tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12632521210605602192024-03-13T09:08:53.844-07:00theraingirlUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger76125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-33318225283619531382012-09-22T10:17:00.002-07:002012-09-22T10:17:35.911-07:00Moving on up... and out.I know it's been entirely too long since I've done anything with the smutblog. I do apologize.<br />
Since last I updated a lot has happened. I have two stories published, Happy Hour and Fair Puckled, and my novel Downpour will be out this winter :D<br />
Also, I'm expecting a little boy in January! We were told we couldn't have our own children, so we're beyond excited!<br />
In light of all these changes, some things have fallen by the wayside sadly. I don't have a lot of time to read fic while editing so I've not been able to recommend a lot. I'm still working with Indie Fic Pimp though and will continue to recommend when I can.<br />
If you'd like to follow my author account, my website is <a href="http://www.bellaleonebooks.com/">www.bellaleonebooks.com</a>. I'm also on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/BellaLeone" target="_blank">@bellaleone</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q3ZxL_I3T3U/UF3wx3nRNQI/AAAAAAAABD8/-jCNFIi6TDk/s1600/Bella_header.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q3ZxL_I3T3U/UF3wx3nRNQI/AAAAAAAABD8/-jCNFIi6TDk/s400/Bella_header.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'd love for you guys to follow me along this new chapter. I'll still be on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRainGirl4" target="_blank">@theraingirl4</a> chatting and enjoying the fandom, but this blog is essentially closed.<br />
Thank you for all of you who have followed, read, and reviewed over the years. I look forward to writing more and hearing what you guys think!<br />
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Happy reading, loves!<br />
BUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-75258340594179966882012-04-23T15:15:00.001-07:002012-04-23T15:15:08.640-07:00Please Repost: Missing Arizona Girl<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Have you seen this girl?</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://i.azcentral.com/i/sized/6/0/2/e298/j350/PHP4F9398368E206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.azcentral.com/i/sized/6/0/2/e298/j350/PHP4F9398368E206.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Investigators are keeping the family of a 6-year-old girl who disappeared away from their Tucson home.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /><br />Please keep your eyes open for this little one. Isabel was last seen in a blue tank top and black shorts. She was not in her home when her parents went to wake her up on Saturday morning. Her bedroom window was open and she was gone. Please repost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />Read more: <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2012/04/23/20120423tucson-girl-missing-police-keeping-family-from-home.html#ixzz1su83f0no" style="color: #003399; text-decoration: none;">http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2012/04/23/20120423tucson-girl-missing-police-keeping-family-from-home.html#ixzz1su83f0no</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-81909218596724528122012-03-22T21:05:00.000-07:002012-03-22T21:05:40.357-07:00Switching gearsI know I have a lot of loyal followers and I wanted to let you all know I'm not leaving the fandom, just very busy with my novel. If you'd like more info, please hit me up on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/TheRainGirl4" target="_blank">@theraingirl4</a>! I'd love to share what's happening with all of you awesome people. I also have my <a href="http://theraingirl4.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">tumblr</a> that I update often, so hit me up over there anytime as long as you're over 18! I'll be back to update soon, I promise. Things are just crazy right now.<br />
See you soon,<br />
TRG <3Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-60806771966019019132012-03-22T20:58:00.001-07:002012-03-22T21:08:18.192-07:00Recommendation: Pretty in Pink by @Fr333Bird<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Ever wanted to see Riley hook up with Emmett? Yeah, I didn't see it either, but it's like a cupcake you didn't realize you wanted til you see the pretty pink frosting on the chocolate mound. You have to have it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyzfvcWkvH1ro48b9o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyzfvcWkvH1ro48b9o1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">I fell in love with these boys from the first paragraph. Riley is such a fun character and the way he tortures Emmett is just divine. It's light and quick and a very fun read. I highly encourage the slash girls to get with Pretty in Pink. Even if you aren't a hardcore slashy, you'll love this story. It's just adroable and sweet and delicious! Tell Fr333Bird that I sent you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><3, Rain</div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-46415537454101571052012-02-26T13:43:00.000-08:002012-02-26T13:43:22.687-08:00Sunflower Awards!My awesome beta, Sunshinegal3, won Best Jacob today for her story The Only Exception!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yBAgooaGCC0/T0nJ-sM2y1I/AAAAAAAAALY/5KzJw4YRy0o/s1600/Jacob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yBAgooaGCC0/T0nJ-sM2y1I/AAAAAAAAALY/5KzJw4YRy0o/s320/Jacob.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Congrats, Sun!!!!!!</div><br />
And my quote from Torn won for Best Quote:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2hVDCSfzGn8/T0nL8U_0ngI/AAAAAAAAANA/MTZMSELMEHw/s1600/Quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2hVDCSfzGn8/T0nL8U_0ngI/AAAAAAAAANA/MTZMSELMEHw/s320/Quote.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Thank you to all who voted and congratulations to all the winners! <3Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-63914465070615040282012-02-05T15:26:00.000-08:002012-02-05T15:26:50.713-08:00Holding Sam by MeraNaamJoker @in_purdah<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i55.tinypic.com/2vla51z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b><img border="0" height="175" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/2vla51z.jpg" width="320" /></b></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7188761/16/Holding_Sam" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>Holding Sam by MerNaamJoker</b></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>When </b></span><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/HoochieMomma_" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>HoochieMomma_</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b> told me to read a Bella/Sam fic I scoffed. Bella and Sam? Well that doesn't work now does it? Bella and Edward, of course. Bella and Edward and Jasper, absolutely. Bella and Alice, please, yes. Man, Bella gets around! But those were all pairings that I loved to read. I've even read a Bella/Carlisle once, but when she realized she slept with Carlisle and his son, Edward, I was out.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>I figured Sam with Bella would probably squick me out too since, well, Sam is Sam... he's like the Carlisle of the wolves, right?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>Wrong.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>This is a canon take at what would happen to Bella if Edward left her behind like in New Moon, but didn't come back. What if it had taken Sam a while to find Bella, and Bella and Sam were int he woods just a little while longer after having been attacked by Victoria? Just a few slight changes in the first part of New Moon and you have a totally different story. And the best part? It makes COMPLETE sense.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTNx_GkLHiOYj81emT22IdwM7MXMHdL3S0E46naA8EJIQUHnx0Ozg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b><img border="0" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTNx_GkLHiOYj81emT22IdwM7MXMHdL3S0E46naA8EJIQUHnx0Ozg" /></b></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>Sam is wounded by his transition. Although he is the key to the wolfpack, he's the leader or alpha... he's alone. Through a chain of events with just a different perspective, we find that Bella and Sam are very much in need of each other. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>The healing that begins within the confines of kindness and friendship is astounding and my heart was very much bleeding by the end of the fifth chapter. It was so beautiful though. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>And Sam is a true-to-the-book Sam. He's just a 19-year-old kid thrust into a massively abnormal world and struggling to keep himself, his tribe, and all of his responsibilities in check, and this now includes the hunted, wounded, terror-seeking Bella.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i41.tinypic.com/x4qpj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b><img border="0" height="200" src="http://i41.tinypic.com/x4qpj.jpg" width="320" /></b></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>This story is fraught with emotional turmoil, but it is also filled to the brim with hope and humanity. When you are so completely broken, your heart and soul shredded in front of you, it might not be right to be put back together by the one who broke you... </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>Sometimes having someone else with bloody, jagged edges find the right pieces to hold you together. Maybe another like yourself is all you need to become whole.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>I would recommend this story for anyone who is in need of a good emotional, angst-fest with some amazing prose, fantastic canon characters, and a beautifully real story within SMeyer's fantasy world of vampires and wolves.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>Go take a look and tell </b></span><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/in_purdah" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>@in_purdah</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b> I sent you :D - Rain</b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-29292063673671906972011-12-27T20:06:00.000-08:002011-12-27T20:06:28.923-08:00Two new gigs :)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Check me out... I'm now a Sexxism perv and a Pusher!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://sexxism.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Sexxism blog</a> - Porn for women :) Lots of pretty boys and nakedness.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://theficpusher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Wayward Pushers</a> - All the recs you could want for quality fics, banners, and fun :)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lea also wrote up a sweet author rec on me <a href="http://theficpusher.blogspot.com/2011/12/one-shot-author-special-theraingirl4.html" target="_blank">here</a>. <3</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Come play with me!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">*rain*</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-7506686367179731992011-12-16T07:00:00.000-08:002011-12-16T18:07:14.116-08:00Buon Anno, a story for @TwisteIn_<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_lw9dsa78F21qe9rtgo1_1280.png?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJ6IHWSU3BX3X7X3Q&Expires=1324093070&Signature=9m18aYaKhLfkHqM0vcBM%2B63gWdQ%3D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_lw9dsa78F21qe9rtgo1_1280.png?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJ6IHWSU3BX3X7X3Q&Expires=1324093070&Signature=9m18aYaKhLfkHqM0vcBM%2B63gWdQ%3D" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Beautiful Banner made by <a href="http://twistedinmasen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">TwistedIn</a>!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7635219/1/Buon_Anno" target="_blank">Buon Anno</a></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">A/N: So once again TwistedIn_ gave me a challenge. She was looking for something cute and fluffy with boy kisses.<br />
I hope you like it!</span></b><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Disclaimer: I own nothing. I just have a muse who helps me play with these fun characters.</span></b><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Prompt Pic:</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://arobbbee.tumblr.com/post/13969278813"><span style="color: blue;">http://arobbbee.tumblr.com/post/13969278813</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><br />
<hr align="left" noshade="" size="1" style="color: darkgrey;" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"We're going to play spin the bottle!"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"No, we're not." I glare at my prancing sister.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Oh, yes. You said you'd let me have a New Year's party and pretend to enjoy yourself. Pretend better, Jasper." She pouts. I hate when she pouts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Alice... the reason I said I wouldn't rat you out on this party was because I'm the best brother on the planet. I did not rat you out so that you could hornball around and try to make out with everyone at the party."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Not everyone..."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Alice?"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">She huffs. "Okay, so I would like to try a few things, don't judge me."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Why don't you just ask them to kiss you? You're a cute girl, I'm sure most of them would."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Because I'm not a slut."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Yes, you are." She is. She'll make out with anything with a tongue. She's like my polar opposite, straight down to being born with black hair instead of blonde like mine. The only way you know we're related is the green color of our eyes we share. Other than that, we don't have much in common, but I love my crazy little sister very much.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"You're just jealous because you're a nun." She tries to level me with her angry look, but her little button nose removes any fear I could muster.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"A monk. Girls are nuns."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Like I said, you're a nun." We have talked several times about why I don't make out with every girl who throws themselves at me. My sister accepts me for who I am, opposite and all. She knows who I like</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">and why I've not done anything about it, and yet, she still likes to jerk my chain.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Don't make me throttle you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"I'm so scared." She waves her hands dismissively. "I bet I can still out run you."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Seriously, Ali... spin the bottle? How are you going to convince everyone else to go along with you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Jasper, we're teenagers. Believe me; I won't have a very hard time convincing anyone." She winks and spins away.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Swaggering her way out to the living room, she raises her arm with the bottle tequila above her head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Who wants a shot?" I hear her yell out as the kitchen door swings behind her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Apparently, we'll be having shots," I say to myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">I grab another beer and then walk into the living room. It smells like dying pine and spilled beer. There are dozens of people milling around and I know there are more out on the deck. How my sister knows this many people, I have no idea. She's never met a stranger so I guess it makes sense.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Come on, Jasper."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">There sits my devil of a sister, surrounded by several of her girlfriends and half-a-dozen guys.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">How did I get myself in this situation? I don't want to kiss anyone. No, that's not true. I don't want to kiss any of the girls sitting in that circle eyeing me like dinner after a fast.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">I settle myself down beside Alice knowing that I will have a hell of a psychologist bill someday. I'm playing spin the bottle with my little sister, a bunch of girls I'm not attracted to, some guys from my soccer team, and him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><i><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Edward Cullen.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">I've wanted him since the day he wandered into the lunchroom on his first day this year. I wanted to immediately swoop in and show him around, be</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">that</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">guy. I barely managed a smile when he grinned at me after I picked up the pencil he dropped during biology. Trying repeatedly to muster up the courage to talk to him I failed every time. He was beautiful and smart and straight.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">And I was just the pathetically-in-the-closet boy who lusted after him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><br />
<hr align="left" noshade="" size="1" style="color: darkgrey;" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Edward?"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">I look over in time to see Chelsea lean forward in her very low cut top.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Could you scoot over?"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Sure, sorry." Shifting down puts me right in front of Alice, the hostess for the evening. She's prattling on to Emmett about the rules of Spin the Bottle. I thought the rule was to spin the bottle, apparently I was wrong. She keeps saying "You kiss whomever the bottle points to, no matter what."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">He laughs and says, "If the bottle points me to sausage, I'm tappin' out."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"I'll kiss your boys, then," she says with a smirk.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Who won't you kiss, Alice?" Emmett's girlfriend, Rosalie, says from beside Emmett.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"My brother," she says matter-of-factly as she points to Jasper.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Fucking hell, he looks good.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">He's wearing jeans and a button down. His hair is its usual curly mess. My fingers twitch just looking at him. What I wouldn't give to touch him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Since I met him in biology, I've wanted to talk to him. But he's so shy. So quiet. Anytime I tried to get his attention, dropping my pencil by his desk, bumping into him in the hall, no matter what I tried, he'd duck his head and disappear as fast as he could behind a book or into the crowd. Eventually, I just gave up. He obviously wasn't interested. Maybe someday I would find a boy who was as interested in me as I was in them. Only five more months until graduation then I'll be off to university and out of the closet.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">I watch as Alice spins the bottle with gusto. She squeals when it lands on Bella, the Italian exchange student.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Alice settles herself on all fours and licks her lips.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"La bacio?" Bella asks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Si. Kiss Alice." Kate, the girl she's staying with, replies. Kate spent a year with Bella's family in Italy, and now Bella's staying here with her. I think Kate got the better end of the deal. Bella shyly smiles and leans forward into the circle as little Alice practically pounces. When they kiss, I hear several groans. I'm not sure what the big deal is, but as soon as their lips meet, you would think it was a solar eclipse.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Alice gets a little carried away and I see her brother turn neon red. He's cute when he blushes. Rose finally yanks Alice away and chides her for being a kissing whore.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Bella laughs sweetly and whispers to Kate, "E'stato così buono." Remembering my Italian from last year's class, she seems to have liked the kiss, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Alice smiles at Bella with reddened cheeks similar to her brother's. Maybe I'm not the only gay kid in the room after all. It looks like Alice very much enjoyed herself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Kate explains to Bella that it's her turn to spin, so she does with a big grin, all the while smiling at Alice. The bottle lands on me and I inwardly curse centrifugal force.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Bella's disappointment is brief as a catcall sounds from Emmett and I lean forward as quickly as humanly possible to kiss her. She tastes like cherry coke.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Your turn, Eddie." I want to junk-punch Emmett. He chucks the half empty bottle of tequila at me and then does another shot. I look across the circle trying not to look like I'm gawking at Edward. I notice Alice is reapplying her cherry chapstick and eyeing Peter. Sweet lord, that girl has never met a stranger.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Looking around the circle I swallow hard. Jessica, Lauren, Chelsea, and Irina are all making eyes at me. If I didn't know any better, I'd think they were trying to get me to point the bottle at them on purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><i><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Fuck that.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">I pour myself a preemptive shot.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Please don't land on a girl</span></i><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">, I chant over and over to myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Spinning with as much oomph as I can, I am kind of hoping it will land on me so I can do another shot and get the hell out of here. I promised Alice I'd stay until midnight and it's nearly that.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Time stops as I see the tip of the bottle rotate around the circle repeatedly. The din of the party slowly fades into the distance as I watch the bottle settle. Following the bottle, I raise my eyes. They lead me to criss-crossed blue jean clad legs and a blue cotton button down with the sleeves rolled up on toned arms. My eyes glance along the blonde hair sprinkled along the forearms that lead up to muscled arms and broad shoulders. Finally, my eyes land on a beautiful face with full, pouting lips, a stubbled jaw, and shocked, bright blue eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">I watch as his Adam's apple bobs with a deep swallow. He looks nervous, but a hint of a smile plays at his lips. Maybe he thinks I'll chicken out or he's praying I won't make Alice kiss him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Emmett's making a joke about chapstick and I swear I hear a feminine voice curse. I know I should back down, I know I should do the shot and run, but this is my one chance.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">I've wanted to kiss this guy since the moment I saw him and here I sit with a bottle of tequila pointing at him, giving me permission to take what I want.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Then I realize he's sitting up on his knees. He's coming to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">I shift onto my knees and put my hands on either side of the bottle to push myself up. We both shuffle together on our knees until the bottle is between my knees and he's kneeling in front of me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Nothing else matters as I watch him lick his lips, his eyes trained on mine. Putting my hand on his neck, curling my fingers, I lean forward to take my chance. He leans in toward me and closes his eyes. When my lips touch his, my eyes drift closed and I take a deep inhale through my nose. His scent is faintly sweet with a little salty nip. His full bottom lip is between mine and I open my mouth, my tongue lightly peeking out to taste him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">I hear him groan and his hand reaches out, finding my hand and hooking his fingers into mine. My hands lock into his hair, gripping him tightly and I breathe deeply, struggling to keep my wits as the world swirls around me. It's too much-his smell, his taste, his touch-yet, it's not enough. I feel my heart pounding hard against my ribs and a wash of dizziness. I have to pull away to catch my breath, but I don't want to let go.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">He doesn't pull back right away when I do and I can see his mouth slightly parted, his body leaning toward mine. Half a second later, his eyes pop open and he registers what has happened. Glancing down, I can see a bulge in his pants that matches my own and I quirk an eyebrow at him. His cheeks are already flushed but his lips curl into a slow grin.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"That... was fucking hot." My reverie is broken by Rosalie's voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Holy shit." Emmett and Rosalie were made for each other. "Where did that come from?"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Now I know why people watch porn," I hear Kate say in a mock whisper to Alice who is beaming like a proud retriever.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Stupefacente," Bella murmurs. Amazing, indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Sitting back with a laugh, I shift to try to cover my erection. It's a lesson in futility. My eyes roam the circle trying not to land on Jasper, but I can't help but look to see if he's freaking out. The bottle sits in the middle of the circle still pointing at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"I need a drink," he says and scrambles away from the circle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"It's your turn!" Alice calls after him, but he just yells for her to take it. She smiles happily and spins again laughing when it lands on Emmett, who rubs his hands together like he's just been told he gets a second ice cream cone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">When everyone's laughing at Emmett's show of putting on Alice's chapstick, I sneak away to the kitchen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><br />
