe we should open a school for new vampires!” he was off and running, picturing a Harry Potteresque training school in his mind.
“Ha, no thanks! I’ve dealt with a lot more newborns than you have, we got lucky with Bella. Trust me on that one,” Jasper told him. “I love my plaque, Bella; it’s going up on my bedroom wall.”
“I’m glad you like it,” she said sweetly. She looked nervous as Carlisle started to open her gift to him. I took her hand in mine and gave her a reassuring squeeze. He gasped as he read the inscription and then he looked up at her with love shining in his eyes.
“Bella, it’s wonderful!” He handed it to Esme and walked over to Bella and drew her to her feet and pulled her into a hug. She held him tightly and buried her head in his chest.
“What is it?” Emmett demanded, put out because he didn’t know what was going on.
Esme smiled as she held up the engraved glass plaque. She read it aloud. “Even though you were not there as I came upon this Earth, nor the one responsible or present at my birth, you loved me, taught me and guided me as I have changed and grown, and you’ve never made me feel like I was not your own.” Her voice cracked with emotion as she read the lines and it was easy to see why Carlisle was so overcome.
“That’s beautiful,” Alice breathed. Truly, it was. And it could have easily come from any of us but the fact that it came from his newest daughter, one who was struggling with the loss of her own family, really meant something to Carlisle. His mind was a whirlwind of happiness and guilt and love. I will love her forever, Charlie. I’m not taking your place but she’s mine too. I will always take care of her for you. He and Bella clung to each other for a couple of minutes before he pressed a kiss to the top of her head and stepped back.
“That’s the best present I’ve ever gotten in my life, save for the gift that is each one of you,” he told her.
Bella smiled up at him. “It’s true,” she told him.
He brushed his fingers over her cheek. “It always will be,” he vowed.
“Alright,” Jasper broke in, his voice sounding ragged. “It’s a great present but can we dial back on the emotion a little? I feel like I’m drowning over here.” Poor Jasper, there was so much emotion coming from the two of them, plus the rest of us were all feeling pretty overcome as well.
“Yeah, enough of this girlie stuff,” Emmett commanded, though there was no heat in his tone. He looked very much like the panda bear he’d given Bella in that moment.
The packages were all opened so there wasn’t much left to do other than to get my wife home for our own gift exchange. Carlisle released her and I took her hand in mine. “Are you ready to go open some more presents, love?” I asked.
She nodded. “Yes, let’s go.” She gave hugs to everyone, saving Rose for last and approaching her with caution. Rose eyed her for a second before reaching out and giving her a quick hug. “You did a good thing for him,” she murmured. “And I like my gift, very much.” She shot a smile at Emmett. “Are you ready for me to model it for you?”
Emmett dropped the video game he’d been thinking of playing and immediately sprang to his feet. “Let’s go!” Rose laughed and slipped her hand in his. I knew that everyone wanted alone time so I tugged on Bella’s hand and we made our way home.
“They liked their presents,” she said, sounding incredibly surprised and happy about that fact.
“Of course they did, they were perfect gifts.” I was very anxious to see what she had in store for me. I had been worried about her reaction to one of my gifts but after seeing what she got for the others I had a feeling she’d like it after all.
We walked into our front door and she started to go past me but I yanked her to a halt. “What?” she asked and I pointed above us, where the mistletoe was dangling over our heads. “Oh,” she flashed me a wicked smile and then threw her arms around me and got on her tiptoes and kissed me passionately. Who needed presents? We could open them later. I started to steer her towards the bedroom but she pulled away from me.
“Oh no you don’t, we have presents to exchange!” She dashed into the bedroom and came out with a big flat wrapped package. “Here’s the first one,” she handed it to me and twisted her hands together nervously. I wasn’t sure what she had to be nervous about, I’d never dislike anything she gave me.
I undid the tape and opened the gift slowly rather than tearing into it. The paper tore away to reveal a portrait and I smiled at the beauty in front of me. It was a painting of my favorite picture of Bella on our wedding day. I carried a small copy of it in my wallet so I’d have it with me at all times. The photo had been taken with me standing directly behind the photographer and she looked at me with such pure love on her face that it had floored me. I had had to restrain myself from shoving the photographer out of the way in my need to get to her. Her cheeks were rosy and her curls framed her face. Her brown eyes shone with happiness. She’d never looked lovelier to me than that moment.
