Carlisle Outtake- The Birds and the Bees

AN: this is a brief warning now ya'll... If the idea of animal mating disturbs you in any way... this may be a little much for you... and whatever you do DO NOT GOOGLE HORSE MATING! LOL! I am scarred for life... damn research.

Big love to Lindsey for answering some Equine questions for me!

Erm... enjoy the talk... Amish Carlisle style!

~~oo~~

Watching them as they regarded one another, it was only a matter of time.

I knew that look in the boy's eyes.

And I knew hers as well.

It was natural.

God would not have given us those urges if not to act on them.

But it was also sinful. There was a time for it.

And they were not there yet. Things were moving quickly for them.

I will not lie that observing young Edward and Isabella did not stir in me those primal needs as well. My dearest wife has always been accepting and giving in my needs. And perhaps she understood as well the feelings that seemed to fill the air when our young children tried in vain to curb their emotions.

Yes, Esme certainly understood.

We had several early mornings recently to prove that our love was still as strong as ever.

But for Edward and Isabella, unmarried, and with careful eyes on them always, it was time for the talk.

Every night, the two of them would spend their time together, walking a careful distance apart.

Edward slipping his hand into hers as they disappeared behind the barn.

I grinned behind my coffee at his innocent and tentative ways. It was difficult to keep from laughing from the bedroom window when they disappeared. I knew they were off to explore one another.

Esme and I had done the same thing when I came courting her all those years ago.

Only her father was much less accommodating, allowing only a few moments alone. A stolen kiss perhaps, a quick embrace and we were expected back in his sights. Her father had made things especially difficult. I had sworn never to be that obstinate.

And then we had the girls.

Girls change everything about a father's perspective.

I became protective; I wanted the best for them. I wanted them to be happy.

My girls were lucky. Even Rosalie. Given everything, she had found the right man.

And now with Isabella in our family, I was most pleased that she had found Edward.

Edward was like my son, and I had hurt when he withdrew after his family died. His spark for love and life had left him. He was a shell. Nothing seemed to pull him out of the dark place he had fallen. He had lost faith.

Until Isabella arrived.

And like a rebirth, Edward's life had been reborn.

I could see his excitement every morning when he stepped in for morning meal, and I could see the sadness encroaching when he drew away from her to return to his empty house. Esme wanted them wed this fall, but I knew there would be obstacles. So far they had avoided them, but with Isabella's worldly life, and her troubled relationship with the English boy, there would be difficulties.

And with Edward's inexperience, he would be tempted at every touch.

I had seen him struggle. He was eager to appease those needs he felt welling up inside of him.

With no guidance on how to do so safely.

He had no father to advise him.

It would be up to me.

I was sure Edward was unnerved by my suggestion to offer my mare to his stallion.

But this was how my father had shown me. And it was both enlightening and horrifying enough to keep young men in line. And if I must admit, I knew that my mare, Patience would prove to be difficult. I had not told Edward, but she had refused my stallion all summer. One does not over think the romantic needs of their livestock. They are there for a purpose. But if Patience was rejecting my stallion, chances were that she would give his stallion a difficult time.

Which was what I hoped for.

So as we guided my mare up the hill towards Edward's home, I mulled around in my head the lesson for my young boy. It had been so long since I had heard the lesson; I did not wish to create more drama than possible.

"She seems agitated," Edward observed as we neared the small corral between the barn and his house.

"The hormones of a female can have that affect," I started, smiling at the double meaning to my words. "When a female is ovulating, she can be agitated, or overly amorous. The male may not be able to identify the emotion until it is too late."

"Too late for what?" Edward asked, eyeing the horse cautiously.

"Too late before she either allows you to have her, or takes a swipe at you, son," I replied grinning.

Edward nodded nervously and took a step to the side out of harms way. I chuckled softly and nodded to the empty paddock.

"Let us set her up here, this is closed off enough to give your stallion a chance to familiarize himself with her, but for her to reject him if she chooses," I said and opened the gate, letting her wander around to take in her surroundings.

"Did you ever watch your father with his Haflingers? He bred many foals from them over the years. Did you see how he did it?" I asked casually as I leaned up against the fence, watching his reaction.

Edward blushed and shook his head.

"Not with my father. But they were also pasture bred. I remember seeing them when I was young," he murmured, swallowing hard.

I nodded and offered him a smile.

"Mating is God's way of allowing us to continue in this world. It is natural and meant to serve a purpose. But there are needs for both the male and the female in order for it to be successful," I said simply.

Edward kicked at the dirt and avoided my eyes.

"So the female must be ovulating for it to be successful," he mumbled, clearing his throat again in the dusty air.

"Yes, that is necessary. Like a human female, horses must be ovulating in order to conceive. But where women ovulate once every month, a horse only ovulates in one season, unless we interfere. A horse must have long sunlit days to prepare her body for ovulating. It is natural with women. Every month, like the moon," I explained.