<hr align="left" noshade="" size="1" style="color: darkgrey;" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">He kissed me. Edward kissed</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">me</span></i><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">. And I don't think he hated it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">I know I didn't hate it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Shifting myself in my jeans, I try to will my cock to behave.</span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Shit, that was hot.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">I grab another beer out of the fridge.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"You okay?" His voice is honey drifting on the air.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Sure." I pop up with my beer and offer him one. What does he want me to say?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Thanks." He takes the beer, pulling the top off and slugging down several long pulls. Standing dumbfounded, I was the muscles in his neck as he swallows.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"So, that was not something I've done before." I am so stupid.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Really?" He looks genuinely shocked. "You're good at it."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">I don't respond. My brain can't seem to catch up to the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Are you sure you're okay, Jasper?"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">I nod stupidly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">He takes another slow sip and then takes a step toward me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">His fingers wrap around my wrist. In the background I can hear the crowd in the living room counting down. "Jasper?"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Yeah?" Is my witty reply. He's moving closer and I can't say I'm unhappy about it. The people in the living room begin to holler and cheer, yelling "Happy New Year!"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"May I?" He asks as he dips his head slightly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Whatever he wants, I'll give.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Please?" I beg as his lips softly touch mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Our lips meet and his body presses against mine. He feels strong and lithe, his hands weaving themselves into my hair. He tugs slightly and I open up to him allowing his tongue into my mouth. Tasting him now is even better than I had imagined and my arms wrap around his neck to pull him into me more. I don't want to let go. Ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">We stay locked in our kiss until we're jerked apart by a crash from the living room and I hear Alice telling Tyler he's paying for our mother's lamp.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Groaning, I pull away with regret, but smile when he grins down at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">"Happy New Year, Jasper."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">As</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Auld Lang Syne</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">plays from the living room, I raise myself up on my toes and whisper "Buon Anno" before I capture his lips with mine<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">Deepening the kiss and tucking my hands into his hair I think,</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">It will be now.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><br />
<hr align="left" noshade="" size="1" style="color: darkgrey;" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">E/N: I hope you enjoyed this little goodie. Let me know what you think!</span></b><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;">And I hope all of you have wonderful holiday kisses!</span></b><span style="font-family: 'AR ESSENCE'; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div align="center" class="storytextp" id="storytextp" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px;"><div class="storytext" id="storytext" style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.25; text-align: left; width: 1305px;"><div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-26734244624009517362011-12-15T19:34:00.000-08:002011-12-16T18:08:22.350-08:00Sharing<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Sharing...</span></u></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">A/N: TwistedInMasen sent out a challenge to write a story to this picture:</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jQU7_9EGWa8/TrszWqwF5DI/AAAAAAAAAfo/nWFNaoSc_Qk/s1600/sharinggreen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jQU7_9EGWa8/TrszWqwF5DI/AAAAAAAAAfo/nWFNaoSc_Qk/s400/sharinggreen.png" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><i>Beautiful Banner made by <a href="http://twistedinmasen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">TwistedIn</a>!</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I took her up on the challenge. Let me know what you think and who you think is talking!</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><br />
<hr align="left" noshade="" size="1" style="color: darkgrey;" width="100%" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Sharing</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">__________________________________________________</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">We will be late to dinner with my parents. <i>Again</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Edward said three hours ago he was taking Peter to play in the garden while he turned the soil before it rained, yet again. I knew I shouldn't have believed him when he said they wouldn't be gone long. He loves the garden as much as I do and we've been able to grow quite a lot over the last year and a half since we bought all this property.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">And Peter loves to play in the soil and plants, just as much as his daddy. For someone so small, his ability to collect dirt astounds us. Knowing he's out there in the mud means that I need to bathe him quickly and get Edward into the shower. Like father like son.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">We promised to be at my parents in two hours for a family dinner and it's a thirty-minute drive to their place.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I huff loudly as I make my way around the house heading toward the greenhouse and garden. As I look up, I can see the clouds forming quickly. It will be wet and cold tonight. It will be a good night for a fire though, I think as I walk across our yard.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">The large double doors to the old barn we converted into a tool shed and garage are wide open and I can see someone moving around inside. As I make my way in the garden gate, I stop abruptly, warmed and heated through by the sight in front of me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">There stands my two-year-old son, hands caked in mud. He's staring adoringly at my husband with wide eyes and a big grin.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"I growed!" he excitedly yells as Edward takes a small squash from our boy's dirty little hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"Yes, you did grow. You're a farmer, Pete!"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Peter's resounding yelp and happy dance just kills me. I can't help the smile forming at my lips.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Edward leans down proffering his lips to our messy little boy and Peter leans up on his toes to give his daddy a loud, wet kiss.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"Mine?" Peter asks, reaching up for the squash he's grown in his little garden next to ours.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"You're gonna eat this all by yourself?" Edward smiles down at him and holds it above his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"Mine!" Peter squawks again as he tries to grab the squash from Edward, but it's just out of reach.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"Now, now. What kind of son did I raise?" he asks as he kneels down to be eye level with Peter.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"You aren't gonna share your squash with anyone else?" Edward looks so serious, speaking in a sad, soft tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Peter, looking quite shameful, turns his face up to Edward and states solemnly, "I share."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I can't keep myself away any longer and go in. Edward hands Peter the squash when he asks for it and then bounds over to show me his amazing new toy. Scoop him up into a big hug, mud and all, I admire his incredible farming feat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"I grew!" He yells in my ear and I laugh, his happiness is infectious.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"Yes, you did, baby. I'm so proud of my little farmer." I look over my son's blonde curls and take in the sight of my stunning, shirtless husband who is now arguing with some of the weeding tools.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I take in his lean muscles, pulling taut as he shifts a large wheel barrel into its spot in the shed. He catches me looking at him and stands quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"I know, I know... we're gonna be late. I'm sorry. On my way to the shower now, I promise!" His tone is rushed, like he knows I want to start in on him for his usual "just a few hours turned half the day" shenanigans.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"It's alright, Edward. It doesn't matter," I say softly as I squeeze Peter tighter to my chest, causing him to squeak and wiggle against me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Edward's head pops up in confusion, so does Peter's. I look from my son's crystal blue eyes, to my husband's deep green ones then smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"I love you," Edward tells me with a smile as I make my way toward him, holding a now very squirmy Peter.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">As I set our little boy onto the dirt floor, I lean forward and grip Edward's arms pulling him toward me so his chest is against mine. I smell fresh dirt and <i>him</i>. His scent still gets to me every time I come close.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Leaning my forehead against his, his grin softens and he looks into my eyes. I can't help but lick my lips feeling his body so close to mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"I'm gross," he laughs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"I don't care." I shake my head then lean in to kiss him softly, "I love you."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"There's a toddler staring at us."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Smiling at the reminder, I look down at a shockingly quiet Peter looking between us. "Hey Pete! Wanna go sleep over at Gramma and Grampa's house tonight?"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Peter starts jumping up and down praising all things holy to a toddler. He knows he'll be spoiled rotten tonight. I'm sure he won't sleep and he will only eat junk and sweets, but right about now,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I am very, <i>very </i>okay with that.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Looking back at Edward, he's staring at me as though I were a piece of steak and he's been forced to go vegetarian. I guess he's not the only one looking forward to being spoiled tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">"Come on. Quicker you both get cleaned up, quicker we can drop Pete off and get back to what we were about to start."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I laugh as Edward grabs Peter, flipping him over his shoulder, and jogging out of the shed and back up the walk to our house.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Walking behind them I can't help laughing at Peter's shouts and giggles.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">For the first time in nearly a year, I will be all alone with my husband tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I shake my head then run after my beautiful husband and squealing son.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><3<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Rain<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-6118699195262393322011-12-15T17:46:00.000-08:002011-12-16T18:06:38.504-08:00To Honour and Obey another Twi Kink Fest Submission!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><u><b>To Honour and Obey</b></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Link: <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7639885/1/">http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7639885/1/</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A/N: Thank you to Sunshinegal3, JadaPattinson, and my husband.</span></b></i></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></i></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Disclaimer: I own nothing but a dirty mind. I solemnly swear I am up to no good.</span></b></i></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Warnings: This has some light BDSM, nothing crazy, I promise. Rated M for mature spanking good times.</span></b></i></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></i></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prompt: Edward and Bella are in a consensual Domestic Discipline relationship, with Edward being the Head of Household. Bella's gotten herself into some trouble. That's all there is to it.</span></b></i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">________________________________________________</span><br />
<hr noshade="" size="1" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; color: darkgrey; height: 1px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;" /><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I'm sorry, sir."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Sorry?" His eyes are wide, the green nearly gone, hidden by his pupils.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nodding my head, I lower my eyes. "Yes, I was rude earlier. I yelled because I was angry at myself. I am sorry, sir." My gut told me I should've gone to the gym rather than coming straight home. I knew I would need to expel all the negativity from my staff meeting, but I didn't heed my own warning. I had yelled when he came in with mud on his shoes. I had a bad day, it rained all morning, I forgot my briefcase at the office, and then I had just mopped the floors after the dogs had tracked in mud when he walked in.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You should be." I should be. I had no right to yell at him and I was ashamed of myself.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I lowered my eyes and bowed my head as he stroked my leg from knee cap to hip.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You are so beautiful. Even when you are insubordinate, you are beautiful."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't nod, don't look up as I sit on the couch with him standing above me. I just wait.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Out of the corner of my eye, I feel him move beside me.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Over."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I oblige and position myself over his thighs.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel his hand trace from the crown of my head, softly down my back and over the curve of my ass. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then it's gone.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SMACK!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You were bad."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yes, sir."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SMACK!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You yelled at me."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yes, sir."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SMACK!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Do you yell at me?"</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"No, sir." We have rules, and I broke them. My body responds to his hands, but my mind is still reeling from the shame of my behavior.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He drags his fingers down my back, causing a million little bumps to rise to the top of my chilled skin. My ass is burning from his palm, but I relish in the sting. I deserve it.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Apologize."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I lean back, sitting on my heels beside him and unzip his pants, then with the hand that is not bracing my weight, I pull out his cock.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I lick the tip, he brings his hand down again between my thighs, causing me to moan. He then runs his fingers over my clit, back and forth.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I suck him into my mouth, feeling him hit the back of my throat as he strikes me again with his palm.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He rotates between spanking me and rubbing my clit roughly, again and again as I suck and lick along his dick. His hips buck harder as he chases his release and I bring him deeply into my mouth nearly gagging.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When he cums he grips my hair, and I hope that he will give me the relief I want. I need.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He drags me by my hair across his knee again and immediately drop his hand to my ass, sliding his fingers along the raw skin and down to my pussy.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pads of his fingers move in a circular motion along my lips, adding slightly more pressure every time he rotates until my lips are open and he is deftly shifting along my clit with every pass.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't help myself and begin to rock back into his hand seeking out more friction, but he stops and his other hand comes down against my ass, hard.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yelping in surprise, I shift back to put my head on my hands, trying to relax my body like he wants. He spanks me again, only not as hard, and then continues his ministrations.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over and over his fingers pass just a touch lighter than what I want. He has me mewling into my hands. My arms are shaking with the pressure of holding myself up and the agonizing, barely there pleasure. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once again he has me pushing back into his hand.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Wanton little bitch."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once again his hand stops its movement, and I curse myself. Feeling his arm reach around me, his forearm comes to rest under my throat, his hand grips my outer shoulder.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"There are rules in our home. You disobeyed me." He holds my shoulder tightly. "Do you want to be in charge?" I shake my head. "You think you will head this home better than me?" Again I shake my head. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Then you need to show me the respect I deserve. Will you be good?"</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yes, sir." The sir cuts off when he pulls his forearm up into my throat causing me to arch my back, jutting my ass into the air. He begins again with the spankings with renewed fervor. I try to relax, but every third smack is directly between my legs, hitting just below my clit and causing me to tense everywhere.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can feel the burn all along my ass cheeks and upper thighs where he strikes over and over. A lovely coil is wrapping tightly in my stomach as he punishes me for my rude, sullen behaviors.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel it tightening inside me, about to snap.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You disappointed me." His voice is stern and soft, his mouth above my ear. Without warning, my body sinks into his hold and I weep. I sob into his arm, my tears dropping onto his skin. The release is perfect and I feel lighter as my cries wane. His strikes slow once again into drifting circles along my clit and backside.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Using my own wetness, he enters my ass slowly, his middle finger I suspect, long and slow. I can feel his thumb brushing my clit over and over with each entrance. He keeps a slow, rhythmic pace, never quite giving me his full pressure.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Within minutes, I am writhing again and trying to stay quiet, just small whimpers escape me as I bite down on my bottom lip. My tears are drying on my cheeks, my lashes still wet and turning cold as they touch the skin near my eyes.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Give me what I want." His command pours over me like honey. He pushes harder into me, flicking the pad of his thumb across my clit with more pressure and the coil snaps. I cum hard against his hand, my entire body tensing and then releasing until I'm merely a puddle lying across his lap and arms.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"My beautiful girl. So responsive." A small slap on my ass reminds me of where I am. Straightening as best I can on loose, warm legs and arms, I settle myself on all fours, my shoulders back and head down.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He picks me up by wrapping his arms around my ass and chest and deposits me back on the couch, still on all fours.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You paid your penance well, my love."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hearing his praise lightens me. I keep my head down, but I cannot keep the smile from my face. He trails a finger from my shoulder down my spine, feather soft, down the complete length until he arrives at my ass. He then palms each cheek in his hands, squeezing the tender flesh with enough pressure to make me moan.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"What do you need, pet?" His lips are against my ear. I feel his hand pull my hair out of the way and he licks gently along my ribs, slowly making his way to my hip where he bites me hard. I yelp and he says softly, "If you tell me what you want, I might just give it to you."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Fuck me... please," I whimper as he drags his tongue from one ass cheek to the other and bites my other hip. Realizing he's now kneeling behind me, I lean back on my heels to feel him. His thighs align with mine and he rubs his cock along my lips, up and down, slowly.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Please. Please. Please," I mumble over and over, begging him to give me his cock. I feel his body against mine, but he does not enter me.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Since you asked so nicely." With that he thrusts into me, jarring my body with a sharp surge of pain mixed with pleasure. I spread my knees as far as I can with my feet trapped between his knees. I push myself back into him as he pushes forward, so hard that I feel his sac smack against my clit.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything feels that much better as the sting of my ass presses into his warm hips. I know I'll be sore tomorrow, but I don't care in the least. I push back harder, feeling his dick hit deep inside me. I moan louder and he rewards me with a tight tug on my hair. "Tell me, baby."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"S-so good. More, please," I beg, lowering my head to my hands on the couch and raising my ass to allow him more access.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"My girl wants more." He leans forward to drag his tongue along my spine as far as he can reach. "She asks so nicely." His hand drifts along where his tongue was going.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He moves in the opposite direction landing on my puckered hole, pushing slightly as he rotates his finger. He drags his finger down further and I sigh at the loss. Collecting moisture where his dick is still slowly, deeply pushing into me, he brings his fingers back to my asshole and slowly pushes in again. It burns, but it doesn't hurt. Moaning louder, I push against his finger and cock, seeking out more, but he knows. He always knows better than me.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Tsk. Impatient girl. If you don't behave, you won't get your reward."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bite my lip and press my forehead into the couch to keep my begging to a minimum as I hear him sucking on his own fingers. Again he rubs along the sensitive skin between my pussy and asshole, dragging his wet fingers up and pressing slowly into me. Widening my legs, I try to encourage him. I want him deeper, I want him all over me, inside and out. I'm his and I want him to take me entirely.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soon he's fucking me thoroughly with his dick and fingers and I'm a shaking mess. The edge is so close, I feel the tightening in my stomach; the low, frenzied feeling all along my nerves. He knows I'm close, but he's edging me along, slowing down as my body convulses and pulling me back from the ledge. It's near painful as he pushes me closer with his body then pulls me back from the precipice.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"My sweet, sweet girl," he murmurs into the air filled with our groans and sighs and the smell of sex and sweat. "Give it to me."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His body is pushing and pulling in a rhythmic torture, playing my body perfectly. Sliding the hand from my hip that had been holding me into place down to my clit, he begins sliding his fingertips over the swollen skin, pushing ever-so-slightly. Just a few passes of his fingers and I cum hard-harder than I have in a long time-giving me yet another release. White streaks blind me as I clench my eyes against the tight pleasure coursing through every nerve and muscle within me. I know I scream, but I don't know what I say.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Limply collapsing onto the couch, I feel my body molding into the leather.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He moves away, but I don't know where. I keep my head tucked into my arm, recovering my breath.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A warm, wet touch soothes my flesh along my backside. He is taking care of me. He always has and always will. Rubbing softly, he removes traces of our release and the heat uncurls the tight muscles in my legs.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The bath is running, my love."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I lift my head with a shy smile and he leans down to kiss me.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I love you."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I love you, too," I respond. "And I'm sorry."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Forgotten." His fingers drift from my cheek to my little white gold chain around my neck, fingering the little diamond heart at the hollow of my throat.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He helps me sit up slowly, then gets me to my feet to walk me into the bathroom.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We have about an hour-and-a-half until our reservations at seven. My mom and dad messaged when I was on my way home saying they may be a few minutes late." I nod and smile as I sink into the warm tub filled with lilac and chamomile oils. "Your clothes are set out. I'm going to go shower. Be ready at six-thirty."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He kisses me again softly and I smile knowing I will always be taken care of.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">_______________________________________</span></div><hr noshade="" size="1" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; color: darkgrey; height: 1px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;" /><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">E/N: I hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you think. And Happy Christmas to my dirty girls!</span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And because I'm a dirty girl, here's some more spankawesomeness:</span><br />