“Bella,” I breathed, unable to really say anymore than her name as I took in the beauty in the picture and the beauty before me. I met her anxious gaze and gave her a reassuring smile. “I love it. So much. Who painted it?”
Relief flashed across her face. “Alice found a local artist and gave him the picture a couple of months ago. You like that one so much so I thought you’d like a painted version.”
“I do. I don’t have enough words to express how much I love it.” I pulled her back into my arms and poured all my emotions into the kiss. She clung tightly to me and returned my kiss fervently. This time I was the one who broke our clinch, because I wanted to give her one of my presents. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the small box.
“Merry Christmas, my love.” She glanced at the box and then at me, her little face screwing up. I chuckled, knowing that she was worried about extravagance again. Who said I needed to read her mind? I understood her pretty well without my gift. “Just open it,” I said with a chuckle.
“Fine,” she huffed, slipping the top open. She stared for a second and then burst into giggles.
“I thought it went well with the gift you gave the girls,” I pointed out, which made her laugh harder. I pulled the chain out of the box and gently opened the clasp to slide it around her neck. The white gold key pendant dangled daintily from the chain, a diamond heart on the end of it.
“I can’t believe you got me a key,” she gasped between giggles.
I laughed with her. “Well, I got it for two reasons. Obviously because of our inside joke but also because…” I broke off, unsure if she’d think I was too cheesy.
“Because why?”
“Because you really do hold the key to my heart. It was completely locked up before you came along and you fit it perfectly.” I watched as the sweetest smile curved her lips. “I never thought I’d find anyone who could make me feel like you do. You’re my miracle Bella.”
She was in my arms then, kissing me all over my face. I boosted her up so her legs were wrapped around me and carried her over to my piano bench, sitting down with her still on my lap. Her busy fingers started working at the buttons of my shirt but I stilled her. “I have something more for you, love.”
“What?” she asked; her voice slightly impatient. I plucked her off my lap and sat her on the bench next to me. Her lips turned down in a pretty little pout that was irresistible, so I leaned down and captured her lips with my own. She started to respond immediately but I pulled away again and she crossed her arms, irritated with me. I started to play her lullaby and the pout turned into a smile.
“I wrote you this song before I truly knew you, back when I never thought you would be mine. I loved you but you didn’t know it. You were my unattainable dream,” I told her as my fingers moved over the keys. “It’s melancholy, really. Even so, you loved it and I hummed it for you every night we spent together.”
“I love my song,” she told me, putting her hand on my knee and giving it a squeeze. “I love that you wrote it for me.”
I played her song all the way through, frowning at the morose ending. Then I put a hand on her cheek. “The end of the song made me terribly sad, because I was sure that one day I would lose you. Never did I fathom that you’d be with me forever.”
She smiled. “You would have if you would have just listened to me back then.”
I chuckled. “I didn’t realize quite how stubborn you were at the time; or how very right you were. We belong together. I’m glad you knew it and I’m thankful that you fought for me, even when I was afraid to let you.” I kissed her softly. “I wrote you a new song, Bella, because you don’t need a lullaby anymore and there’s nothing sad about our relationship. I want to celebrate our love and this is a way to show you how.” Her golden eyes were shining as I began to play her new song.
I’d had it in my head for months, back even before we’d gotten married. It had started as a verse that repeated over and but slowly it expanded into a song that showed all the happiness I felt when I thought of her, of us. I played without looking at the keys, my eyes on her, watching the emotion on her face. The song was light and free, like I felt when I was with her. It was my love for her in musical form.
Bella put a hand to her lips and her eyes swam with love. “Oh, Edward,” she whispered.
“Do you like it?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
She nodded emphatically. “I love it. It’s amazing. It’s like…” she trailed off and closed her eyes as the notes washed over her. “It’s like you captured my feelings in music.” She couldn’t have paid me a better compliment.
“They’re our feelings for each other, love.” The song ended on a high note, a trilling happy sound that might have been a mirror reflection of my feeling at this moment, with Bella’s golden eyes and smile shining with love for me.
“This is the best present ever,” she whispered, her lips meeting mine again. I crushed her to me and pulled her back on my lap. I reached for the hem of her sweater but she pushed my hands away. “I still have something more for you.”