"So how does the stallion know then? When she is ready. If it is only at certain times?" he asked, the curiosity playing in his eyes now.

I was proud of Edward. So far he had not turned and run. I took a breath and continued.

"A female will put off a scent. One that appeals to the male. Sometimes it is subtle, other times it is not. But it is alluring, and undeniably something that stirs an urge in the male. This is the most primal and vital part to the mating process. The female must be ready to mate. The male cannot simply satisfy himself before seeing to her needs. She must be ready for him, or she will deny him," I explained and reached for Patience's halter, stilling her nodding head for a moment.

"Observe, Edward," I said and moved my hands gently over her nose, her soft nicker vibrating through my fingers.

"Scent is the allure, as is a fine presence. Males and females are particular to visual stimulation. The strong stallion will want an able bodied mate. One that can bear him a strong foal. One that can withstand his weight and his exuberance. A mare's coat, her stature, the way she even regards him is something that attracts him to her. Once he is attracted, he must convince her that he is the male to mate with.

"A female looks for the strongest in the herd. The one that will provide the strength in her foal. She will not mate with just anyone. She will choose. It is not just a matter of mating. It is the continuation of her line. So the male must work hard to prove that," I said and stroked the mare softly along the neck.

Edward placed his hand along her neck as well, his fingers working into the mane. The mare nickered softly and nuzzled her head into Edward's chest, asking for more. I chuckled at his raised eyebrow and continued with my lesson. I could see that Edward already innately understood the importance of touch.

"The male must acquaint himself with what pleases his mate. Touch and grooming is much of what will stimulate the female. A soft touch, a nip along the neck tells the mare that he is interested. He will nuzzle her, taking in her scent. Her scent is important, as it will strengthen when she is ready for him. Lastly, he will taste her, that will be his confirmation that she is his. She will offer herself to him should he wish it," I explained and slid my hand across her back, easing her frustration with my gentle touch.

Edward followed me on her opposite side, frowning.

"Does not the body react to touch regardless? If one knows how to touch a female, would she not still be…aroused?" he asked softly.

"There must be that first attraction, Edward. It is true, a man's body will betray us always. Men are virile creatures. We have needs every day. For a woman, who must nurture, love and work hard, she must be offered gentle signals from her male in order to ready herself for his affections. Males may be instantaneous, females take a little longer," I explained.

Edward shook his head and glanced off towards the house, looking a little uncomfortable.

"I see the signals, just not what happens after," he mumbled and squinted, embarrassed.

"The female lets the male know when she is ready, but it must be consensual. And it must be the right time. It is not something to rush. The most successful pairing is one that takes time," I said gently.

More than anything, I knew Edward was torn from the feelings in his heart and the feelings elsewhere.

But a slower courtship would be better for them both.

His frown lingered, his thoughts troubling him I was sure.

What were his feelings for Isabella really? And what were hers? Surely she was more experienced in these matters than he was.

Perhaps I needed to have Esme speak with her. To explain the importance of chastity and affection before marriage. Judging by Edward's late night walks, I knew he was struggling to control himself.

He needed direction. And he needed to see what passion could do, before he attempted it himself.

He needed to see what being eager would do to the female. Patience was not named for that particular quality.

"Come, let us introduce your stallion to her. Go fetch him and we will see how their introduction fares," I said loudly, breaking the boy out of his troubling thoughts.

He walked stiffly towards his barn, disappearing into the inside for a few moments before re-emerging with his big black, Magnus. The moment the breeze picked up the mare's scent, instantly Edward's stallion tensed and pranced beside him. I shook my head at the fanciful show he was making.

Patience would not be amused.

As if to demonstrate, she stamped her hoof and whinnied, shaking her mane hard.

I took a step back as Edward opened the gate, Magnus pawing at the ground impatiently.

Already he was aroused and ready for her.

This would be a graphic image for Edward, certainly.

"Let him walk in on his own, Edward. He will be too much to handle," I suggested and stood near the mare's head, stroking her muzzle to calm her. Already her eyes had widened and she was fanning her tale suggestively.

The big black nickered and moved quietly over to her, nodding his head as he approached. Head held high, he made his way around her until she nickered again and stamped her hoof. He edged closer to her, his mouth skirting across her neck to nip her gently. Another foot stamp and he was inhaling her scent, asking permission.

This would not take long.

"You see he is aroused. It does not take much for the male," I commented matter of factly.

Edward cleared his throat and avoided looking for too long.

I fought back my smile when he shook his head and looked back towards the house.

"He seems over eager," he said.

"All males are, son. All males are. It is our undoing," I chuckled and held the mare a little more carefully when the stallion moved in behind her.