</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lors57kY5s1qeyx9go1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lors57kY5s1qeyx9go1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px;"></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/RomanAltarkovski/Test/305sw42yu498.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/RomanAltarkovski/Test/305sw42yu498.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvsye3sq871qdes1mo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvsye3sq871qdes1mo1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rain :D</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-14158634501035457522011-12-08T19:37:00.000-08:002011-12-08T19:44:52.653-08:00Cibus pro Anima written for the TwiKinkFest!<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><b>Prompt: Pregnant Bella and Edward finds out he has a lactation fetish.</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><b>Rating: M for the kink…</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><b>Any relevant content warnings: This may contain a touch of lactation fetish and sex. There's also talk of pregnancy, boobs, miscarriage, cravings, masturbation, and humping dogs. If any of that is a trigger for you, please don't read.</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><b>Disclaimer: SMeyer does not own this crazy, but she does own B&E and the gang. This wouldn't have happened without my other hoors: TuesdayMidnight, SadTomato, and Fr333Bird. I appreciate them for helping with all the Kinkery. And, thank you to the pretty girls who preread and beta'd for me- DonnerSun, MsKathy, and Sunshinegal3. You girls make me not suck so bad. Thank you.</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><b>Enjoy!</b></div>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<hr noshade="" size="1" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; color: darkgrey; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; height: 1px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;" /><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><i><b>Cibus pro Anima</b></i>: Latin meaning "Food for the Soul"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Leaning forward, my hungry eyes followed her hand. She stroked and tugged at her breast, moving slowly, pulling on her nipple through her tank top.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Her moan drew me into her further until I was kneeling between her legs, one hand on either side of her shoulders.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
She sighed again as she shifted her tank top down. Her nipple tightened against the cooled air hitting her breast. I was amazed at the way she looked. Completely relaxed, her hand rubbing and moving around her swollen breast. I took in the shape of her nipples, pointed and firm, a darkened pink. She looked delicious.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Her legs spread farther, the blanket dropping off and her other hand began to move again slowly downward. I watched the muscles in her arm tense and release as she stroked herself. Sitting back with tented pajama pants and all, I watched her pleasuring herself. I loved to watch her. And she loved that I loved to watch her.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Fascinated, I watched her hand manipulate her breast softly. Not able to stay away any longer, I leaned forward and dragged my tongue along her hardened nipple.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Mmmm." I looked up and saw her looking down, gaze locked onto mine, her lip trapped between her teeth. I did it again just to hear her little mewl.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I licked from the underside of her breast and lapped upward over and over, passing my tongue over her tight, pointed nipple. Sucking it into my mouth and pulling hard, I began a rhythm of sucking and swallowing. Taking every bit she gave me.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Her hips bucked and her body pushed against mine. She pulled me down into her by yanking on my hair.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I felt her other hand moving under my cock. Her wrist rotated languidly pushing against me on every pass as she continued to pleasure herself to the rhythm my mouth set.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Fuck," I groaned against her tit as she turned her hand and palmed my dick through my pants.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
With every push of her hand against me, I sucked harder on her breast. Her hand slipped into my nearly-off pants and wrapped around me, pulling and stroking me. She shoved at my pants, pushing them completely down as she gripped me tightly, stroking up and down. The friction was incredible, but it was nothing compared to the feel of her breast in my mouth. Her taste was delectable. She was sweet, sweeter every time. She tasted fantastic and I couldn't get enough.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I didn't want to waste a minute of my time with her, so I sat up quickly to adjust us as she tugged my hair hard, pulling my mouth from her breast.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Her voice was shaky. "Edward?"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Sadly for my dick, I thought she was done. It must've been too much for her, she was exhausted. But instead of getting off of the bed, she pushed me until my back was against the headboard. She pulled her shorts off quickly then straddled my lap.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"I need you," she begged as she slowly dropped herself onto my cock, pulling it up so she could slip me inside of her.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
She gasped as I became completely enveloped by her and my head shot up from staring at her gorgeous, bouncing tits.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"So good, baby." Her whimpers were quiet, but reassuring as she moved above me.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Grabbing my hair at the nape of my neck, she dragged my face to hers and as our lips met and she sucked my tongue into her mouth, tasting herself, she sat up. I felt her then push herself down upon me harder.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Fuck... me... so good." I mumbled as she moved.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Leaning forward, her nipples brushed against my body. I pulled her back by her shoulders and feasted my eyes on her ample chest. I tugged the top down completely not wanting to waste the time trying to get the tight shirt off of her.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Please... please, Edward." Begging. God, like she had to beg.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Tilting toward her, I sucked one elongated nipple into my mouth, relishing in the sound coming from her mouth and the buck of her hips.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Sucking hard, I felt her on my tongue. "You taste so good." I moaned as her sweetness, more than just her skin, ran into my mouth. Just the little taste had my body humming.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Fuck me, Edward!" She cried out softly, pulling herself up and down on my cock as I sucked harder, rolling my tongue around her tip. More and more seeped onto my tongue and I just kept sucking.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
She writhed on top of me as I sat completely entranced by her body; what it was doing, how it felt and tasted. She was utterly perfect and she was mine.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
When the taste began to lessen, my body instinctively sent me to the other breast while I still played with the other. I began hard pulls against her tit in my mouth. Sucking as hard as I could. I could hear the grunting noises coming from my throat, but I couldn't seem to give a fuck.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Feeling her pick up the pace, my other hand directed her hips up and down as she rode me hard and I continued my onslaught, sucking and licking.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Oh. Oh, please." Her voice became louder with each syllable. "Please. Fuck. Yes. Fuck. Yes!" She called out and thrusted harder until her body tightened and her legs squeezed together against my hips.<br />
<br />
Feeling her body release encouraged my own and as my body spent itself inside her, I bit lightly on the nipple in my mouth relishing in the burst of honey on my tongue.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Then I heard the little whimpers.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Shit."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
My sentiments exactly.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I watched as my sexy wife climbed off of me and grabbed a sweater to hurry into our son's room.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
***<br />
<br />
Two lines was where it all began.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Two little pink lines and my entire world was completely turned around into something I will remember until the day I die.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
My wife was going to give me a child.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
She looked like she was glowing. I know people say that, but it was actually true. Whenever she talked about it, even when she was ridiculously sick to her stomach, she smiled brightly.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Bella and I were over the moon. I was picturing blue baby blankets and little jerseys. I had it all planned. My son would go to my alma mater and play the guitar like his old man and grandpa. He would not be an Edward, the third. No, I wanted my son to have his own name.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
And like his mother, he would be perfect.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Every father feels that way, right? When you realize your wife is having a baby, you're thrilled and enamored and excited and kind of nauseous. All of it.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Eight weeks later, we were in the depths of hell.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I held my wife as she miscarried our child. There was nothing to be done. It was no one's fault; we were assured repeatedly even though the guilt lay upon me like an iron blanket. We went to the emergency room and the doctors were kind, but honest. "Go home and make her comfortable."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Comfortable?</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
My wife was in pain, inside and out. And there was nothing-I mean nothing-I could do for her. I held her and cried as she cried, saying everything I could think of to calm her, ease her, but no, I couldn't make her comfortable.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
It was the worst experience of my life. And I had caused it. We had incredible, rough, passionate, mind-blowing sex the night before she miscarried. I had hurt her, I had hurt my baby. I would never forgive myself for that.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
When she mentioned trying again a few weeks after her doctor's check up, I refused. She said she wanted to give me the son I deserved, but I just couldn't do it. No one could guarantee us that it wouldn't happen a second time. I didn't want her to go through that again. The doctor said that a majority of women have at least one miscarriage.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
At <i>least </i>one? How is that possible?</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
No, I would not do that to the woman of my dreams. I could never force my fantasy of a family on her even if she thought she could handle it. I didn't think <i>I</i>could handle it.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
We could be happy without kids, I thought. But then Bella asked me if I would help her have another child. She sat with my hand her hers and she explained how she really wanted to try again. She told me just how badly she wanted a baby, that she understood the risks, but that she didn't care. She wanted to try again and if it didn't work, then we would start talking about adoption.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">I thought about it for days.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Seeing her in so much pain was agony for me. Seeing what the loss of our baby did to my bright, charismatic wife was ruthless. But then Bella also reminded me about the jerseys and the t-ball games. When I looked at my gorgeous wife, I saw happy, little brown eyes and unruly hair. I could picture it all in my head when she spoke about having our baby.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
So, I relented and we tried again. I wanted to give it all to her.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Surprisingly, we were able to get pregnant again just two months later.<br />
<br />
Bella was optimistically cautious. I was terrified.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
We decided to wait on telling our parents because last time. Before, we had to make a lot of calls afterward, lots of explaining what happened and it made a horrible situation even more painful. Neither of us wanted to go through that again.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
By the thirteenth week, with assurances from Bella's doctor, we told my parents and her dad. It was another one of those cautious moments sitting at a dinner table not sure of what would happen next. My mom asked lots of questions about Bella's health and of course my father, the consummate doctor, kept answering the questions for Bella and I with the gory enthusiasm only a surgeon could.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Her dad glared at me across the table and I knew he was thinking, "You dumb, selfish bastard." I kind of agreed with Charlie. In a way I felt like I was a huge jerk for letting her convince me to try again, but I would never tell Bella that.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Bella silenced everyone when they asked if we should have waited. She raised her head high with a hand on her barely noticeable bump and smiled as she replied, "No, we're so happy and the doctors are saying everything is perfectly alright. Everything's perfect."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
When my mom scooted over to our side of the table and started talking nursery themes, I had to step outside feigning a call from the precinct. I wanted to think about baby stuff, but I didn't. I was so terrified it would happen again and this time, we were even more attached. I felt like a rubber band about to snap. The tightness in my chest wouldn't go away. Any moment, she would call. It would happen again and I would, again, be watching my world destroyed.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
For weeks on end, I was jumpier than I'd ever been as a police officer, and I'd been through interrogation training. Any time my cell phone rang, no matter where I was, on a case or with witnesses, no matter what I was doing, I would answer that phone by the second ring with panic in my voice. The relief was always palpable as I listened to my wife ask me to bring home barbecue during a snowstorm or spicy nachos from the Mariners' ballpark. I was so relieved; I would agree to find her just about any food she wanted.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Thankfully, Bella's nausea wasn't bad; it seemed to come and go throughout the day. I tried to do what I could for her, but sometimes she'd just tell me to leave her the hell alone. I wouldn't, but I would "shut up and look pretty" as she would ask.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
After the sixteenth week, it was easier to see Bella and her little belly. I wasn't quite as skittish and found myself staring at her blossoming body. I tried not to stare, but it was hard.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">Literally.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Always the passionate "ass-man," I would stare unabashedly at her rear. Always have, always will. It was divine. And her legs were simply perfect. She was a runner in high school and college, and did a lot of activity even though she's the clumsiest person I have ever met. She has always looked skinny, but not scrawny, with just the right amount of back-end to drive me crazy.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I never really paid attention to her tits because she had an ass you could bounce a quarter off of. Now though, I found myself staring. A lot.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Anytime she'd lean forward to tie her shoes, pet the dogs, or pick up something... my eyes just fell to her chest. I tried not to stare, I'd never want to make her uncomfortable, but it was definitely difficult to keep from gaping at her like a dirty construction worker from a bad television show.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I think Bella also liked the way her body was changing. She was constantly touching her stomach, almost like she was afraid it would disappear. I knew exactly how she felt. She would often want me to be involved in baby conversations, talking with my family about nursery preparations or names. Even though I usually shied away from baby-talk, she would grab my hand on occasion, pushing it into her stomach and ask me if I could feel the movement, but I never could. To me it just felt like a stomach. She would always pout and ask "Are you sure?"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
As her "all day sickness" eased in the second trimester, other things popped up in her pregnancy symptoms. She was starving all the time, but didn't seem to gain any weight other than the soccer ball she was smuggling in her shirt and her boobs were getting huge. I mean huge. They were always pretty little handfuls. But now... they were pretty and huge. So round and pert, my mouth would water when she leaned toward me. They moved when she stopped and she had cleavage.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">Plentiful cleavage.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
She didn't even have to wear a bra, but she always did. I hadn't seen them "in the flesh" since she'd gotten pregnant. I heard her say early on that her breasts were so tender she had to wear a bra all the time to keep from sobbing in pain. She was If I weren't terrified of hurting her or causing any kind of discomfort, I would've tried to touch her, massage her to ease the pain away and give myself some enjoyment, too. I wouldn't hurt her though, even if I desperately wanted to grope the hell out of her. I elbowed her accidently early on and she punched me in the gut. Point taken. No touching. No matter how badly I wanted to touch them.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Most men might be disgruntled about no fooling around, but I truly did not care in the slightest. My girl was having my baby. She was helping to create a little her and me. Inside of my incredible wife grew a little person. I wouldn't want to do anything to jeopardize that. If that meant keeping my hands and dick to myself, so be it.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
By week twenty-five, I was uncomfortable to say the least. A lot of showers. A lot.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
My wife was stunning. Glowing and all of that cliché crap they say in the movies. Totally true. She was curvy and beautiful and I seriously think she smelled different, sweeter almost.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
We would spend several nights, when I was off work, curled up together with the dogs watching movies. I'd longingly stare down her shirt as she leaned back against my chest. Not proud, but I'll admit it.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Now that she was getting bigger, we began to take walks together every night with the dogs because they needed the exercise and Bella was missing her morning jogs. Jake and Leah seemed to like wandering around the neighborhood and if that kept Leah from humping Jake, even better.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
We adopted them both thinking that we'd have a perfect set of Wolfhounds; big, fluffy, and fucking scary to intruders. I was working three 12-hour shifts a week with four days off. It afforded us a lot of time together and I knew it would pay off once our baby was born. Leah was my K-9 from when I was in Criminal Investigations and Jake was my retired partner's dog. He couldn't keep his 150 lb partner when he and his wife started traveling after they retired, so we adopted him when we adopted Leah. Having retired police dogs as pets was a comfort for me when I was working nights.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Bella was already in love with Leah and Jake just took to her like I'd never seen a service dog do. It was like he was Bella's shadow. I figured we would make a nice little pack, but we both knew who was in charge. Leah owned Jake's ass. He didn't even piss without asking her permission. Hell, I felt his pain.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I had some detective buddies who would razz me about becoming an old man now that my wife was pregnant, but I didn't care. It was nice to just be with my wife. Our calm, happy world was a good one.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I had been doing well with months of abstinence. My hand was my new best friend and I was okay with that since it kept my wife and child safe. Who knew masturbation saved lives?</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I would do whatever it took to keep them safe.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
One night, my beautiful wife snapped. We had gone out to dinner to her favorite Indian spot then curled up together reading on opposite ends of the couch when she simply leapt on me in a feat of grace I don't think I had ever seen from her in our five years of marriage. I'm not sure what she was reading, but whatever was on her e-reader had gotten her going and she would not stop.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
We'd made out; kissing heavily, her hands roaming from my hair to my neck and trying to get under my shirt, but I wouldn't put my hands on her like that. I just couldn't. I stroked her hair softly and rubbed her back as she writhed on top of me, testing my will.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Please, touch me," she begged into my ear, her hot breath making my skin burst into goose bumps. I tried moving my hands around, but I kept thinking "Avoid the belly! Do not touch breasts!"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">Stroking my hands from her hips to her ribs back and forth was apparently not enough.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Please, Edward," she moaned, pressing her breasts into my chest and straddling me higher, grinding into me.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
She pushed her hips into me again and again until I had to physically push her back by her shoulders. "No, baby."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
She sat up and looked me straight in the eyes. She was still. It was kind of frightening. She's never still; even when she slept she wiggled. Minutes ticked by and I was at a loss as to what to do. Her eyes searched mine, her lip quivered, but she said nothing. I finally said, "I don't want to hurt you," and I placed my hand on her stomach. "Or him."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Likely fucking excuse!" She exploded at me as she scrambled off my lap, catching her leg on the coffee table. I grabbed for her arm as she teetered, now even more wobbly and clumsy that she was, to steady her out-of-whack body, but she slapped my hands away and turned on me.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"I'm fucking disgusting. I am so gross and fat." She gestured to her stomach. "I don't blame you. I'm a whale!"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
My heart dropped at her words. "No," I assured her. "You are not. Bella, are you kidding? My god, you're stunning!" I wasn't lying in the least.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Fuck you, Cullen." Oh, she last named me. "Don't patronize me. You don't touch me. You haven't touched me in months! I used to not be able to change or take a shower without you grinding on my ass and now look... nothing!"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
She turned and walk away, so I followed her into the bedroom. "Go away!"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"I won't go away." She stood with her back to me as I continued, "Please. You have to know how much I want you."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Ridiculous! You haven't touched me in months. You won't even cop a feel! You told me when we were dating that my ass was your favorite thing on the planet... now my ass is ruined! And you won't touch me at all!"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Bella, you're pregnant," I said. She looked at me with a withering <i>"Thank you, Captain Obvious"</i>glare. Stumbling over my words, I continued, "I can't hurt you. I can't do anything that might hurt you or the baby. It's not that I don't want to, it's- it's that I can't."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Can't?" She turned toward me. Her eyes swam with tears, little flecks of wetness on her cheeks and chin. Shit! I'm an asshole. I made my pregnant wife cry.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Dropping to my knees, I placed my arms around her waist and kissed her stomach over her tank top.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">"I am so afraid of hurting you. I'm so, so, so afraid I'll hurt you or make you uncomfortable or do something that will cause the baby distress. I just can't do that again."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Edward? You are a doctor's son. That is the most bull shit answer for not fucking your wife, ever. You had nothing to do with what happened before. And I know your dad gave you the birds and bees talk. I was there for it at our rehearsal dinner!"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I smiled at the memory of my dad, exceptionally inebriated, trying to explain what a honeymoon was.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">Bella leaned forward and thumped my forehead. "Don't be dumb! Getting to second base won't hurt me!"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"No! I know I'm being irrational, but I'm irrationally afraid I'll hurt you or the baby," I said from my stance below her. I stared up at her, craning my neck so I could see her beautiful face.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"So let me get this straight, Detective Cullen," her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You, a man with a degree in criminal law and psychology, are afraid of damaging me or our unborn child if you even just touch my boobs?" She scoffed. Loud.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Well, no," I murmured with my face in her stomach. Looking back up, I could see the irritation drawn on her features. "I just don't want to make you uncomfortable. You said they were extremely painful."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"That was four months ago! And you won't have sex with me because you're afraid of poking the baby in the eye?"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"I just can't." Yes, I whined. "I cannot go back to what happened, Bella. I cannot possibly make you uncomfortable or hurt you in any way. It killed me to see you in so much pain, hurting that way with nothing I could do for you. I just can't." I felt tears sting my eyes as I spoke. Pushing off the floor, I reached for her and grasped her face in my hands.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"I am so sorry." I begged her forgiveness and surprisingly she nodded and kissed me gently on the mouth.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"I understand, baby." She ran her fingers through my hair as she shushed me and told me everything would be okay.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