“It can wait,” I groaned, reaching for her again. She laughed and slipped off my lap.
“Oh no, you made me wait; now it’s your turn!” She dashed into the bedroom and shut the door. I decided I was going to give her one minute and then I was going in. I heard the door handle opening so I stood up and prepared to drag her back to the bed but she stopped me dead in my tracks when I saw her wearing the red negligee Alice had gotten her. It was cut low, just covering her perfect breasts. The silky material cut off at mid-thigh, making her legs look like they went on for miles. The bright red on her pale skin was just a gorgeous combination and I felt venom welling in my mouth.
I took a step toward her and she shook her head. “No, sit on the couch, this is not the present,” she said, gesturing to her sexy body.
“I beg to differ,” I said huskily as I sat on the couch and patted my lap. She laughed and sat on the opposite end from me. I reached for her and she edged further away. “This is not my idea of a present,” I pointed out sulkily.
She tilted her head back and laughed, her silky brown curls moving with her, falling over her shoulders and covering her lovely chest. I started to reach out to touch her and she shook her head again. “Be patient, what happened to the guy that managed to wait for months on end?”
“He found out what he was missing,” I told her with a sexy grin, the one that made her bend to my will. I reached for her again and she pulled away again.
“Don’t make me make you stop,” she warned with a twinkle in her eyes.
“Alright!” I threw up my hands in surrender. “If you’re not my present,” I let my eyes roam over her beautiful body, “then where is it?”
“It’s right here,” she said, pointing at herself. I was confused, wasn’t that what I’d said all along?
“And that’s exactly what I wanted,” I reached for her again.
“No, not my body!” she said in an exasperated voice, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at me.
She was confounding me, as usual. How I wish I could read her mind! “Bella, love, you know that I consider you the greatest gift I could ever get.” If she just wanted me to appreciate her for hours, days, I would.
She shook her head and smiled. “Edward, sit back, okay?” I did as she asked because I was determined to make her happy again. “Now clear your mind.” Like that was possible, I could hear Emmett’s depraved thoughts from here. I did my best to shut everything out and concentrated only on the lovely girl in front of me. “Are you ready?” she asked.
“Yes.” For what I had no idea.
“I don’t know if this is going to work but I’m going to try.” I nodded, trying to stay patient as I waited for whatever she was going to do. She tilted her head and stared at me as if she could see right through my skin into my brain. I stared back, wondering if she was trying to make me do something. Maybe my present was to be her controlling me again. I would love that present. My mind started to fill with memories of her telling me to touch her and my hands moving determinedly down her beautiful torso and then…
Edward?
“What, love?”
Can you hear me?
“Well of course I can hear you; you’re sitting two feet away from me and…” I broke off. She hadn’t moved her lips. She was talking to me. I could hear her. “I can hear you? Your thoughts? What? How?”
Her soft pink lips stretched into a triumphant smile. I’m so glad it worked. Jasper and I have been working on this for days. I reached for her then, crushing her hands in my own. “How?”
There’s like a wall in my mind, a protective barrier that’s always been there. You know how scared I’ve always been of people thinking I was a freak if they knew what I was thinking. I nodded, captivated at hearing her in my mind, finally. Well, Jasper thinks that was the first true manifestation of my control, shielding my thoughts from everyone without knowing it. He had me picture it as a wall, a barrier that I could remove when I wanted to. It works, obviously.
It was a good thing I could hear her thoughts right now because she couldn’t talk if she tried. My lips were on hers without my consciously thinking about it, her beautiful thoughts echoing in my head as my tongue moved to her neck.
Edward, do you know what I feel like when you touch me? I shook my head as my teeth sank into the hollow between her neck and shoulder. It’s like I’m burning, but it’s a good burn. I can feel it all through my body; a fire that consumes me but I don’t want to escape it. I just want to feel this way forever. I groaned and yanked the strap down her shoulder. “So beautiful, Bella. Your thoughts,” I murmured against her silky skin. “I’ve always wanted your thoughts. It’s,” kiss, “better than I ever,” kiss, “thought it would be.”