He attempted to mount her, but she sent a swift kick his way, forcing him back with an angry whinny. He pranced away enough to avoid her kick once more and moved in beside her again, nuzzling with his nose along her withers to ask once more.

"She has told him she is not satisfied. That he must offer her more, you see?" I said, and smiled when Edward looked towards her once more.

"This may not work to our advantage, Carlisle. He has never been exposed to a female like this. He may hurt your mare," he suggested and stepped a little closer.

I shook my head and stalled his advance on his horse.

"They must learn one another. It will take time. She will let him know when he may proceed," I replied and watched again as the stallion tried to mount her and she bucked him off once more.

"One must take time. It is not wise to rush into it as he does, even though his body insists he must. The body wants it always. But mating must be timely and consensual," I said and watched as Edward blushed.

The stallion tried once more, this time the mare allowing him onto her. He struggled and finally found his footing, grunting above her as she struggled to hold his weight. He was a larger male than she was used to, and more energetic than my own stallion.

He was much younger and more eager as well.

And as I predicted, he was quick in his eagerness. She bucked him off of her after only a moment, his ears laying back in what can only be interpreted as equine frustration.

"We will let them linger here. I do not think they are done. She expects more from him if he is to last longer," I quipped.

Glancing over at Edward, he looked to be in shock.

I could not feel badly over the display he had just witnessed.

I had never said it was sensual. It was nature.

But the abruptness of his stallion hopefully gave him pause in his own urges. I remember it had for me when I had first been shown. And my father had been keen to remind me that waiting until it was the right moment would make both involved pleased.

"Too eager," Edward murmured more to himself than to me.

"Little steps, son. One thing at a time. When the time is right, you will know. But there are steps to be taken and eagerness is never a good thing," I said, watching as his eyes widened and his blush intensified.

Edward shook his head and turned on his heel in a hurry to put the horses behind him.

I smiled and released the mare. She nickered and stomped her foot as I drew away, and that stallion did try again, only this time she nipped at him and side stepped him in his eagerness.

He would win her over before the day was out. It was what she wanted after all. Her body demanded it. But hopefully Edward understood, she needed all his attention. The stallion needed to prove that he was the right one for her.

I watched in amusement at Edward's hurried apologies when he bumped into a confused Isabella, here with our mid day meal. He blushed and offered her a wide girth as he retreated to the water pump to clean up.

I think maybe he understood.

He needed to take his time.

I suppose he understood more than I had. I had fled the paddock sooner than he had, and Esme had made it clear I was too eager, on many occasions. She had a forceful hand.

Perhaps Isabella would as well.

~~oo~~

The water cooled my head, in many ways.

I knew what Carlisle was attempting to do. Mating our horses.

I shook my head to rid the thoughts in my head.

I was not my stallion, and Bella was certainly not fanning her tail at me enticing me with her needs.

It was true her scent sent me into a spiral of want every time I inhaled her.

But she was not begging me to take her.

I groaned at the images of her in my head and splashed more ice cold water on my face.

The images of her had grown more alluring as of late. After the previous night, with her body tucked into mine, her heat against me as she slept, I was more needy for her than I had ever thought possible. I could not fight it off for much longer.

So why had Carlisle decided today of all days to subject me to something as depraved as the mating of our horses?

I knew it was only natural, but so were my feelings for Bella.

And she enjoyed it. She did not buck and bite at me like his mare had.

It was difficult not to give into my desires, to take it further. My fingers longed to touch her more. Her sleeping body the night prior had allowed me to explore her further. Along her arm as it lay on my chest, her cheek against my shoulder, the flesh between her neck and her shoulder when her dress pulled to the side as she slumbered.

I found it very difficult to sleep, only to wake up more frustrated than the night prior.

What Carlisle had not told me was how to find any relief from the pain that cramped my stomach and worked its way into my groin with a vengeance with every thought of Bella.

That is what I needed. I needed relief from my urges.

He had not explained that.

Only that I should take things slow.

Caress. Touch, inhale.

Taste.

I did all those things, and she was telling me she enjoyed it.

I dried off my face and made a resolution there in the yard.

I was not to be over eager that I knew and would refuse.

But if Bella wanted more, I would offer her more.

Whatever that entailed, we would discover it together.

I would not give in completely, and like Carlisle's bucking mare, I was sure Bella would not give in entirely either.

But I was sure she was ready for something more than a kiss.

So I would touch next. Inhale.

And taste.

And find out what she needed from me.

Carlisle had made it clear. Slow. Gentle. Take your time. She will tell you.

So I would.

I smiled to myself with this decision. Already the urge in my groin seemed more manageable.

Perhaps there was a chance of doing better than Magnus.

He needed to understand better.

He needed to learn Patience.

That was his mistake.

I would learn Bella.

~~oo~~