We hugged for a long time and that was when I felt it. My baby kicked. Against my hand placed low on my beautiful wife's swollen belly, I felt my little baby push against my hand.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">It was all the assurance I needed.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Weeks went by and we worked hard getting the house ready for an infant. We even worked with the dogs on how to behave when there's a screaming banshee sitting next to them, very different than subduing drug dealers. Having my brother, Emmett, bring over his twin toddlers, Chelsea and Carmen, was a nice change, but I don't think either of the dogs will be volunteering for that again. We were having fun planning the nursery, painting and building furniture, and, of course, picking names. We hadn't peeked at whether we were having a boy or a girl, but Bella said she just knew it was a boy.<br />
<br />
She still wanted to name him Edward, but threw in Jasper after her brother to soften the blow.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">"Not only no, because I don't want my kid to have my grandpa name like I did. But your brother, I love him, but he's an egotistical shit and does not need the boon of our son being named after him."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">She laughed a lot after that and we started a list of other names.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Not only did we do lots of planning, but my sexy wife started seducing me.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Yes, my wife. Was seducing me. It can happen. Believe me.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
She'd walk around the house in tiny little shorts and low cut tops. It was nearly summer, so her dresses got shorter and shorter. My wife has amazing legs and her robust ass has driven me insane since we met in college and she knew this. So as she paraded by in barely nothing, I knew she knew what she was doing.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
But I withheld.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Then my she took matters into her own hands.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
After staying up late working to get things done to have time off once the baby came, I tried to be quiet as I opened the bedroom door, but I could hear her moaning. The rustling of the sheets drew me closer; afraid she was having a hormone-driven nightmare. The light from her bedside table was dimmed, but it showed all too well her arm moving back and forth slowly. Her mouth was parted and her eyes closed.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
She was taking care of herself and my dick was jealous.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I stood stupidly at the end of the bed watching her arm move under the sheet, her head rolling slowly atop her pillow with little mewls and moans filling my ears.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Then she came.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Fuck. <i>Me</i>.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
She came with panting breaths and a little groan as she stretched her toes out under the blanket. After a minute or so, she curled around her belly facing away from me and I just stood there, dick hard in my drawstring pants, until I could will myself to go to sleep. It took nearly twenty minutes of deep breaths before I could even lay down and try to contemplate sleep.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
***<br />
<br />
"Mmm..."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
The humming sound woke me from a deep sleep. As I blinked a few times, I realized I was lying nearly on top of Bella. She was on her back and I was laid out with my leg on top of hers, my hips against her side. And then I noticed my hand. I was groping her.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Not just a sweet, little boob cuddle. No, this was full on groping and man-handling. And she was moaning because of it.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
The light was drifting through the windows and I could see her face, soft and relaxed, and her lips would part when my hand shifted over her nipple. The soft mewling noise that came out of those pretty pink lips was astounding and arousing.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Suddenly, she shifted toward me and I pulled my hand back with a near yelp. I didn't want to be caught molesting my wife in her sleep. That would definitely not be okay. I rolled over facing away from her and watched Jake sleeping in a little ball on his bed. I felt Bella's hand curling into a fist on my hip, her fingers moving slowly to clench and unclench her fist.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i><br />
<i>What the fuck?</i>I groaned internally. I didn't know what had come over me.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I knew she was waking up because her breathing had changed and I wondered if I woke her, if she felt me. Shame filled me as I thought about how I behaved. Her little whimper brought me from my mental self-flagellation. Rolling onto my other side I saw her eyes were closed and looked to be asleep. One of her hands was resting protectively against her belly and the other was clutching her breast.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Sitting up, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and hung my head with my elbows on my knees. Why was I acting like this? Shouldn't I be repulsed by the thought of tugging on her breasts? The feelings of self-loathing crept deeper into my heart as I heard her long sigh behind me.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I glanced over my shoulder expecting to see her big brown eyes, but her head was turned the other way. Her hand though, was softly plucking at her nipple through her top.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
She rolled her hips slightly and her other hand drifted lower and lower along her belly. As a little moan escaped her slightly parted lips, I shifted back onto the bed and lay down beside her.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Edward," she sighed as her head lolled back toward me. She was still sleeping, dreaming about me. The reaction my body had to that thought was intense. I wanted to claim her, mark her, take her in every way I could.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
My hand moved toward her breast and I ghosted my fingers along the swell to the peak and swirled around it. Her body, so responsive, turned toward me.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
In the morning light, she was even more gorgeous than usual. Her hair was a mess on her pillow and her eyes were fluttering with whatever good thoughts she was having. Her hand continued its ministrations on her other breast as I experimented with little touches along the other. Without thinking, I moved my mouth to the peak and mouthed it over her top.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
She gasped and her hand clasped my head. I thought she was going to smack me, but she weaved her fingers into my hair and held me there sighing and moaning. I continued to lick and suck and I had to touch her more. My hand drifted to her shorts and I pushed my fingers into them to find her warm and wet. She was so turned on.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Suddenly she shoved me and I was ready with apologies when she crawled over me. Pushing me so I was lying on my back, she straddled my legs. "Please," was all she said.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Her words stirred something inside me, but my fear was still so compelling.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"It's not wrong," she said, shaking her head. "You couldn't be selfish if you tried. Is it because you don't want me? That you aren't attracted to me?"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I kissed her pouting lips then pulled back, "Of course I want you. You're my wife. And you're fucking gorgeous and sexy. I just don't want to do anything to hurt you."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Damn it, Edward! Stop making decisions for me. For us. This. is. good." She punctuated each word with a thrust of her hips. I looked away, trying not to become aroused. She leaned up on her knees and tried to get my attention with her hands, but I just couldn't bring myself to look at her knowing how rough I wanted to be with her. How I wanted to take pleasure from her without thinking about my baby.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Edward, please." Her voice cracked slightly at the end. I felt her shift above me. "Please. Please, Edward."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Something landed next to my head and I looked up and my breath left me in a rush.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
She sat above me, completely bare from the waist up. Her hands moved along her swollen breasts, pushing them together then rubbing her hands across her nipples. She alternated her soft caresses with little tugs and scraping her nails across her skin, making red marks along her chest. Something told me to look away, but yet she was moving her hips and moaning as she fondled her chest with lidded eyes. She was enjoying it. And I enjoyed watching her.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Please, Edward." She was panting and moaning as she moved slowly, rhythmically above me. Watching in stunned silence she pulled again on her nipple and a tiny amount of moisture appeared.<br />
<br />
And I snapped.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Sitting up quickly, I leaned forward and captured the dark pink peak in my mouth. I swirled my tongue, gathering the sweetness and then began to suckle. Alarmed at how amazing she felt, I nearly stopped.<br />
Her moans and shifting hips alerted me to her enjoyment, though, and I continued my attack against<br />
her skin.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Her hips moved faster as I switched breasts and continued feeling and tasting her and I knew she wanted more. Her begging whispers and pants heeded me to lean her back onto the bed and rid her of her clothing. I fell back on top of her bare and eager. Propping myself up on my elbow, my hips against the back of her thighs, my mouth at her breast, I resumed my delights against her skin as my cock sought her out and I pushed into her roughly. I grabbed her knees and spread them as I pushed in and pulled out of her.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Yes, please." She moaned again and again as I thrusted, my mouth never leaving her tit. Over and over again, I pounded into her and drew from her. Her belly was pushed snugly between us and I braced myself by putting my hands on either side of her to keep all of my weight from falling on to her.<br />
<br />
Bella's body was tensing, every muscle coiling inside her. And I took from her. Everything that was mine and giving her everything I was.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Her hands tangled in my hair, held me tightly to her and her words made no sense, but reassured me that I was doing it right. It felt right. It felt so fucking good!</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Sucking hard, she held me to her as we collided together in a sweaty tangle of limbs. She was groaning louder now, more vocal than usual, her legs wrapping around my back. She was gripping my hair tightly in her fists, but she wasn't pulling me away, she was keeping me close.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Her breasts were made to feed my child, but it was incredible to feel her leaking onto my tongue. I needed her taste. I needed to feel her fill my mouth with sweetness as I sucked harder and harder.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">The taste of her milk on my tongue and the feel of her body all around me was almost too much. The tingling started at the base of my spine and crawled through my body with every pull from her body into my mouth. The electricity stung and tickled along my skin as I pistoned my hips against her body and her feet dug into my back pushing me into her harder and harder.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Fuck, please! Yes!" Her scream was felt into the base of my skull and it spurred me forward, deeper and it was just more that I ever thought I could feel. She tasted incredible. I couldn't live without feeling and tasting her again, ever. She was made for me and I would do whatever I could to always have her.<br />
<br />
I could feel the intensity of my climax growing and growing until it overtook my entire body.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">Pushing forward until I was fully inside my beautiful wife, I stilled my body with a shudder and grunted as I swallowed another mouthful of her perfection.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Her hand that was wound into my hair unclenched and she began to softly pet my hair.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Beautiful," she whispered against the top of my head.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I felt myself softening inside her, but I didn't want to move. Laying on my knees and elbows, I was sure not to crush her belly, but I kept my mouth surrounding her silky nipple, softly sucking. Her knees were parted, but her feet still dug into my thighs, holding me to her in our awkward embrace.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
She wasn't at all freaked out by what had happened. She was sighing contentedly and drifting her fingers along my arm.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Leaning into me again, she brought her lips to the top of my head for a gentle kiss and continued to brush her fingers through my hair in a soothing balm to my frantic heartbeat.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Are you okay?" Asking me like I was one of her students with glue in his hair, she blinked up at me.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I sat up and asked, "Did that hurt you?"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
She shook her head softly with a little grin playing at her lips.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"You aren't in any pain?" I asked as I knelt by her legs on the bed.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"No, baby. It felt amazing." Her eyes sparkled in the dim light as she spoke.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Is he?"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"He's fine. Asleep." She caressed her belly then drifted her hand up to her chest.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Are you sure-"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Don't you dare. That was the sexiest fucking thing we've done since this kid was conceived." She emphasized her words as she tugged my hair.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"It was okay?"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"More than okay. God, it was <i>so</i>better than okay." She purred into my ear. "That was one of the best orgasms ever and you once gave me four in one night. That thing, with my boobs... holy shit! That was amazing."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
Hearing Bella curse had always been a turn on and when she was blissed out, she cursed like a sailor. I loved it. And I loved her.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Promise me we can do that again," she asked sweetly.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Yes." Trailing my finger along the side of her breast and then across to the still hard nipple. "I really want to do that again."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
I don't know how long we laid there, entwined together; her softly comforting me, me clutched to her breast. When her stomach grumbled and my baby kicked me, I finally pulled myself away from her warm, soft body. Her smile, so bright and entreating, begged me to be happy. The calm I felt throughout my body was more than I could have hoped for and I smiled back at my beautiful girl.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Let's get you fed, baby. Our little one needs nourishment."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Mmmm. Can I have chocolate chip pancakes and bacon?" She asked with a little bounce as she found her clothes. "I need to double my calories for breastfeeding."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
My head popped up from pulling on my pajama pants. I'm sure she read my concern, the calm from before quickly evading me.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br />
"Did you know women can breastfeed for years after giving birth?" She smiled softly as she passed me. A naughty, knowing grin spread across her scarlet lips.</div><hr noshade="" size="1" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; color: darkgrey; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; height: 1px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;" />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
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<b>E/N: Well? What did you think? I hope you enjoyed. Go read the rest at twikinkfestDOTtumblrDOTcom. Lots of kinkydirtyfun over there! </b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-19892037044062885082011-11-07T20:57:00.000-08:002011-11-07T20:57:57.380-08:00La Bella Addorementata by @einfach_mich - Darkness at it's most beautiful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTOjbWRNwius40MmMWpYPg77ewHceic9fEk3T8E5tWfLab9HDNQXw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTOjbWRNwius40MmMWpYPg77ewHceic9fEk3T8E5tWfLab9HDNQXw" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>This was poetry.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>Dark, coiling, sensual, and enthralling. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>I didn't want to like EM's Edward and I really didn't know what to make of Bella, yet I kept reading. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>I found myself gripping my computer like a vice as I read.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>It was so intriguing and encapsulating that I couldn't stop. Mere minutes and I was finished. I actually went back and reread. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>Stunning and appealing tale with such evocative imagery. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>I was thoroughly enticed and delightfully entertained. Truly.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Go read-</span> <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7513116/1/La_Bella_Addormentata">http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7513116/1/La_Bella_Addormentata</a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i><3 Tell her Rain sent you.</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-73299434309664097132011-10-26T21:10:00.000-07:002011-10-26T21:10:08.803-07:00What should you be reading? Mowgliward by @vampiremama<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>I'm so glad you asked!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Mowgliward.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm8rj6S8X61qkrec7o1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm8rj6S8X61qkrec7o1_500.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Yes, you read me right.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6867084/1/Beautiful_Savage">A Beautiful Savage</a> by ReadingMama</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR87DW4YnR-ieTiIWUxpwMpVeH9meEOolIkpbG-XCgJ9_X7SNS3TQ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><img border="0" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR87DW4YnR-ieTiIWUxpwMpVeH9meEOolIkpbG-XCgJ9_X7SNS3TQ" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">So I'm sitting around one night talking to JadaPattinson about fetishes, weird fics, and crackfic. She says, "Have you read Beastward?" And my response was kinda like this:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lnydccXvsU1qaa241.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lnydccXvsU1qaa241.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">But then I read it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">I shant be doubting Jada again any time soon.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">There was love and pain and passion and laughter. A beautiful boy lost. A feisty girl found.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">He's survived incredible odds, made a family, and even though he was feral, he had a heart of gold. His tenderness was immense and her overwhelming love melted my heart.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">I loved that VampireMama didn't let her Bella roll over and die. I hate that dying swan aspect of fic. Y'all know that. I also don't like when authors put RIDICULOUS constraints on their characters or put them in dire situations, turn up the heat, add some more angst and then poke you in the eye because they think it will help their reviews. VM is not like that. She wrote from her heart and even though there is some serious angst, there is also this under current of kindness, tenderness, and beauty.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Edward may have been raised by wolves, but he has more humanity and compassion than most.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Bella may have been abandoned and hurt, but she never gives up.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Bella and Edward are working through a lot, more than you could imagine, but then in their quiet moments... oh their intimacy! Not just the smut... ooooh is there smut. And it's freakin' hot! But beyond the toe-curling smut, there is this connection. You guys know me, I always love when the emotions overtake the fucking. :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">And, VampireMama, if you happen to be reading- Jacob broke my heart. I love that character! Can he please go live with Bella and Edward?! I'm sure he can be house trained!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/17100000/Taylor-Lautner-Stills-from-Bella-The-Wolf-taylor-lautner-17189485-400-225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/17100000/Taylor-Lautner-Stills-from-Bella-The-Wolf-taylor-lautner-17189485-400-225.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Anyway...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">If you love a heartwarming fic with enough angst and lemon to keep you coming back for more, A Beautiful Savage is just up your alley... err, forest.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Just go read it!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://dc341.4shared.com/img/deZsExJ2/s7/mama-mowgli.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://dc341.4shared.com/img/deZsExJ2/s7/mama-mowgli.gif" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Tell her Rain sent ya!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><3</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-69185037395029672912011-08-29T21:09:00.000-07:002011-08-29T21:10:49.578-07:00Rec of the Week over at @IndieFicPimp Paper Moon by @MsKathy<div style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">If you didn't get a chance to read it yet, I wrote a review of Paper Moon by MsKathy of The Trip Home fame.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: purple; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BfhHj2o9GgA/Tlxh-vcuUEI/AAAAAAAAAa0/CivtYvbKTh0/s1600/Paper+Moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BfhHj2o9GgA/Tlxh-vcuUEI/AAAAAAAAAa0/CivtYvbKTh0/s320/Paper+Moon.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Here is the think if you'd like to take a look: <a href="http://indieficpimp.blogspot.com/2011/08/theraingirls-rec-of-week-82911.html">http://indieficpimp.blogspot.com/2011/08/theraingirls-rec-of-week-82911.html</a></span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you to the girls at IFP for letting me play with the big dogs.</span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l376/dragonfly336/Banners/IFP.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l376/dragonfly336/Banners/IFP.gif" /></a></span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-61413174504721009372011-08-26T07:51:00.000-07:002011-08-26T07:51:08.121-07:00New o/s and a beautiful banner!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JHAfOZikavg/TlexprO3S2I/AAAAAAAAAaw/qGvgGwuSpFE/s1600/ThisLife_.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JHAfOZikavg/TlexprO3S2I/AAAAAAAAAaw/qGvgGwuSpFE/s640/ThisLife_.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">Look how pretty <a href="http://tinyurl.com/3pn7dhb">TwistedIn_</a> made this banner!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">Here's the link to the new story I wrote for <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/%7Esunshinegal3">Sunshinegal3</a>'s birthday last month! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7222667/1/"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7222667/1/</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Jasper is the son of the head of the Nomads motorcycle club and has just lost his son to the state. Alice is the DA's daughter looking to prove herself in the courts. Alice is as straightedge as they come, so why is she dreaming of blue eyes & 1800CCs?</i></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-34921799631469923452011-08-04T19:45:00.000-07:002011-08-04T19:45:47.744-07:00What's Pwning Me and I'm Sorry!<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">My apologies friends for neglecting my recs! Life's been busy with work and family emergencies and all kinds of crazy.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_locncav3b81qlr140o1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_locncav3b81qlr140o1_500.gif" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm currently working on my novel so I'm not updating as much as I should be and I do apologize for not having lots of lovely Torn and Peeper updates. I did post a Peeper outtake, the EPOV of Stripperella taking his V-card- <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7008884/6/The_Adventures_of_Peeperward_and_Stripperella">http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7008884/6/The_Adventures_of_Peeperward_and_Stripperella</a> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">I also put up a one shot for my beta Sunshinegal3's birthday- <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7222667/1/This_Life">This Life</a> and it has Bikersper :)</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now on to the good stuff!</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR2BIiC59o3RrxjhQuvLqAGuCEctqNkGPSICAqi1jnzfJMgBlzkbg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa271/tnp360/whip.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa271/tnp360/whip.gif" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Fics that own my ass:</span></div></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6991987/1/A_River_Between">A River Between Us</a> by WildRedPoppies - Lordward and Bookella. It's Flangsty.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7043140/1/Inside_Man">Inside Man</a> by O_oza Prisonward and Youngella. Ridiculously angsty and makes me whine a lot!</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6961284/1/From_the_Cup_of_Duty">From the Cup of Duty</a> by LadyExcalibur2010. Fantastic histfic staring Kingward and Maidella! <3 And the author is NOT, I repeat, NOT a douchcanoe!</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mail Order Bride/ Bear Valley Ranch by <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2099712/Lady_Gwynedd">Lady Gwynedd</a> How's about some Rustlerward and Prairiella?! So so so well written! </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6483877/1/Dear_Mr_Masen">Dear Mr. Masen</a> by jendonna. Some more Flangst with a side of nerd. Always good. And she made a tough Bella which is always a plus.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the two I'm waiting to wrap up are <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2039458/erinbatt">Secret Sex</a> and <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6369019/1/Wrenfield_Hall">Wrenfield Hall</a>, but these girls have just had wee babes, so I'm not being a PITA, but I would loooooove to read the epilogues for these!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tell them I sent you and give them lots of love!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><3,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Rain</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-65576995159348144532011-07-08T23:09:00.000-07:002011-07-08T23:09:10.922-07:00Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!To all of you who voted for Extraordinary Girl in the Single Shot Awards, thank you thank you thank you thank you!<br />
