Claiming a Swan

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine
Present...

Carlisle sat her on her own two feet. It was so like him to have a house in the woods. It was like Forks all over again. Can't be a Cullen without the expensive leisure that being a vampire comes with.

Bella's legs wobbled.

She wasn't in any danger anymore so she demanded her body relax. It was difficult however, Carlisle sensed that and the next thing he does is so surprising when he places a single kiss on her cheek.

It does the trick, it calms her, and she was taking the next step and she found herself inside. It was the same, but also different.

It felt safe. That was the main point. She walked to the couch, there was a sitting area once you walked in. There was a plasma screen hauled up on the wall, beneath it was a fireplace. She just felt like sitting around the fire, covered in thousands of blankets.

"What do you think it was?" Bella questioned.

Wishing she would have kept her mouth shut. Because all she wants to do is curl up and sleep. But she also needed answers. It's been so long since she lived without danger.

And when Carlisle shows back up in her life. Her life was immediately thrown back into the rollercoaster that was "danger-magnet, Bella". It sucked, she thought.

"It could've been any number of enemies. Or it could've been a newborn. In which case, I will deal with it. But I did not smell anything or anyone..."

"Could it be the Volturi?" Bella remembered when Edward described the vampire royal family.

She was left, not turned, and knew the existence of vampires. Surely, they would check in with vampire covens every so often?

Surprise flickered in Carlisle's eyes, but soon it vanished.

"It could be the Volturi." Carlisle agreed, "although Aro rarely sends anyone out to check on covens. However - he might've gained a special vampire with a gift of farsight. That's why he's always been jealous of Alice."

"Could we phone Alice? See what she sees?"

It's been awhile since Bella talked or even saw Alice. She wrote her multiple letters when they first left - but the inbox she wrote to was disconnected. So it left a big wound in her heart.

"We could try." Carlisle says. "But I want to keep an eye out as of right now. There's no point in contacting anyone if we don't have to."

Bella agreed.

She wasn't really in the forgiving mood for Alice and didn't if she could ever forgive her. But the same could be said about Carlisle. He left too. But when she was a teenager she hadn't befriended Carlisle all that much, and Alice was like a sister to her. So in Bella's book Alice had more to apologize for, than Carlisle did.

Carlisle curled a blanket over her shoulders. It made it hard not to swoon. This night he was a knight, saved her from danger... the next night, Bella wasn't sure...

"I can see you thinking, Bella. Just relax tonight. I promise I won't try anything untoward you this night."

That did soften Bella's thoughts and she leaned into him. Carlisle had started the fire before he sat down beside her. Closing her eyes till sleep took her.

***

When Bella woke up - she woke up on a bed. She was tucked in, blankets all encompassed around her. The bed was super comfortable and it was the best sleep she ever had in a long while. She looked around hoping to glance Carlisle - but he wasn't in the room.

She stood up from the bed - stretching, getting the sleepiness out of her system and went to the bathroom that was across the hall. She immediately took care of her necessities - washed her face, and even brushed her teeth.

Carlisle had set aside a fresh toothbrush and toothpaste for her, it made her smile. After she was done brushing her teeth, she headed downstairs and saw Carlisle sitting down reading the newspaper - with a cup of blood in a coffee cup.

Assuming it was animal blood - Bella hoped, she also smelled coffee. And not just any normal Folgers coffee, but Starbucks.

He was really spoiling her.
On the counter was her usual coffee order.

"How did you know?" Bella asked, it was so normal.

Picturing Carlisle reading the newspaper and him grabbing coffee, wasn't something she automatically thought about when Carlisle Cullen came to mind.

"I've been watching you for awhile. I picked up a few things..."

She should of guessed. Sipping her coffee, it brought a touch of normalcy to her life.

"I need to go into work."

Bella wasn't going to let what happened last night get in the way of her job.

"Do you think that wise?"

"If you have a problem - you can always be my bodyguard." Bella says it as a joke, but a light in his eye was all it took to confirm that she gave him a foolproof idea of how he could continue to be at her side.

Shit, Bella thought.

"This time we can take the Mercedes into the city."

Bella followed Carlisle into the garage.

What she was wearing would have to be okay. Since she knew Carlisle wouldn't have any girl clothes here, and she didn't want to bring it up and be a bother.

She got into the passenger seat.

Watching as Carlisle was next to her starting the car - vampire speed and all. She was strangely accustomed to it. Being away from the supernatural she expected to take a while to become reacquainted with everything, but it was like riding a bike. You never really forget and you get back into the groove of things.

"Ready?"

"As ready as I can be."

"I will be on guard. You won't have to be afraid, Bella." Carlisle ushered.

It made Bella feel protected. And she appreciated the sense of security.

"Thank you, Carlisle." Bella thanks Carlisle.

Turning her head, and before she could pull herself away she acted on a single thought - it was for everything he'd done for her, and pulled his face towards her before he could put the car in drive.

Planting her lips on hers... she watched his eyes zero in - instantly he cupped her head in his hands. Deepening the kiss she knew she would later regret. Carlisle stopped the kiss after a moment, placing his index finger on her lips.

He smirked.

Which had Bella blushing all different shades. "Why I much appreciate a heated kiss in the morning, I will kiss you and touch you in all the places, when you choose me. The time is narrowing, Isabella."

Bella sat herself back into her seat.

Frowning, she didn't know what to do.

The easy way was often the hardest.