My lips met hers again. I was the one consumed, caught up in a madness at her thoughts. I got impatient with the lovely nightgown, a barrier between me and what I wanted most. I pulled it off her with one tug, swallowing her gasp as it tore from her body. I love it when you tear my clothes off, Edward. It lets me just how much you want me. All those months of perfect control…when you lose it I feel like the most powerful woman in the world. I made you want me so much that you let go. You wouldn’t touch me then, but you will now, won’t you?
I didn’t answer her with words; I answered her with my body. My hands were everywhere on her, she’d have bruises if she were human but I couldn’t make myself be gentler for her. I wanted her so much. Her words thoughts were igniting the fire she spoke of within me. Her hands gripped and yanked my shirt off, sending buttons flying. I barely noticed as I took her breast in my mouth, sucking and nipping at it. Bella moaned. God, Edward, what you do to me. Do I make you feel the same way? Do you crave me whenever I’m in the same room as you?
I nodded against her breast, unwilling to release it to answer her. My hands gripped her hips tightly as I made way down her body. I slicked my tongue over her bellybutton and smiled at the E and B that hung there. Are you going to taste me now? I moved lower and smiled up at her. It drives me wild when you do. And so I did. It was a beautiful thing, touching her, tasting her and hearing her, both her thoughts and her moans. Her thoughts became jumbled, barely coherent, as I worked her over with my tongue. So good. Hot. Edward. Only you. Mine. Hurts. I started to pull away at that thought but she put both her hands in my hair and held me there. Good hurt, like the fire. Want more. I smiled and continued, my tongue moving quickly over her. Her thoughts became completely disjointed then. I heard only Yes, Edward and she came apart under me, thrashing and moaning my name. Nothing would ever sound better than that. Nothing.
I want you inside me. Now. Okay, maybe that sounded even better. I undid my jeans and yanked them off. Bella opened beneath me and I slid into her. I was never more at home than when I was inside her. Her eyes met mine and she smiled as I moved slowly within her. I can’t believe I haven’t thought this for you yet. “What?” I love you. I shuddered as her words moved through me, the truth of them just there in her mind. “I love you too, so much.”
Her hips moved in time with mine, the need to rush I’d felt earlier sated as I looked into her beautiful face. I wanted to savor this moment, another first for us. She’d shared a part of herself with me that I never thought I’d have. It was a purely perfect moment. What are you thinking? I chuckled as she asked me the question I must have asked her a billion times. She joined me, our mutual laughter moving through our connected bodies.
“I think this is the most incredible experience of my very long life,” I told her. She smiled and kissed me softly, her fingers curling into my hair and scratching gently against my scalp. I purred against her lips and she smiled. I like when you do that, it tickles. I purred again and she giggled. I nipped her chin and kissed along her jaw, reveling in the beauty around me.
“Bella,” I stopped kissing her but kept moving inside her. What? “This is the best gift ever. Thank you for giving me all of you.” You always had all of me; I just didn’t know how to show you. “You did, I just love hearing you.”
Ha, well you know I’m not going to do it all the time. Sometimes I just need to keep my thoughts to myself, you know? “I know; I just love that you can let me in when you want to.” Yes, now I can speak to you in secret, none of them will know. I chuckled and kissed her again, starting to move in earnest now. That feels so good, Edward. “It does,” I agree. Her hands tightened in my hair and her hips started moving faster.
There is nothing better than this. Being connected to you. It’s when I truly feel whole. “Yes, so true,” I agree, kissing along her neck and as I thrust harder into her. Faster. I complied. Yes, just like that. I’m so close, Edward. Are you? I nodded as my lips traveled back up to her jaw. Our bodies moved together quickly, the sound of them crashing together should have been cacophonous but instead it was music to my ears. I kissed her harder and felt her start to tighten around me. Yes, now, Edward. I let myself go with her and her thoughts, my thoughts, were like one in that moment. They weren’t really words, they were just…love.
I looked down at her and brushed the hair off her shoulders. “Thank you for giving yourself to me this way. I love you so much. I don’t even know how to express it enough.” You do every time you look at me. You did in your song. I love you. I do, Edward, I always do.
I smiled and kissed her gently. “I do, too. Merry Christmas, love.” Merry Christmas. Let’s make love all night, okay? “Do you even have to ask?” I hurried to comply with my wife’s wishes, it was the least I could do on Christmas, after all.
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