I really didn't think we'd win and I was pleasantly surprised to see the tweet from the SSA peeps.<br />
It's been a long few weeks of family, health, work issues and this was just the warm fuzzy that helped brighten my day. Nanna's on vacation driving through upper America and into Canada with her brood, but she's said thank you as well!<br />
Look at the beautiful banner that was made in our story's honour:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TnVuYpt-zDg/ThSNCABazMI/AAAAAAAAAIw/0gPM6H9oYZM/s1600/Best+Bella-Jacob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TnVuYpt-zDg/ThSNCABazMI/AAAAAAAAAIw/0gPM6H9oYZM/s400/Best+Bella-Jacob.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'd also like to congratulate my lovely LeanneGoLightly for winning TWO SSAs. Go check her stories out, they're always amazing. The link to her stuff is in my VIP section. </div><br />
Thank you again! :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-87065940253213965132011-07-03T11:07:00.000-07:002011-07-03T11:07:48.498-07:00Two things that are chaffing my delicate sensibilities.<b><span style="color: orange;">Fublishing</span> and <span style="color: #cc0000;">Rape</span>.</b><br />
<div style="color: #4c1130;"><i><b>Not necessarily in that order.</b></i></div><div style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</div><div style="color: magenta;"><i>Now, you might be like "Well, Rain, isn't this special for the Independence holiday weekend..." but really, my friends... think about our fandom. I love our fandom, trust me, I do. We put the fun in dysfunctional very well, but at the heart of it, there are such good people and the money raised for different charities is just fantastic. Mad props to all the organizers, authors, and donators. Beautiful thing.</i></div><br />
<div style="color: #666666;"><b>I do though, have some issues that keep coming back up and well, I want to vent about it.</b></div><br />
<div style="color: #cc0000;">First thing, the most serious on my list. Rape as a gimmick.</div><div style="color: #cc0000;">Rape is real. Sexual assault happens too often and in fact, shouldn't happen at all, but sadly, it is real. One out of every six Americans will experience some kind of sexual abuse or assault in their lifetime. How sick is that?</div><div style="color: #cc0000;">Because of these tragic facts, when writing a dramatic work of fiction, yes, rape can be a part of that drama. Hurt/Comfort fics are often centered around a trauma occurring to one or both lead characters and shows how they rise above and build a future... this is a good thing. Usually.</div><div style="color: #cc0000;">I recently read a fic where the lead female character was repeatedly raped by her father and basically held as a sex slave... sickening. I kept reading thinking "This will get better. There will be something better happening and it will redeem this awful beginning." I was wrong. Our lead character finds three boys and becomes a nymphomaniac.</div><div style="color: #cc0000;">O_o</div><div style="color: #cc0000;">She was raped and tortured for years, but within a week she's bangin' three guys, saying she loves them, and living in poly domestic bliss? Eh?</div><div style="color: #cc0000;">I've read a few others where the FMC falls in love with her rapist, unbeknownst to her, and how she deals with that. I've never been in that situation, but I think having been raped by the man you love, whether past or not, would be a hard limit for me.</div><div style="color: #cc0000;">There've been a few fics where the FMC is raped or assaulted in some way and then the white knight shows up to protect her and save her from herself, while this can happen as well... not all rape/assault victims need to be rescued from their tortured existences. Sometimes we rise above on our own, without the help of a man, we become whole, complete, solid members of society, then fall in love. How beautiful would that story be? Well, I guess maybe there just isn't enough drama for that. But anyhoo... it just seemed to keep coming up in a lot of the angst/hurt/comfort fics I was finding. The idea that rape could be a motivator to keep reading.... could be a gimmick to get two people together... or that rape could be downplayed so much that it becomes practically a joke within the story.</div><div style="color: #cc0000;">Rape isn't a plot device. It isn't a gimmick. It isn't fun, hot, or sexy. Rape is a crime. Whether it happens to a child, an adult, a man, a woman, it's wrong.</div><div style="color: #cc0000;">For those of you contemplating using rape or assault as a plot gimmick, please rethink your motivation and do some research. </div><div style="color: #cc0000;">An 18 year old girl wouldn't spend years being raped repeatedly by her biological father and his friends then jump into a relationship with three strangers and have orgasm fests fraught with dirty talk, DP, and a menage' quatre. Just not gonna happen and well, it's freakin' offensive to those of us who've lived through sexual assault and have spent years dealing with the aftermath and have had to struggle to be "normal" and remain mentally healthy. Do some thinkin' folks. That's all I ask.</div><br />
<div style="color: lime;"><b>Now, on to something not as serious, but that's still chappin' my hide. </b></div><div style="color: orange;"><br />
</div><div style="color: orange;"><b>Fublishing. </b><i>adjective</i>.<b> A slang term. Fake-publishing. The act of taking a fan fiction story based on a published author's copyrighted work/characters and publishing with an independent (see not respected in publishing world) "e-publisher" or even print, for monetary gains.</b></div><div style="color: orange;"><b>Giselle posted an incredible piece this week regarding these fic publishers/fublishers. You can find it <a href="http://giselle-lx.livejournal.com/13764.html?view=37316">here</a>.</b></div><div style="color: orange;"><b>She lays it out there and she's so honest and factual. It's not a personal attack on the twittertwats (sorry) that we've seen as of late that are selling their bastardized fan fics to the highest bidder. Not only does it offend me that they're taking something someone else wrote, throwing it in a blender, then getting paid for the sale of the e-pub, but honestly, most of them that I've read are not well written or edited. (<a href="http://youtu.be/STYDAb_iCjg">Check with Ross Gellar</a> please.) </b></div><div style="color: orange;"><b>If I were Stephenie Meyer or JK Rowling, I'd be pissed seeing how so many of these "authors" took their years of hard work and "put my own spin on it" as I heard one FF writer say on twitter. I'm sorry... you took a work of art, threw it into the food processor with some heaving bosoms and throbbing members, maybe some trite angst and misconceptions and a dash of striking green orbs and hit spin. When it came out you poured it into a pretty e-package and called it yours. Not okay, chick. Not. O. Kay! </b></div><div style="color: orange;"><b>And this is why publishers like Little Brown, Simon and Schuster, Scholastic, Harlequin, and Carina Press, won't touch former fics with a ten foot pole (there are cases of them being published, but they're reworked like you have no idea and it takes a lot of work. A LOT). </b></div><div style="color: orange;"><b>I have several friends who are now being published and you betchya the publishers and agents will ask you about it having been posted anywhere online in any previous form... why is that? They don't want the fuckery associated with fan fiction!</b></div><div style="color: orange;"><br />
</div><div style="color: blue;"><i><b>Who else is impressed I made it this far and just now used an F-bomb. I know I am! </b></i></div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><i>Moving right along, it's been a stressful week and I just had to get these two important irritations off my chest. I hope I've enlightened and educated, maybe even entertained. I'm just trying to raise the bar and I hope our fandom will continue to do great things. If you're interested in helping out, here are some upcoming charity events- <a href="http://www.thetwilightawards.com/search/label/Fandom%20Events/">http://www.thetwilightawards.com/search/label/Fandom%20Events/</a></i></div><div style="color: #38761d;"><i>Or, follow me on twitter @theraingirl4, I always try to RT charities and our fandom's good works.</i></div><div style="background-color: white;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; color: cyan;"><b>Thanks again for reading, friends. Happy Independence Day!</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: purple;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; color: purple;"><3,</div><span style="background-color: white; color: purple;">Rain</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-65523214025929169532011-06-14T18:48:00.000-07:002011-06-14T20:56:09.317-07:00So, you know that fic with the bazilionaireward... New fic from @ltlerthqak<div style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">So you know that fic where Edward is a bazillionaire and can buy Bella anything and everything is perfect? </span></i></div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Yeah, this isn't that fic.</span></i></div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Doormanward!!!! </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="" height="197" 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" 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</div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7060917/1/Words_Like_Art">Words Like Art</a></span></div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by ltlerthqak</span></div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Edward is a doorman along with several other gentleman, and they're all supposed to be Anthony, wear the same outfit, do the same job, and be completely indiscernible from the other. He is not an individual... he's an Anthony. He has a job, he does his job. He stole my heart from the moment I met him. He's a blue collar worker just trying for something better. Carlisle Cullen promised him more money, stability, and security... all he had to give up was his identity.</span></div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But then one day, trailing behind the spoilt Alice Cullen, comes in a beautiful brunette. This brunette makes eye contact, speaks to him like a human, and makes him feel for once, that he is a real person again.</span></div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then she's gone.</span></div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*sigh*</span></div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">No lemons yet, and I don't even care if there are some! I know! That just doesn't happen very often with me, huh?</span></div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Go check it out. Doormanward will open the door to your heart. *snort* See what I did there? LOL No, seriously, go read! Tell her I sent you!</span></div><div style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><3,</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Rain</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-91694391910157322452011-06-13T17:54:00.000-07:002011-06-13T20:01:37.365-07:00Stand up. Speak out. Fandom 4 Sexual Assault Awareness<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://fandom4saa.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/ffsaa_header.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 488px; height: 103px;" src="http://fandom4saa.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/ffsaa_header.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><br /></div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.752229484835713" style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >Every 2 minutes someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </div><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><li style="background-color: transparent; list-style-type: disc; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >17.7 million American women have been victims of attempted or completed rape</span></li><li style="background-color: transparent; list-style-type: disc; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime</span></li><li style="background-color: transparent; list-style-type: disc; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >2.78 million men in the U.S. have been victims of sexual assault or rape</span></li><li style="background-color: transparent; list-style-type: disc; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >College age women are 4 times more likely to be sexually assaulted</span></li><li style="background-color: transparent; list-style-type: disc; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >15% of sexual assault and rape victims are under age 12</span></li><li style="background-color: transparent; list-style-type: disc; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >7% of girls in grades 5-8 and 12% of girls in grades 9-12 said they had been sexually abused</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >Victims of sexual assault are:</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </div><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><li style="background-color: transparent; list-style-type: disc; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >3 times more likely to suffer from depression.</span></li><li style="background-color: transparent; list-style-type: disc; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >6 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.</span></li><li style="background-color: transparent; list-style-type: disc; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >13 times more likely to abuse alcohol.</span></li><li style="background-color: transparent; list-style-type: disc; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >26 times more likely to abuse drugs.</span></li><li style="background-color: transparent; list-style-type: disc; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >4 times more likely to contemplate suicide.</span></li><li style="background-color: transparent; list-style-type: disc; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >Get more information on the effects of sexual assault </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.rainn.org/get-information/effects-of-sexual-assault"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:underline;">here</span></a></span><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >.</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >Approximately 73% of rape victims know their assailants</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </div><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><li style="background-color: transparent; list-style-type: disc; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >73% of sexual assaults were perpetrated by a non-stranger.</span></li><li style="background-color: transparent; list-style-type: disc; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >38% of rapists are a friend or acquaintance.</span></li><li style="background-color: transparent; list-style-type: disc; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >28% are an intimate.</span></li><li style="background-color: transparent; list-style-type: disc; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >7% are a relative.</span></li><li style="background-color: transparent; list-style-type: disc; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#000000;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >Only 6% of rapists will ever spend a day in jail</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" > </span></div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;" >(Information from </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://fandom4saa.wordpress.com/facts-and-statistics/www.rainn.org"><span style="background-font-style:normal;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:underline;">RAINN</span></a></span><span style="background- font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;font-size:130%;" >)</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://fandom4saa.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/sexual_assault_ribbon_by_obsidian_siren.png?w=200&h=425"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 323px;" src="http://fandom4saa.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/sexual_assault_ribbon_by_obsidian_siren.png?w=200&h=425" alt="" border="0" /></a></span> </p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Great ways for you to get involved- http://fandom4saa.wordpress.com/how-you-can-fight/</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >If you donate to one of these charities, you can send your reciept to the ladies at http://fandom4saa.wordpress.com/where-to-donate/ And they'll send you an awesome compilation of Fandom stories. I've donated the EPOV from Chapter 29 of Inamorata and lots of other authors have donated:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >22blue 107yearoldvirgin Awesomesauce76 aydenmorgen aylah50 brattyvamp coldplaywhore Edwardsbloodtype greeneyedgirl17 hopey Jacndaniel Jarkin33 & phoebes.promise (collab) Javamomma Kassiah Kitsushel lady tazz luluM lyricalkris MinaRivera fiberkitty Mskathy pkmarita Rose Masen Cullen SadtomatoFF SammieLynnsMom Sarita SexyLexiCullen sleepyvalentina spanglemaker9 Stellalunasky SunshineGal3 Tarasueme & MsKathy tellingmelies TexasKatherine TKegl winterstale</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Just to name some of my personal faves.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">As a survivor of sexual assault as a child, someone who lived through it and rose above the embarrassment and ridicule and moved on to bigger and better things, I encourage you to take this cause to heart. I was hurt by a family friend and at first no one believed me. Even now, some people don't... but it isn't about WHO believes you or WHY it happened. It happens. Stand up. For yourself, for others, for those who cannot stand up.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >The sheer number of people on this planet who are molested and assaulted is striking and shameful.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Please donate and please make sure YOU are aware.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><3,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Rain</span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-57181025841602594922011-06-12T21:14:00.000-07:002011-06-12T21:19:33.480-07:00Happy Birthday, Edward's Eternal :)<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sZRArFE82ws/TfWO8kh-6pI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/pVwRR0pJxUo/s1600/rob%2Bbday%2Bmel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 365px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sZRArFE82ws/TfWO8kh-6pI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/pVwRR0pJxUo/s400/rob%2Bbday%2Bmel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617553281464068754" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sZRArFE82ws/TfWO8kh-6pI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/pVwRR0pJxUo/s1600/rob%2Bbday%2Bmel.jpg"><br /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >I just wanted to take a moment to thank my dear friend and beta, Mel, for putting up with all my crap.</span><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" ><br />You are amazing.</span><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >I am so glad you were born!</span><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sZRArFE82ws/TfWO8kh-6pI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/pVwRR0pJxUo/s1600/rob%2Bbday%2Bmel.jpg"><br /></a><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/s4Rax2PXiWA" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Love,<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Rain <3</span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-78485962870814820192011-06-12T21:00:00.001-07:002011-06-12T21:03:38.148-07:00What you should be reading: Set Fire to the Rain by Sunshinegal3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JYcbv7D8DWI/TfWLio9XwUI/AAAAAAAAAZI/_vd-wjadyBg/s1600/SFttR.jpg"><br /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">My girl, sunshine, has a new story. You need to be reading this.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JYcbv7D8DWI/TfWLio9XwUI/AAAAAAAAAZI/_vd-wjadyBg/s1600/SFttR.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 369px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JYcbv7D8DWI/TfWLio9XwUI/AAAAAAAAAZI/_vd-wjadyBg/s400/SFttR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617549537441202498" border="0" /></a>Here's the prologue:<br /><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" id="internal-source-marker_0.7315499015634384"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;">Prologue</span></p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I do not own Twilight. All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.</span></p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“When you’re at the end of the road</span></p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">And you lost all sense of control</span></p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">And your thoughts have taken their toll.</span></p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">When your mind breaks the spirit of your soul.”</span></p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">-21 Guns, by Green Day</span></p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“All right, folks. It’s time for the moment you’ve all been waiting for!” </span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I snort loudly, earning looks of disgust from the old ladies sitting at the table beside me. Yep, that’s right. I’m sitting way in the back of the reception hall, in the midst of people I’ve never met in my life, at my own sister’s wedding. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Alice can’t let the screw-up brother be seen by her elite guests, I suppose.</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> “What?” I snap at them. They narrow their eyes at me, but promptly turn back around in their seats to watch “what we’ve all been waiting for.” </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Yeah, right. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I grab my fresh glass of wine and down it in one long gulp. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Cheap shit. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">You’d think Mommy and Daddy Cullen would have sprung for the best for their little princess’s wedding. </span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“Ladies and gentlemen,” the DJ continues, “Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Whitlock!”</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The crowd erupts in thunderous applause as my sister darts out from the doorway with her new husband by her side. I roll my eyes but force myself to clap a couple of times, although this is quite possibly the last place I want to be. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Appearances are important</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, my mother’s voice rings in my head. Sounds about right - that’s what is most important to these people apparently. Nobody gives a damn that the little “spitfire” we’re celebrating is a world class bitch.</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Alice is beaming, as is Jasper, as they make their way to the middle of the dance floor. Mom and Dad are sitting right up front, tears rolling down Mom’s cheeks as she clasps her hands in front of her. Dad looks on proudly and places his arm around Mom’s shoulders. Of course he’s fucking proud; he doesn’t have to pay off Alice’s credit card bills anymore. As much as that makes me want to laugh, I do my best to control myself. However, the moment “When I Look At You” plays over the speakers, I can’t help but to guffaw like an idiot. Miley fucking Cyrus? </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Really?</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> Everyone turns to glare at me, including my parents from across the room, and I hold my hands up defensively. Hey, I’m just doing what everyone else </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">wants </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">to do. There’s no reason for two twenty-five-year-olds to be dancing to Miley Cyrus.</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I wave the passing waiter over, holding up my empty glass. I’m definitely going to need more if I’m expected to make it through this night. The waiter cocks an eyebrow at me when he arrives, his eyes darting from me to the glass. “Sir,” he begins sternly, “I think you’ve had enough.”