Honey (Book 1)

Chapter 22

Rosalie's POV

In my lengthy existence, I've never known fear the way I had when Bella was crying to Alice. My body was frozen, immovable and my dead heart broken anew.

I never planned for this.

I didn't want Bella in this position but it was her decision. She needed to know the truth and to make the decision about us.

I thought I'd have leave her. To somehow never see her again but plague myself with the memories of her.

I hate myself a little more as I heard the guilt and fear in her voice.

Even when she told us to stay and I held her in my arms, there was fear there. She is only seventeen. She doesn't know what she wants. There may come a day I'll have to say goodbye anyway.

We had gone back to her house instead of attend class. Charlie was gone the whole day and we had time to speak. To talk about all sorts of things.

Mostly, we spoke about each other.

How she never really dated before. She had her friends back home but she never felt like she belonged.

I told her a little about myself before I was turned, leaving out the less than appealing details.

We stuck to lighter topics but covered important, heavy topics. Any questions about vampires I answered. About my family, I answered. I told her everything she wanted to know, without overstepping about their lives before being turned.

We talked and talked. We talked so long, Bella at one point dozed off.

As soon as we got to her house, we went to her room. I started out in her desk chair but somehow, by lunch time, I was on her bed with her curled into my side.

When she woke, she flushed in embarrassment and I couldn't help myself so I kissed her.

I lean into her lips, slowly licking at her bottom lip.

"Mm, Rose," Bella sighs, gripping my arms tightly. I move down her neck, licking behind her ear and sucking lightly. She sighs again, heavier this time and I move my mouth lower. Licking and sucking down to her collarbone. "Rose, Rose."

I dip my tongue into the hollow over her throat, my hands take up her sides and I press my body closer to hers.

"We're already moving pretty fast, emotionally." I say, regretting even as I keep going."So maybe we should slow down with the physical aspects..?"

Things had gotten heated, quickly. It was like her teenage hormones leaked through my impenetrable skin and infected me. I couldn't keep my hands to myself.

"Are you teasing me?" Bella's voice is hoarse, her chest heaving beneath my with anticipation and excitement.

"Maybe a little." I joke, ducking to kiss her nose but move off of her. Settling in my own space but pulling her into my side more and kissing her quickly. "I'm sorry, I just can't stop touching you."

"I'm not complaining." Bella laughs.

Enjoying her warmth curled up against me, her arm around my waist playing with the hem of my shirt and breathing evening out, is a whole new experience. And one I look forward to repeating.

"Bella, do you want to go on a date? I'm not sure what or where and everything may be crazy but you deserve some semblance of normalcy."

"Normalcy is overrated. But yes. I'll go out with you, as long as you'll be my girlfriend." Her small smirk is adorable and I lean down to kiss it off.

"Of course." I say and her eyes sparkle.

Eventually, we jump back to talking. More about our interests and passions, a little about first dates and what we should do. We talk about Emmett a little and I reassure her about him.

"I mean, he can come on a date if you'd like. But, it'll be something closer to sharing. You guys getting along is the best thing I could hope for and I know it'll work out. Emmett can be kind of possessive but when it comes to you, he doesn't mind because he respects you and me."

Bella took this into consideration and noticeably sighed, as if it was another thing she could relax about.

Once again, Bella fell asleep.

It was only fair, she went through a lot of stress today.

She hadn't woken up when Charlie came back, so I ducked into her closet as he checked on her.

He smiled fondly from the doorway but came in, tucked her sheets closer to her and pressed a kiss to her head. "Love you, Bells." He whispered before leaving.

Charlie loved his daughter, it was clear as day. But like his daughter, he didn't know how to properly navigate and express those things. They were new to him but it made me feel glad that she had someone in the world like that for her.

After her nap, she apologized again and we kissed for a while but her stomach growled and a I chuckled. "Go eat dinner with Charlie. He ordered pizza about twenty minutes  before you woke up."

"Okay," she said but stayed in my lap, playing with my hair. "But will you come back later? I know it must not be fun stuck with me while I sleep but would you mind staying until I'm out?"

I bite my lip because she's so precious and sweet. "Leave your window open a crack and I'll be back around 9:30. I'm going to go home to see Emmett."

"Alright, see you later." Bella got off the bed, pulling me up in a polite manner even though it did nothing. But she pulled me up and close to her, pressing her lips to mine as her hands gripped my face.

"You make it hard to leave," it comes out a breathy chuckle but I straighten myself up, press one last kiss to her lips and duck out the window.

I hear her chuckle before leaving her room.

I dash through the woods, taking down a small animal on the way home. Being with her wasn't really tempting my thirst but it did drain me a bit. Hunting would need to increase if I planned to keep spending so much time wrapped up in her.

When I got home, I felt lighter, despite the pressure in my chest at the distance between Bella and I.

Running up to Emmett, I kiss him soundly, barely paying any mind to the family before dragging him up the stairs.

Being with her got me wound tight and as much as I would love to be with Bella like this, I don't know if we're ready. If I'm ready. If I'm strong enough.

Afterwards, I feel significantly better but there's a frustration building as my bond with Bella demands to be secured. The mark on my neck from Emmett stings pleasurably and my mouth pools with venom to mark Bella.

"I have a date." I mutter curled into his side, a smug grin on my face.

"Oh, yeah?" He turns. "That's amazing. Now the celebratory sex makes sense."

I smacked his chest hard enough to sting but chuckle anyway. "Whatever."