</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Now it’s my turn to raise an eyebrow. “‘Scuse me? You’re not getting paid to </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">think</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">. You’re being paid to serve. Now </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">serve</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> me another drink.”</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I can hear the other people at my table clear their throats, but I don’t take my eyes off of the scrawny punk in front of me. Who the hell does he think he is? He clears his throat as well, obviously becoming uncomfortable. “In all due respect sir, you’ve already had at least four glasses, and I know that I saw you at the bar during cocktail hour. Plus, you’re slurring.”</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I hold his gaze for a moment, cocking my head to the side as I study him carefully. He shifts his weight from foot to foot, but does well at maintaining a cool expression. I can feel more eyes on us as I place my glass back onto the table. Slowly, I push my chair from under the table, the screech it makes against the floor sounding throughout the room, and stand so that I’m face to face with Mr. Know-it-All here. He swallows audibly as I inch closer, surprise clouding his features when I smirk at him.</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“Listen, I’m not a bad guy,” I offer in the calmest voice possible. My head goes fuzzy for the briefest of moments, but I do my best to shake it off quickly. “I know you’re just doing your job...” I trail off as I squint at his name tag. “Johnny?”</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“John,” he snaps.</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I chuckle lightly to myself and step even closer until we’re nearly touching. “Well Johnny boy, let me tell you something. You see those people over there?” I point across the room to where my parents are now gaping at me, along with the rest of the guests. I simply ignore the deathly glare coming from Alice. “Wave hi,” I whisper to John. He makes a strange gurgling noise but does as I ask. I offer them a tiny wave as well before turning back to the waiter. “The good doctors are paying a pretty penny to make sure this goes off without a hitch. Now, not giving a guest what he asks for? I’d say that’s quite a hitch.”</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">He blinks rapidly, becoming more and more unnerved by the second. “L-look, I just...”</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I can’t hold in my laugh, which startles him. “L-look,” I mock the blubbering idiot. The burn deep inside hits me full force, nearly knocking me off my feet, and I need something to calm the fire that’s beginning to rage. I don’t have time for these games</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">When I grasp him tightly by the shirt, his eyes go wide as gasps echo all around us. “Just </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">one more fucking drink</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">,” I hiss through a clenched jaw. “That’s all I asked for.”</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“Edward!”</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I don’t have to turn around to know my father is staring at me with the look he’s so famous for - disappointment. Pity. I’m so damn tired of the pity. I shove the waiter into the table behind him, sending its dishes crashing onto the floor. The table’s occupants stand and rush away, scattering like roaches in the light. I feel myself stumble a a bit as I turn around to face my dad, only to realize that I was dead-on about his expression. Mom is standing a safe distance behind him, huddled together with Alice on the dance floor. Jasper has his arm around the two of them as they stare on in what appears to be fear. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“What the hell is that look for?” I shout at Alice, who hides her tear-streaked face in Mom’s shoulder. Jasper is glaring daggers at me, but doesn’t budge from his place beside Alice. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Does she honestly think I’m going to hurt her or something?</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“Edward,” Dad speaks again, more softly this time. “You need to have a seat, son. It’s your sister’s wedding for Christ’s sake.”</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I roll my eyes, the lightheaded feeling coming back again. I have to hold my arms out to steady myself while taking in a deep breath. “I’m sure that’s what you think, Daddy Dearest,” I grumble. “But you don’t have a fucking clue what I need.” I move to charge past him, but he reaches out and grabs my arm tightly.</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“I’ll do it,” he whispers harshly into my ear. “There are officers right outside this room, Edward. You know I won’t hesitate...”</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“To have me arrested? Again?” I ask incredulously. “What a fucking stand up guy you are, Doc. Having your own son arrested, and at your little girl’s wedding no less.” Yanking my arm from his grasp, I continue toward the bar, leaving him frozen in shock. I don’t know why he’s so surprised - this is the Edward he knows...and he helped make me this way.</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The crowd parts like the Red Sea as I stalk across the room, Alice’s sobs echoing the entire way. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Like she really cares. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Once I get to the bar I plop down on one of the stools, finally feeling the tiniest hint of relaxation. “Hey, you!” I yell out to the pretty girl that seems to be hiding in the corner. “Shot of Jack. Make it snappy,” I add, attempting to snap my fingers. Of course it doesn’t work. My body is beginning to feel like jelly, an all too familiar sensation as of late. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">It’s getting out of control. You know it is. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I shake my head, ridding myself of the thought. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Now isn’t the time for moping. No one here gives a damn about your problems. </span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The bartender doesn’t even budge, which only pisses me off more. “You deaf?” I shout, standing. When she doesn’t answer, I feel the relentless monster rising up from inside. Every muscle in my body tenses as irrational rage surges through my veins. It lasts for mere seconds before everything in my line of vision begins to blur together. The girl shrinking into the corner is the last thing I see before the room becomes hazy.</span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The problem is...I don’t even remember what the hell happened to me before ending up in the back of this police cruiser.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Go check it out!<a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/%7Esunshinegal3"><br />http://www.fanfiction.net/~sunshinegal3</a><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-47285745274476462172011-06-12T16:56:00.000-07:002011-06-12T16:56:05.965-07:00Betty Smith: Grown women hate Kristen Stewart...This was very well said. I just wanted to share with others!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.akabettysmith.com/2011/06/grown-women-hate-kristen-stewart.html?spref=bl">Betty Smith: Grown women hate Kristen Stewart...</a>: "Ten (or more) things I wish I had known before I started writing Fic. Grown women hate Kristen Stewart, and to my knowledge, she hasn’t..."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1263252121060560219.post-73544490028592694522011-05-25T22:06:00.000-07:002011-05-25T22:08:35.403-07:00Torn 8: Destruction<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XMPLkkBdQ1M/Td3gO9YQ34I/AAAAAAAAAY8/bJDjANTqb80/s1600/B%2Band%2BE%2Bafter.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XMPLkkBdQ1M/Td3gO9YQ34I/AAAAAAAAAY8/bJDjANTqb80/s400/B%2Band%2BE%2Bafter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610887258372628354" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> 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unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">A/N- Firstly, Thank you so incredibly much to whomever nominated Torn for the Gem Awards. I don’t know what to say, but THANK YOU! Here’s the link for the nominations, lots of great stories to check out! </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://gemawards.blogspot.com/2011/05/onyx-round-is-open-for-voting.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">gemawards(dot)blogspot(dot)com/2011/05/onyx-round-is-open-for-voting(dot)html</span></a></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-CA"></span></b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Disclaimer: I own nothing if you recognize it, that’s all The SMeyer. </span></p><b style="font-weight: bold;"><span lang="EN-CA"></span></b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-CA">More at the bottom!</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Destruction</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Cold, wet air pushing around my hair and neck brings my mind up to the surface. My body is thrumming with the pounding pains in my head. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> ***</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I’m running, but I’m not. I know my muscles aren’t moving, but I know I’m going forward because I can feel the movement around me. When I try to focus on what’s going on around me, a searing pain ricochets through my head and thankfully, blackness takes me again.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">***</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Edward! What’s happened?” A man’s voice jars me from my stupor. The black nothing was nice because if I were in the abyss, I was not in pain. Now the pain is back, ebbing and surging through my mind.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Bella?” I hear several familiar voices and I pray for the blackness to take me again away from all the yelling and commotion. “Bella’s alive? How is that possible?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Every movement. Every single move they make with my body is registered in stinging lances through my head.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“She’s been changed? How- how is this possible?” The yelling causes white light to mix with the blackness. It hurts. My muscles are tight, knotted together, nothing I do will release the pain and stiffness. It’s like my body is angry.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I’ll explain later. Please, she’s ingested another’s venom and drug-laced blood. Help her, please!”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">My body is rested on something, something soft. I try to speak but nothing comes out and I can see only black. As I try to move the pain comes back again with a vengeance rendering me incapacitated. Paralyzed by agony, yet again. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">***</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Someone is caressing and brushing my hair... a soft feel across my forehead. Warm wetness drips a bit on my face, but the sensation is too much, I pray for it to stop. There is a humming inside my head, almost like a vibration. It’s rattling slowly down my spine and makes me want to run, run from the creeping feeling up and down my body. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Give her time, Edward.” The soft, feminine voice slows the march along my body. I try to focus on the feeling that I know her.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“What am I going to do, Esme? I can’t lose her again. I hate seeing her in pain; I hated seeing her with him. God, just thinking about him touching her makes me volatile. It’s sickening.” Hearing his voice, laced with anger, makes my body tense up. As soon as they’re quiet, the stinging pains creep back up along my body like something crawling along every piece of skin they can find. Thankfully, the blackness comes again to take me.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">***</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“She’s coming back again.” A soft, deep voice I remember continues, “Edward, stay back. Just let her have a moment. I need to examine her when she’s conscious.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Growling. I hear growling. I need to protect myself, but my body won’t move. Trying to focus on what has happened to me, I can see James in my mind, defending me against Edward, but I also remember that while part of me was terrified of the fighting and the noise, there was also a part of me that hoped Edward would kill James. And that I would be rid of James’ control and dominance.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Bella, dear. Can you understand me? Can you open your eyes for me, please?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I know this voice. He can help me. I know this. But my eyes won’t open. My head hurts so much.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I think she’s out again.” Silence then a long sigh. I try to pay attention to the men speaking, hoping they’ll explain what’s wrong. Hoping they’ll put me out of my misery. “Tell me, Carlisle. What’s happening to her?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I can only think that something like what humans get- blood poisoning, something similar to that because of the venom and also she’s going through what seem to be withdrawals. She was feeding on humans daily, you said?” I want to feed now. “All the time, whenever she wanted?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Silence. Please let them leave me to die if they won’t feed me.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“If she was feeding that often, she became dependent on it with those newborn urges. You remember what it was like? Imagine if I’d given in to your every urge at that time? For an impressionable newborn, her humanity stuck in the back of her mind and all that bloodlust being fed over and over, you can imagine the neurological pathways that were built, Edward. Now her body is breaking down.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Shut up and kill me.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I don’t smell drugs in her system any longer.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“No, they’ve finally burned off, but that was not good for her either. Our systems burn drugs fast, but they can still have an effect us. The venom from Victoria is still in her system though...” God, the pain is so intense. And all these two can do is fucking chat! “...battling with her own. I’ve never heard of a case where a vampire, even a newborn, has tried to feed on a changing human. Only time will tell what has happened inside her. That may be why her mind has shut down. We need to feed her, she’s definitely weak.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“We can’t shove it down her throat, Carlisle, you could kill her.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><br />“She’s not human, Edward, but I do understand the dangers of forcing her, but if she is unable to feed herself, I must find a way to keep her from weakening to the point of losing her. You know this.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">When cool hands land on my face, the shock of the touch rocks through my entire body, every nerve ending electrified. It hurts so much my mind shuts down and I’m back into the abyss.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">***</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Burning. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I’m burning.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Why won’t they just kill me?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">As I come in and out of my mind, I hear them speaking about me. About my James. Victoria. The boy who tasted badly. There is a voice I recognize most of all within the familiar ones floating around my head... the one that belong to the angry, gold eyes. Edward.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Did Carlisle say there was any change?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“He said he thinks the worst of the drugs are out of her system but that she’s got some kind of coma or brain injury-type reaction to the venom in her system. It doesn’t seem to be damaging her physically, but it’s caused some kind of reaction in her brain.” </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Why can’t they just put me out of this misery?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Please?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Esme! Did she just say something?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">The pain is so intense. It steals my ability to think about anything but ending the pain. “Kill me.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Oh god, Edward.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“No, no one will kill you. We’re going to help you, Bella. Calm down. We’ll help you. I prom-” I don’t get to hear the end of his sentence. I’m lost again to the darkness.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">***</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“You need to feed.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I’m aware of that fact, Jasper. I’m not an idiot.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“No, you aren’t. You are hovering though.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I want to be here when she wakes up. It’s been weeks.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Her body is healing. I can feel the calm that comes over her as she’s unconscious. She only gets upset, like now... she’s panicking as her consciousness comes back and she hears us.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Bella? Come back to me. Please, come back to me.” His voice is filled with concern. Why does he want me back? Why can’t I just be gone? It hurts to be awake.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“She’s panicking too much, there’s too much stress. I need to calm her. Carlisle said we can’t rush her, Edward.” I feel my body loosen and relax, like a blanket of peaceful fog lying across me. “She’s calming again.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">***</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Edward, we need a different approach, son.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“What do you want to try now? We are all reading to her, moving her limbs, talking to her, nothing is helping. She doesn’t respond to stimuli.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“We need to take into account how weak her body is getting and the lack of change in her consciousness. What if we revisit the idea of trying to feed her?” I want to feed. The burning is getting worse. Almost more painful than the headaches. “If we allow her to feed, the scent, the drive... it could bring her back again. We could give her enough to satiate her. It might be the jump start she needs.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“How do we do this without her freaking out? I’m not bringing her a human. I don’t like the idea of stealing blood from the blood bank in such a small town. And I won’t let you force feed her, Carlisle.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“No, that’s not what I meant. I spoke with Emmett; he is willing to go catch something for her.” Catch <i>something</i>? “We can move her to the patio or the garage, somewhere safe with all of us on alert, but still allow her to have her instincts. To feed her needs, Edward. To give her back some control over this situation. It might snap her out of this catatonia.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">There is no noise for a long time and then I hear the beautiful voice, so close. “Bella... we’ll take care of this. I promise you we’ll make it better.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">His voice is so kind. I want to touch him... to see he’s real. I hear his promises. I want them to be true. I try to relax my body and allow myself to come up from the darkness, to move toward the safety of his voice, but my mind doesn’t let me. It’s such a conflict within me. I can see James’ face and hear him telling me that Edward is dangerous. In my mind, I relive the feedings with James and Victoria, my hunger pangs growing stronger. I feel James’ touch as he reminds me that he is my liaison and my keeper. He said he was training me, as my maker, he said he had to make me into his perfect mate. I wanted to please him. He kept me safe, fed, happy, and all I needed to do was follow his lead. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Although James absolutely terrified me with his anger and violence, he also kept me alive. I remember him praising me with “good girl” and “that’s my pet” when I behaved as he wanted and then he would give me what I wanted. He always rewarded me for helping track and take down humans. He never lied to me, did he? If he said to do something, I did it. If I didn’t, he punished me and I went hungry or untouched. When I did as I was asked, I was always given what I needed and craved from him. He would often let me seek out attentions from him or Victoria. Even though he would often threaten to take my food away if I didn’t follow him explicitly, he would also make me feel good with compliments and pleasure. If James hated me, wouldn’t he have already killed me?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">***</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Blood.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Before I know what’s happening, I’m drinking. My vision is hazy, like looking through a fogged window, but I can taste. Warm, sweet and salty, hints of metal and earth mix within the liquid gold as it flows down my throat. It’s not perfect, but it calms the burn. The pains lashing at my head are eased, but not gone.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Empty.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“More.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Fuck yea! Our girl’s got an appetite!” The shout causes me to bear down into a crouch taking inventory of the indistinct figures surrounding me. At least five vampires.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Easy.” The calming, golden voice. “It’s okay. No one will take it from you.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“More.” My voice is husky and rough. I try to look for more, but my eyes are so blurred I cannot and I don’t smell any more fresh blood.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Emmett.” The tall, soft-spoken man speaks firmly, “Son, focus! Go get the other one. Good planning ahead.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I knew she’d be a predator.” I see the outlines of the three men. One leaving, the other two stand near me. Pushing the body off of me. It’s furry. What’s happening to me? Why can’t I see well? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">They are all just staring at me. I see the outlines of people around me. Some farther away so they are just shadows, some closer, I can smell them all though. Sweet, almost too sweet.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Edward leans forward. “Shh. It’s okay. Emmett will be right back with another.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Get away from me. Don’t hurt me!” The panic is rising and pushing through my body. <i>He abandoned you. He wants to hurt you. Don’t let him take you away. </i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I have to get away.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Scrambling to my feet, I lunge toward where the large, happy one disappeared. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Bella, you have to stay here. Emmett will be right back. Carlisle, do something! Where’s Jasper?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I’m trying, she’s very panicked, she’s throwing off some serious fear. She’s terrified, Edward, and it’s hard to get through.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Are you hungry, Bella?” The fatherly one asks, “Do you want to feed?” The room has no windows. It smells of oils and chemicals and the stench burns my nose. I do want to feed, but not on anything in here. My vision is still so fuzzy; I can see the outline of those holding me here. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I contemplate taking them all on to escape when I hear growling and then the large one appears with a massive, snarling beast. A mountain lion? He throws it from the door over the two in front of me. Before the cat has a chance to recover, he’s down.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">So good.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I drink and drink until I can no longer feel the burn and I no longer care who is staring at me.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">***</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Come with me and we’ll get you cleaned up, okay?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">The little one, Alice’s hand brushes along the tangles of my hair. Her motions remind me of Victoria, calming me with just a stroke of her hand or touch of her lips. Leaning forward into her, my body reacts before my mind has a chance to fear her.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Come along. Would you like to wash? You’ve gotta feel pretty grimy?” Her questions bring to my attention the dirt under my fingernails, the blood stains along my jeans, the mud and blood caked on my skin.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I feel... ashamed? Visions of blood and death circle my head. Where before I would want physical rewards after feeding, now I feel empty. Normally, James would want me to help him with getting the food, corralling the humans and then we would enjoy each other or I would watch James and Victoria together. I do not desire that now. “What’s happened to me?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Bella, it will be okay. We’ll get you clean. I promise.” Her soft, reassuring words calm me, not only with the promise of a clean body, but maybe a way to clean my mind too.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">The room she brings me to is expansive to say the least. My scattered thoughts take in my surroundings. Clean white walls and furniture, save for a massive black wrought iron bed dressed in soft looking white linens, scents of lemons and sweet warmth fill my senses. I recognize the smell of Alice, she very unassuming, I’m sure she could be a threat, but she isn’t. I can feel that she isn’t a danger to me. She leads me to a very large, open bathroom and starts a bath for me. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I’ll go find you something to wear and we can burn what you’re wearing.” Her smile with her words elicits a smile of my own. While Victoria constantly belittled me and antagonized me, Alice seems to really want to be nice to me... she seems to have my best interests at heart which is surprising, but familiar at the same time.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Vanilla. The smell of warmth and sweet runs through me. A vision of a beautiful dark-haired woman smiling at me as she places a large bowl of ice cream in front of me. The thought of ice cream causes my stomach to roll uncomfortably, but the smell... the scent causes me to sway a bit and hold onto the towel rack to keep from falling.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Pulling the ratted and bloodied pants from my hips is a relief. I quickly shuck them onto the floor, but as the heat from the bath warms the room, the scent of blood permeates the air. My skin has blood stains and so do my jeans and shirt, even my bra is pink-tinged. My mouth starts to fill with a metallic taste. The pangs of hunger return, my gut twisting a bit.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I think I need to feed. Stumbling out of the bathroom, my feet catch on my discarded clothes. The smell lessens in the open room and I land in a crouch near the bed trying to figure out where I want to go, what I need to do next. My mind is flashing between the sounds of people discussing me downstairs, talking about where to hunt, but I also hear a car outside, and trees moving in the wind. The sound of birds chirping causes me to go to a bay of windows along a wall. As I look out on a large yard that leads to trees, I can see water beyond the trees and there is someone running. I can hear their feet hitting the dirt an octave below the sound of the birds. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Mesmerized, I watch as the man who found me and took me away from James, Edward, comes through the tree line running faster than I’ve ever seen someone move. My eyes track him easily, but I’m still amazed the way his body moves so lithe and graceful, dodging every branch and valley until he reaches the porch of the house and disappears.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Bella?” I jump a bit. So enthralled with the boy running, I didn’t notice Alice coming back.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“You didn’t bathe?” I look down at my naked body glimmering with light. Being so close to the window is causing sunlight to bounce along my diamond-faceted skin. I turn my dirty hands out in front of me watching the light and colors.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“It is beautiful isn’t it?” I nod without looking away from my skin; my arms, my legs, even my breasts sparkle in the fading light.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Lovely,” I say with a bit of waver in my voice. My mind is clearing; even if my eyes are still a bit blurry, my mind isn’t as hazy. I can concentrate a bit longer, but I really just want to look at the glittering all around me.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Let’s get you washed up, then you can change into something more comfortable, okay?” she asks with such a sweet voice, I expect to look up and find her dipped in honey.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I think no clothes would be the most comfortable,” I murmur turning in the light, looking behind me to see a bit of twinkle on my backside and heels. How marvelous, I’m like a decoration!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Yes, naked <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">is</i> good, but right now we need you clean, then we can feed you again.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">My body reacts to her words. “I’m thirsty.” Now that she’s said it, the nagging pain in my head throbs a bit, not as badly as before, but I can feel it. The burning in my throat is rising again as well.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I’m sure you are, Bella. And it’s okay that you are.” Her hand traces along my hair, her fingers getting knotted a bit at the end. “But you need to wash away all the muck. We can start fresh.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I would like that.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Then let’s go.” She pulls me toward the bathroom; the nearly overflowing tub still smells like the pretty, happy woman in my mind.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">As I step into the bath, my mind goes blank. All I can feel is the heat of the water, soothing against my tough skin. The water turns a bit of a dirty pink color the longer I sit, but I don’t move. I wait in the water, watching Alice find some things and come back. She pours something that smells like cookies or candy into her hand. It’s too sweet and my nose burns a bit. She starts rubbing my hair and soon bubbles fall across my face. It still smells too sweet, but it feels good, her fingers scrubbing along my hair and scalp, massaging the sweet scents into me from the top. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">She turns on the faucet then uses a sprayer to rinse my hair and then excuses herself as I sit in a mass of cookie-scented bubbles.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">A gentle knock at the door interrupts my thoughts on what the bubbles might taste like. “Are you ready to get out and go hunting?” I climb out eagerly and she helps me dry off with huge fluffy towels. She gives me clean, new smelling clothes. Included are tight blue jeans, not very conducive to hunting, and a cream-colored, soft sweater that I keep petting the sleeves while she talks.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I sit on the end of the large bed, my hair being combed by the kind Alice. She’s explaining to me about all the vampires who live in her home. She calls them a family. She tells me of the doctor, Carlisle. I try to remember him from the story she tells of before when he helped me after I hit my head on a red truck. My truck.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">She also tells me about Esme, her mother. I ask her if she’s the brown-haired woman from my mind, but she thinks that’s my mother, Renee. When she comes around to telling me about the large, loud one and his maker, Rose, the stunning blonde appears at the doorway.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“How sweet. Alice has a new doll.” Something in her voice causes me body to tighten. “Will you be dressing her up like a Barbie as well, Al?” Her voice sounds ice through my body, tightening every muscle.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Hush Rose. I want to take care of Bella. She deserves it.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“She deserves something alright. The world seems to be revolving around her-”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Before I realize what my body is doing, my muscles have contracted and I’ve gone from the bed to the door. My hands land square on her ample chest, tossing her back into a wall, glass and wood splintering around us. I hear Alice calling for us to stop, calling the doctor and the others. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Even though I can hear them asking me to stop, I cannot. My body wants retribution for her words. She was spiteful to someone who has been kind. And something tells me that in my past, her spite and anger have always played a role.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">We tumble and roll, pushing against each other. Her nails dig into my skin, burning pleasure. It feels good to feel. I grasp at her hair and try to maneuver myself around her curves. She has plenty of muscle and long legs and arms. She’s quite beautiful, like the trapped lion. I quickly gain the upper hand and straddle her, pinning her arms above her head onto the wood floor, her feet and legs still flailing about like a dying animal.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I hear in the distance people yelling my name, but I don’t care. I must take control of this threat.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“You are mine now,” I say harshly.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Fuck off, little girl.” I grip her by the shoulders and slam her head into the wood floor cracking it underneath her.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Her voice reminds me of Victoria and combined with her wriggling and writhing beneath me, something inside me stirs. Victoria liked when we would fight then make up, though something tells me<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Rosalie would not be as receptive as Victoria. Her curses and threats create a red hot streak through me and hearing her say that I’m pathetic and worthless only aggravates me further to the point of putting my hands against her throat and tightening. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">As I lean into her I hear Edward. “Bella, stop.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">My head volleys in his direction without command from me and seeing him so crestfallen and angry doesn’t make me want to run. It makes me want to do something. To apologize. I don’t like seeing him in pain, especially because of my actions. Crawling off of Rosalie, I make my way on all fours to where Edward is standing. I hear behind me as Emmett scoops his mate up off the floor and makes a comment about the rising temperature. There is a loud smack and a door closing, but I try to focus on myself, my body, the man in front of me that won’t meet my eyes. Soon he turns and walks away from me. It feels as though he’s taking a part of me with him and that terrifies me even more.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Dr. Cullen comes from behind me and crouches down to me. “Isabella, would you like to go hunting, dear?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Instantly, I want what he has for me. I would often have to repay James for giving me food, as “a good pet should”, so I lean into him but he steps away. “You and I, Edward and Esme, and Jasper and Alice, we will all go hunting.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I nod, not sure what to do with my body, my eyes, or my head.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">They lead me out of the house, all of us walking together. It feels safe being with them. Sometimes I didn’t feel safe with Victoria and James. There is something different about these ones. They are not asking me to do anything; they’ve not told me a plan to trap the humans. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">When I question the copper-haired woman, who has asked me to call her Esme, she sweetly reminds me that we won’t be hunting humans. I pout a bit at the thought of drinking more moose.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I hear a chuckle from behind me. Looking back I find Alice’s Jasper. He’s very calming, soothing to look at... almost like a painting of a beautiful ocean scape or a calm piece of music.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“How ‘bout we find you another mountain lion, Bella?” he asks, just a hint of an accent coloring his peaceful, happy words. I am not sure I want a mountain lion, but the way he asks makes me want one. I can’t help but smile when the side of his mouth grins.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Edward calls out that there is a pack of large timber wolves entering the forest where we’ve run to and he explains how we’ll take one each, no more. It’s a large pack, but he explains if we take too many, we’ll destroy the group. James never allowed survivors. Looking at him curiously, again he reminds me we take what we need and no more. I’ve heard him say this twice since we’ve been running and hunting. I nod and he smiles slightly. I like seeing him smile.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">After each of us have taken a wolf and taken down part of a herd of elk, we begin our travels back toward their home. Alice and Jasper are ahead of all of us talking and laughing. Their sounds make my body relax as I run. Esme and Edward are behind me, speaking in low tones I can register occasionally if I try. Carlisle is a few strides ahead encouraging me to keep pace. I focus on the pound of my feet against the dirt. Alice gave me sandals to wear, but I refused and now I run barefooted and I like it very much.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I hear Edward call my name, but I ignore the sounds. I have only one focus.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Blood.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I stop instantly as the message reaches my brain. Turning quickly I follow my instincts and throw myself toward the scent that promises me at least two people.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Behind me I hear the group realize what’s happened and some are arguing about why they didn’t sense the people. They are trying to catch me, but I’m very fast. I’m about a mile away from my prey when I’m thrown into a tree, the loud crack startling me more than the feeling of my body breaking the wood.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Mine!” I snarl, unsure of who attacked me.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“No, Bella!” Edward has me pinned down. “You can’t kill them. They’re little kids. You can’t hurt them, Bella. That’s not you!”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I lash out, trying to do anything. “Fuck you! I can have them!” Anything to get me away from those angry, gold eyes. Anything to get me to the luscious scent in my nose.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“No. You are not them; do not let them take you. You can fight this!”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Get off me, Edward! They’re mine to take. They’re just humans!” James’ words echo in my head. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“This is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">not</i> you. This is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">not</i> my Bella, my mate. Please stop!” His cries are agony to my ears and heart, like a knife piercing everywhere. <i><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He abandoned you. He doesn’t want a monster. He only wanted you when you were a human.</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I am not your mate!” I scream at him, but his grip is relentless. I finally look into his eyes and I’m shocked what I find swimming in those blackened eyes. It hurts in my gut seeing his pain.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">My body sags against the tree, but Edward does not let go. Carlisle and Esme are near, speaking in muted tones to me, words of calm and kindness. Jasper and Alice look on as my body is lulled, peacefully calmed. I can feel all the bloodlust drip into the soil as though I’m being drained.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Take her back to the house,” I hear Edward spit out as he turns away from me and the others carry me back. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">My last thought before I black out into a calm sea of darkness is, “I’m sorry, Edward.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">***</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I’ve made him abandon me again. I made him leave and I don’t know why.” When I wake from the “calming” as Alice calls it, I want to find Edward. I want to find him and beg his forgiveness, grovel at his feet, and make him tell me how to make him happy, how to please him. Alice says he has gone hunting with Emmett and Rose. Just the mention of her name raises alarms in my head. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Don’t worry. After Edward came back, he gave Rose quite the tongue-lashing about her behavior. Of course she pouted, but she’s over it. Plus, what you did with her got Emmett quite interested.” She is smiling, joking with me. I wish I could laugh, but all I can think about is James and Edward. My maker? My mate? Both gone. I have nothing. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“He was my maker too, Bella.” I nearly miss her speaking as the battle in my head wages on.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Confounded, I question, “James was your mate?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“No, Jasper is my mate. James apparently made me a vampire, though. Like you. It was a long time ago. I was sick.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Why were you not with him if he was your maker?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I was in a hospital. I was locked away during my change. We don’t have to stay with our makers. James lied to you, Bella.” </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“James said that pets must submit and serve their maker.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“He lied, Bella. While it’s true there is a bond between a vampire and their liaison, it’s not an unbreakable bond like a mate. James wanted to keep you. Have you serve him and Victoria. He lied to you, though. He tricked you and used you.” Her voice is so sad, but part of me wants to defend James. He did take care of me. He did keep me from dying or starving.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Sitting up, I say, “I wanted to stay with him. He helped me hunt.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“You wanted to stay because he fed your bloodlust and that’s what newborns want. But you don’t have to hunt humans, Bella.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Remember what Edward and Carlisle told you about eating animals? Remember the wolves? The bear? And the lions?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I nod. Draining the wolves and the bear was good. I liked the lions too. Not like hikers or campers though. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“You can do that again. You can drink from animals whenever you want. You won’t be thirsty here, I promise. We don’t hurt people. We live with humans and we take care of them. That’s how we met you, Bella... when you were a human, Edward kept you safe. We didn’t want to hurt you.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I remember you, Alice.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“You do?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Yes, not an actual thing... I just- I just remember that you are kind. You said we were friends?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“We <i>are </i>friends Bella. You are my sister.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Sister? I have a sister?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Yes, two. Me and Rose.” The mention of the blonde’s name makes me growl a bit. “We are always here. And you have Edward. He is your mate. He worships you like a mate should. And you have Carlisle and Esme who love you. And Emmett and Jasper too, like brothers.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Charlie?” The name I remember from Edward. He said I had a Charlie who loved me.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Yes, Charlie. He’s your dad. You can’t see him right now. But someday, you will. When you’re better.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I want to be better, Alice. I want to be like you. I don’t want Edward to abandon me again.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Oh, Bella.” She runs her hand along my cheek and I lean into her touch. “It’s good you want to be better. If you want it... then you will be.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“I need to make Edward happy.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“You do make him happy, Bella. He did not abandon you, ever. He’s just scared right now. This whole new Bella is a lot to take in. He never wanted this for you.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“He never wanted me.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“No, listen to me, Isabella Marie Swan. He wants <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">you</i>, he will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">always</i> want you. I think he’s loved you since the moment he saw you at Forks High. But he did not want you to be a vampire like him since he has hated being this way for nearly a hundred years. He just wanted what was best for you. To protect you.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Protect?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“Yes.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“How did I end up with James?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“He tricked us. We had no idea he had changed you. And while you were with him we couldn’t read his thoughts. Edward went after him to kill him and somehow you were changed and bonded to James when he found you.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“James was my maker. He kept me safe.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“No, he didn’t. He used you. Don’t forget that we are your family, Bella. We will always be your family.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I look deep into her beautiful gold eyes, so similar to Edward’s. “I want those eyes, too.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“You do have them, Bella.” I need to work on saying things in my head. She walks into the bathroom and brings me a mirror. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">When my eyes meet the reflection, I am awed by the flickering glint I find. The hues of yellow and gold, mixed with a fleck of reddish brown here and there are just mesmerizing. I touch the mirror slightly and I hear Alice giggle.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">“You are still beautiful.” My head snaps to the door. Edward is standing against the jamb. “I think we need to talk, Bella.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-CA">E/N- Well, she isn’t back to Bella... and Edward certainly has a lot on his mind. What do you think will happen next? Check out the soundtrack for music teaser of Torn 9 and reviews will get a pictease, too!</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-CA">Hugs and Motorboats to my beta Edward’s Eternal. And 22blue and Sunshinegal3 are both SAINTS for dealing with this chapter. It was a struggle and you both dealt with it and my so well. Bless you both!</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-CA">Thank you to all of you who are reading and reviewing. I truly appreciate you all!</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-CA">To my dearest Skeezon, I love you. 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name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><b><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Disclaimingness: I own a pile of reviews with lots of SHOUTY capitals and a hammock that I will be in all weekend. SM owns everything you recognize here, even the horny Vampella!</span></b> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="Arial","sans-serif"; font-family:";color:black;" ><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="Arial","sans-serif"; font-family:";color:black;" ><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Disappointed</span></b><br /><br /><i><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >She wants him. </span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >She wants her.</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >She does not want me.</span></i><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >After being attacked by Laurent and having to dispose of him, I lost Bella’s scent for a while. I couldn’t track any of them and I tried to hear them but for some reason they were muted. No matter how close I got, or how hard I concentrated, I picked up nothing from any of them.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Trying again to track them merely by senses was slowing me down, but I refused to lose them. I would follow them undetected as long as I could until I could get her alone. If I could get her away from them, then maybe I’d have a chance of getting her through the newborn bloodlust and confusion. Maybe I could get her back. No. I <i>would </i>get her back. Our bond was too great to be lost even with her as a newborn. I knew deep inside my heart, she was still mine.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Day after day I watch. They are slowly heading back toward America, but I cannot read their minds to know what they have planned. When the three of them are together, I get nothing. Bella follows them as though she’s tethered to them with a leash. When they get close to humans she even whines a bit and Victoria plays keeper, making James happy by soothing and calming Bella until they unleash her on innocents. It kills me not to intercede but I won’t ruin my chances of saving Bella from them. From herself. </span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Knowing she’s not in her right mind helps ease some of the pain of watching her holding his hand or him kissing her cheek. Remembering her kindness soothes some of the rage when I watch him chase down hikers or frat boys cliff-diving. He allows her first pick to decimate lives with a smile on her face. The idea that she desires the destruction of others chills me to my core. Her finding pleasure in their death brings me back to my own memories of killing humans. It hurts to think that when the newborn haze and lust has passed, she will have to reconcile what’s she’s done.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >This is not my Bella, I know this. A few times I think she may sense me, feel our connection, the bond between our souls. Her eyes will flicker up into the woods and dense brush that cloak me and I can feel the tug against me, pulling me to her. She’s always with them. She’s never far away, so I never step forward. Biding my time, I wait and watch and hurt.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Isabella? What’s the matter?” I hear Victoria’s sickly sweet voice call to my Bella.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >With a whine she replies, “I’m thirsty.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“We just ate, child.” The annoyance drips from her voice. Victoria is tiring of her already.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“But I’m thirsty again. Can I go on my own? I can find something.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“No. James would not like that. He’s returning soon and he’ll let me know where we’ll go for more. You need to learn some restraint anyhow.” I consider jumping them now, with just Victoria on watch, but I know James is returning. I can hear his thoughts now that he’s away from the women. He needs bait so he’s going to send Victoria out to lure the men away from the town. They’re young men who will be easily swayed by a pretty face, but he won’t send Bella yet, not into a town full of people. At least he’s thinking ahead somewhat.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Bella’s head pops up before his voice sounds. “My sweet girls! We’ll be enjoying our meal soon.” James walks back into the clearing. I can see him from my perch in a tree yards away, enough to stay downwind from the tracker, but close enough to see and hear everything.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >James quickly explains what he needs from Victoria and plans to meet her with their “takeout,” as he describes, in an hour. She is hesitant, but when James sternly reminds her that he’s in charge, she quickly disappears and James remains.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Bella is pacing back and forth beneath the trees like a caged animal. Shadows move across the forest floor as the sun moves along the sky above the trees. I can feel her tension, her anxiety. James does nothing to calm her, he only antagonizes her and I have to control myself when he taunts her. “Little pet is unhappy.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Yes.” She turns again walking away snaking her hand through the long, tangled tresses at her neck. </span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Are you thirsty?” he asks condescendingly.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Yes.” She paces back again, her eyes narrowed on his form.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Do you want to have a snack, my dear?”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >She turns quickly and lunges. </span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Stop teasing, James!”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Oh, little one. I can do whatever I want to you. You are mine.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >She has him pinned, but I can see he’s not trying to push her off. He wants this, even if I cannot read his thoughts, I can read his body.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Please give me something, it burns.” her voice cracking a bit with desperation.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“We still have time until we need to meet, Victoria. What if I distract you?”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“How?” She sits up quickly straddling his chest. “What will distract me from this burn in my throat? You don’t have anything.” Her voice is angry and my chest aches at the thought of her being in pain or unhappy.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >He chuckles and flips her under him and again I must resist attacking them. I can sense Victoria approaching; she’s dragging one of the young men with her. I gleam his name from his thoughts. Riley. He believes he will be scoring drugs by following Victoria. This situation may work in my favor so I wait.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Bella, still unbeknownst to Victoria’s fast approach, snakes her hand into James’ hair and tugs, bringing his face to hers. He quickly responds, gripping her face and kissing her hard. I hate seeing his lips pressed to hers. My stomach threatens to empty again and I have to look away or I will throw up and possibly reveal myself. Over and over I tell myself, “She doesn’t know what she’s doing.” I am repeating it like a prayer. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Bella quickly flips them again, her body pushed against his and her hands ridding him of his jacket. Her reactions to him mentally beat me. Her touching him makes me want to kill him. It’s more intense than when I read the thoughts of rapists and murderers. I’d tear him limb from limb if I weren’t sure he could take me with Victoria’s help. After days and days of praying for this battle to come so I could rid the world of the nomads, I am wishing for my family. If I had them here, they could help me kill the bastards and save Bella.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >As she runs her fingers along his body, he pulls her t-shirt off, the one she claimed from a young camper, and then removes her bra just as quickly. I feel a branch break under my grasp and I can barely restrain myself from leaping when James tears her pants off with disgusting desperation. They are lying flush against each other in the dirt like animals. She’s gripping him in her hand, begging him to take her and I know he will. In this moment he will die.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, you little whore?!” Victoria comes through the brush; the young man follows her, mesmerized.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Bella quickly jumps up, but James remains sitting in the dirt, a disappointed scowl on his face. “We were having a bit of fun, Victoria. Weren’t you supposed to be working? What is this?” He gestures to the boy behind her.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“I’m out there trying to feed us and you play house with the little zombie? This... this is all I could get because I needed help, but you were too busy with your fucking toy. The plan was to meet in one hour so you both could help herd the idiots. Fuck you, James.” She turns back to the boy all the while growling. </span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“No, Victoria. Fuck you. I call the shots. Not you,” he sneers back at her as he reaches for Bella who has pulled her pants on and the small t-shirt. She started to back away as they yelled, but he’s beckoning her back to him and she’s obviously conflicted.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“I’m sorry, Victoria. I’m sorry,” she whispers. “Can I have him?” </span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“You want this? This boy? Fuck you, little girl. Greedy little bitch. He’s mine!”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Bella crouches in response. James puts himself in between her and Victoria. “Come now ladies, we can enjoy the treat that Victoria brought us then go find more.” His cockiness is wavering just a tad.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Please. Please, James.” Bella begs, her body shaking like a junky in need of a fix. “Please let me have him, baby.” </span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Baby?” Victoria takes a step closer to Bella and James. “He is not your baby. He never will be!”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Victoria, calm yourself down. You are making a scene and scaring the boy.” He gestures back to Riley who has pushed himself against a tree and is watching the scene with confusion and disbelief. Obviously, the boy has drugs in his system; he’s completely stunned into stupidity. He stands slack-jawed while his brain tries to process what he’s seeing.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“You want her? You want to keep her, James? Fine. Then I get one too.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >I watch closely, waiting for a chance to strike as Victoria appears beside the boy and grips his throat. Although I cannot read her thoughts, I know what she’s planning.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“James, I want to feed. Please!” I hear Bella beg again as James approaches Victoria and Riley.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Shut up!” he spits at Bella then turns back to Victoria. “You will not. I forbid it, Victoria,” his voice is cold and commanding. I watch as Bella whimpers and crouches again to protect herself. Every fiber of my being is telling me to protect her.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“You can forbid all you like. You are my maker, but you do not rule me like you do your little bitch,” She snarls as she nods to Bella. “You get a pet, I get a pet. All’s fair then.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“No.” James states calmly. I begin to make my way down the branches while keeping my eyes on them. Looking for my chance to strike, I keep myself ready.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >I hear the sick crunch of teeth against skin and muscle, just a fraction of a second before the agonizing screams rip from the boy’s throat. The god awful sound pushes me into the clearing. The acrid smell of the boy's drug tainted blood permeates the air; Victoria somehow refrains from killing him. She throws him behind her as she lunges at James just as he charges her. </span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“I hate you!” she screams at the top of her lungs. “I should’ve killed you the second you brought that whore into our world!” </span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >James doesn’t even react as they collide, Victoria ripping at him with all her might. He deflects several of her punches and when she tries to grip him at the neck he throws her into a large tree to the left of Bella. Her instinct is to cower as she watches her maker and his mate violently battle. I’ve never seen something like James and Victoria’s dynamic before. This isn’t how bonded mates behave and it confounds me, but I have to focus on the task at hand.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Looking toward Bella, her black eyes locked on Riley who lies writhing and tortured as the venom begins to spread. His screams obviously affect her because she’s not attacked him. I know she can smell the blood, but the screaming is hurting her sensitive ears as well as the thrashing of Victoria and James who are still near her. Bella grips her head and falls a bit into a tree. Her body is completely overwhelmed. It’s almost like she’s shutting down.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Reaching out my hand, I brush against her shoulder and she jumps backward, several feet away. “Don’t touch me,” she growls as she lowers quickly into a crouch again ready to attack. Her eyes flash against the sunlight peeking through the trees, a light sparkle shimmers across her bare arms and neck. I notice her eyes flicker away from mine and down to the spots shining on her body. Thinking back to our time in the meadow, how I imagined myself a monster and she convinced me that I was beautiful. I wish I could pull her into my arms and help her understand what has happened to her, help her remember her love for me and mine for her. </span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >From behind me I hear a cracking sound and turn in time to see James snapping the screeching boy’s neck. “You will not be a maker. I own you! You have been mine for a long time Victoria and I won’t let you ruin us!”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >She screeches like a banshee then lunges at him. Seeing two mates attacking each other is beyond what my mind can comprehend. Mates are bonded for life, yet James sought out a second, vampires always respect their maker’s wishes and in the end, the maker’s decisions are final, yet Victoria is refusing to submit to his will. I’ve heard of makers killing progeny when the newborn gets out of control. I’ve never heard of a maker and a newborn destroying each other.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >James and Victoria are savage and violent as they pummel each other, destroying the trees around them. Putting myself between the melee and Bella, we both watch as James tears Victoria apart. I am not ashamed to say that watching him destroy her terrifies me. My only instinct is to protect Bella from the battling nomads.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Shock and fear emanate from Bella’s body as we stand aside watching helplessly as one mate destroys the other in a fit of jealousy and rage. Victoria soon lays dismembered, nothing but her flame red mane can be recognized.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Suddenly, James turns, “You.” He notes my arrival and begins to strike. I am able to deflect him. He lands on his feet swiftly. His voice eerily calm as her speaks, “You cannot have her. I’ve lost one mate, you won’t get this one.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“She’s not your mate, James. You just killed your mate!”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“I did not kill Victoria, she killed herself. A mate must submit to their maker. She had to die if she was willing and ready to defy me.” He stands quickly and arches an eyebrow at me. “Isabella, come to me,” he demands while his hands reach out to her.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >I feel her walk around me toward him. “No, Bella. Please listen to me. You don’t have to listen to him.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Yes, you do. Come along, my girl, we must leave this place. This boy wants to hurt us and take you from me. I need you. Don’t let him take you from me.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Bella whimpers and looks back to me.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Bella,” I call out to her. “Do you remember the meadow? Our meadow… with the flowers and the waterfall? Do you remember that, Bella?”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Her feet stop short and she pivots on her dirty toes. “Meadow?” A flash of recognition behind the garnet-rimmed onyx eyes.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Do not listen to him, Isabella. He wants to hurt you, to hurt us!” James yells again, but I can hear the panic in his voice.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Ignoring him I continue, “Yes, we have a meadow. Yours and mine. And Charlie. Do you remember your dad, Charlie?” Her body turns toward mine and I can feel the pull to her increasing. Her eyes search mine as I continue, “He misses you so much. We all miss you, Bella.” I take a step closer to her and notice James does too. </span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Isabella, you are mine. I don’t want you to end up like Victoria. You must stay with me. You are mine.” His shaky voice betrays him, showing his panic rising.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >I continue on, steady-voiced. “Do you remember your dad? Or your mom, Renee? They both miss you and have been looking for you for so long, Bella.” She continues to look between us, each sentence I say, I cautiously take a step closer, as does James. Soon we’re standing on either side of Bella. Her head bouncing back and forth between us - her eyes wild and frightened. </span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Ignore him, Isabella, he lies. He wants to take you. To hurt you. Do not believe him. Don’t let his lies take you away from your maker. Feel our connection. You are mine, Isabella, I made you. You will always be mine.” If I didn’t despise James with every ounce of myself, I might feel sorry for how pathetic he sounds, scrabbling for her attentions.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Her ear is just before me and I whisper to her, “You are my life, Bella.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“She is not!” James growls loudly causing Bella to drop to her knees and grab her head. I take this opportunity to lunge at him as he looks down. Crashing my body into his, I nearly trip over Bella. Pulling him down with me, I try to figure out his next move, but he flips us quickly. In a blur of movements I try to gain the upper hand. I cannot hear his thoughts, but I’m faster than he is so I react well to each of his moves. I hear Bella cry out and I turn toward her, James takes advantage and crushes my body against a large tree, part of the tree giving way under the pressure. “You will not take her from me!” </span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >My view of Bella is blocked and James crushing my throat, pushing me by my head and neck through the tree. He reaches to my arm and begins to tear, and I scream from the pain.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Suddenly, his thoughts are clear, like a curtain being pulled up to reveal him and I see he’s trying to use leverage to rip me apart. I manage to move my other arm, gripping him under his ribs to throw him off of me. Every time he grabs me I’m able to pull him down and gain the upper hand, seeing each move he makes before he actually makes it. He is becoming frantic because of his frustrations and begins lashing out even more in his panic. He manages to gain ground on me and throws me over him, slamming head first into the trunk of a large tree. He’s on me quickly, kicking me repeatedly. </span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >I find myself pinned against the ground; he has me trapped with his hand on my neck. His mind flashes quickly to his time with Bella, how soft she is, how beautiful he thinks her hair is, the way she tasted. This last thought sears through me like a bolt of lightning burning everything in its path. I cannot control myself, my body is vibrating with rage. Using this fury, I launch him off and over my head into the same tree I hit, only this time it gives way, toppling with him as he goes over.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Quickly, I have him stuck against a large mound of rocks just beyond the trees, I slam him against them repeatedly until he’s rendered powerless and incapacitated. I make haste ripping him apart, throwing the pieces on top of his mate’s. Part of me is relishing in the fact that I’ve destroyed James. I set their pieces aflame to get rid of them. I turn to get the boy, Riley; to throw his body into the raging flames, but his body is gone. I quickly move around the small clearing of broken trees but his body is gone. So is Bella.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >My mind locks down, paralyzing me with fear. Bella is gone. She’s run away from me again. She's nowhere to be seen, however after running for several yards, I'm able to pick up her scent through the brush and crawl up the rocks. She’s managed to climb upward and is huddling against a rock cutout. She’s shaking, folded in on herself with her knees pulled into her chest, her forehead on her knees. I notice the boy’s body is lying prone beside her, a few more bites along his arms. She must have tried to feed from him, but he had venom pulsing through him until his neck was broken. She tried to drink from him as he was changing. I don’t know if it can hurt her. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Please, God, don't let the venom hurt her.</i> Vampires can't drink from each other, the skin impenetrable, but his hadn't completed the change, so I don't know. I need Carlisle.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Bella?” I say as softly as I can.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Growling is her only response as she moves in the blink of an eye into the attack position. “Shh… I won’t hurt you. I swear it.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“You- you killed him. My James.” Her whispered, pained words are like knife cutting at the edges of my already shattered heart.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“I had to, Bella. He was going to kill me and take you away.” Her growling increases with my words. I need to calm her, but I’m not sure what I can do.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“You want to hurt me. James said you wanted to hurt us, him. You did. You hurt him. Now you’ll hurt me.” Her hands are gripped tightly around her middle even though she’s still trying to look menacing. I know she could injure me if she attacked.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“No, Bella.” I raise my hands showing her I mean no harm. “No, I will not hurt you. I will never hurt you. I’m here for you.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Liar!” Her back is pressed against the rocks, her eyes shifting around, looking for her escape. </span><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“You took my mate. You killed him and he killed Victoria. I have no one!”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“He was not your mate. Me. I- I am yours. Yours. Your mate. Me, Bella. Not him. Me.” She has to see. She has to feel this between us. It is more than her bloodlust and newborn confusion, it has to be.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“James. James is my maker. He made me. He said you abandoned me and didn’t- you didn’t want me.” Her confusion is palpable. I may not be able to read her thoughts, but I can read her emotions and she’s breaking down.</span> <span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >My panic is rising, I feel like I’m lost. I hear noises inside my head, but I know I can’t hear Bella. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“That’s a lie. I will always want you. I never left you. I will never leave you, Bella.” I feel a sense of calm start to wash over me as a distracting voice resounds in my head, “I’m coming. We’re almost there. Hang on.” And I feel like my mind is fracturing along with my heart. My family couldn’t possibly be with me. I must be going insane.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“You don’t look like me. Your eyes are- they’re gold,” she stated, her small voice shaking me from my confusion. Her mind must be flipping through hundreds of pieces of information. </span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Needing to keep her mind with me, I decide to keep her talking. “Yes, I have gold eyes. You can, too. Do you want gold eyes?”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“They’re pretty. I know your eyes. But they aren’t like mine. Like James and Victoria. You aren’t like me.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >I shake my head slightly trying to quiet the voice and the noises around me. I need to focus on Bella. “No. I’m not. But I am yours, Bella. I will always be yours.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Mine?” Her body relaxes. She seems to be calming.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Yours. I swear it. Please, let me help you.” I hedge closer to her so I am nearly touching her.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“My throat hurts. He didn’t taste good. It made me sick.” Her eyes flicker to the boy’s body then back to mine.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“I know, love. He had venom in him, you can’t drink venom. I know you don’t feel good, but we can fix it.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“I can hunt?”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >I shake my head. “No, no hunting right now.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Need to drink.” Her hands clench again around her middle, her back flush to the rocks. “It hurts.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“I’ll help you. We’ll find something for you to drink.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Your voice. I know your voice.” Her eyes locked to mine. She remembers something.</span><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >She lowers her head again and sinks to the ground. Her body is still shaking. I need to think of something. I need to soothe her. Then it hits me. Her lullaby. I begin to hum and her body relaxes more. With every bar, the muscles and tendons unwrap and ease. </span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Soon she’s lulled into an almost catatonic state. This is the most still I’ve seen her in weeks. Maybe the newborn urges are waning. Even as I’m touching her now, she’s not rejecting me. I rub my hands along her shins as I kneel in front of her; the feel of her is different yet it's exactly the same.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“I love you,” I whisper. “Please, Bella. Please, let me take you home.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Home?” She says, barely lifting her head.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Yes, sweetheart. Home.” She puts her head back on her knees.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Taking a chance, I move quickly without a sound to pick her up, but she startles and begins to fight me.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Stop, stop. Bella, stop. I’m trying to help you.” Reasoning with a newborn isn’t my brightest idea. Soon she’s wrenched herself away from me and running. She’s fast. Her energy is immense, but she’s thirsty. Everything, all the scents and sounds around her, distract her quickly. I tackle her, pinning her to the ground, but then she flips us easily. She’s so angry with me for stopping her. I let her up and ask her again to let me take her home, but then I smell it. She does too. We have come across the scent of a large bear and I think of an idea to help her. Running as fast as I can, her following closely with curiosity, I take the bear down, ripping it’s throat open with my teeth. Almost instantly I see Bella revert to the hunter within her. She’s coiled and ready to spring, the seeping blood calling to her lust.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Mine!” She growls out before she’s up and running toward me. The territorial newborn in her is ready to fight me for the kill, but the smell of fresh blood is too much for her and she is soon sinking her teeth into its fur and flesh. The animal’s growls are merely gurgles as she drains him with ease. I don’t even have the time to become thirsty she drinks so quickly. She rolls the bear off of her, her t-shirt stained, her hair in tangles around her face, matted with dirt and dried blood. Even with blood dripping from her mouth, she’s beautiful. She’s glaring at me as though I’ve tried to hurt her, but I guess in her newborn mind, I have - I've tried to take away her meal, and I've tried to take her somewhere without her permission.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Bella?” I hedge.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >With her voice a shaky whisper she asks, “Why do you follow me?”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“I love you. I will always follow you.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >"Edward!" As I turn toward my sister’s voice I hear Bella whimper. She’s gripping her head. If I didn’t know better, I would think she was getting a migraine. I don’t remember much from my newborn time, but I don’t remember headaches. Looking again to my sister, I’m not surprised to see her, or Jasper. She wouldn’t be Alice if she didn’t come to help me before I even had a chance to ask.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Suddenly Bella collapses. </span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Bella!” I pull her up against my chest and carry her off the rocks. “Alice! Help me!” I call out as I see Alice and Jasper move into view from the trees.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“Bella!” I hear them both call out as they reach me in seconds. “What’s happened?” Alice asks as Jasper tries to calm us all. I can feel the peace licking at the jagged, frayed ends of my psyche, but I’m beyond his reach right now.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >“She drank from a boy Victoria tried to change, she drank blood with venom!” I can’t help but yell, my mind seizing up with the possibilities of what could be happening to her.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Jasper’s calm voice permeates my panic, “We need to get her to Carlisle.”</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Alice yells, “Oh God, Edward. Run!” And we all take off in the same direction. I only hope we can help her… that we aren’t out of time.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >I look down to Bella, limp in my arms, almost as she was when she was human, when she was my Bella.</span><br /><br /><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >As fast as I can possibly move, I run. I run toward the only person I know who can help me with Bella.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >E/N- I know. I suck. But in a good way right?</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >So, she’s with Edward… but is she still Bella? What do you think? I’d really like to know what you think!</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Thank you to my girls- Edward’s Eternal, Sunshinegal3, and 22blue- for putting up with my neurosis, freak-outs, and IM conversations debating canon details like permeable skin and how to break a tree with a vampire. Y’all complete me!</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >A shout out to the Krisbians- sunshinegal3, parismylove, hockey_chick10, lyricalkris, kellyprovence, theswandive, & donnersun. You guys make my heart happy. </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >I’ve been tumbling lots of teasers and naughty (@ theraingirl4) if you’d like to join in. It’s mostly NSFW, if you appear under 18 I won’t let you follow me, jussayin.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Recs- If you aren’t reading something by these people, hop to it: sadtomato, JadaLulu, Savage7289, erinbatt, lyricalkris, phoebes.promise, littlecat358, skeezon, 22blue, oh! and check out the vampslash contest!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Follow them on twitter @ vampslash!</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="Arial","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Enjoy your weekend, my friends!</span></b></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0