So sorry to keep you waiting so long on this update, lovelies. My excuse is this: my husband left me. For two months. Granted, it was for work, but still. Being a single parent didn't leave me much time or energy for writing. My apologies.

Huge thanks to my amazing Beta-Goddess, Irritable_Grizzzly, and my fabulous pre-reader, Vican. Love you girls so much.

Usual disclaimers apply.

Maybe

I couldn't sleep. Hours and hours of lovemaking had made me more exhausted than I'd ever been, but I couldn't switch off my brain. It was swimming with fantasies of small, chubby hands and brown eyes like Bella's. I found myself smiling. I should have been anxious about the possibility of an unexpected pregnancy, but I wasn't. In fact, I was experiencing something distinctly foreign to me. I suspected it was serenity.

I'd never given much thought to children when I was an immortal. They weren't ever going to be a part of my life, so I didn't waste energy coveting them.

But now ...

Things were different. I was a man again, and the thought of impregnating Bella with my child was a seductive and powerful one. It brought out primal instincts. To mate. Inseminate. Breed.

I'd been living in a world of death for so long, the thought that I could actually create new life was astounding.

I finally dozed off to dreams of a mini version of Bella throwing her arms around me and calling me 'Daddy' while my wife looked on and smiled.

It was the most beautiful dream I'd ever had.

...

...

...

I awoke to a throbbing ache in my groin.

This was nothing new. Morning arousal was one of the annoyances of my reborn humanism, especially when it was accompanied by a need to urinate that was impossible to fulfill.

What was new was the soft, warm hand exacerbating the throb by gently stroking me. Light fingers. Grazing over the thick fabric of my robe. Barely touching but manifesting a storm of lust.

I kept my eyes closed and pretended to be asleep. I was enjoying what she was doing too much to interrupt, and I wanted to see how far she'd go if she believed I was unconscious.

"So sexy," she whispered and trailed her hand up the exposed V of flesh on my chest. She touched me softly, up to my neck, across my jaw, and over my lips. Staying still was nearly impossible, but I did it.

"So beautiful." She traced my forehead, my eyebrows, and down my cheeks. Then back down my neck and chest until she once again brushed over my erection.

"Also, incredibly bad at pretending to be asleep," she said and pressed her lips against the racing pulse on my throat. I fought a smile. Pretty sure the smile won.

"I'm not pretending," I said, eyes still closed. "I'm having a fantastic dream about a beautiful woman pleasuring me. Please be quiet. I'd like to concentrate."

She laughed against my neck then trailed open, sucking kisses down to my chest.

"Hmmm, who is this hussy in your dream? Do you think I could take her?"

She tugged at the tie to my robe, pulled it open, and trailed her hand over the poor, neglected flesh. My breathing and heart rate went berserk.

"Oh, you could take her, all right. No woman could compare to you. Not even fantasy-you."

I opened my eyes and looked down at what she was doing. God, just seeing her fingers curl around me. The firm pressure of her palm. She squeezed, and I let out a sharp breath.

"Bella ... Jesus ..."

I desperately wanted to close my eyes and just enjoy it, but there was no way I could drag my gaze away from her teasing hand. Fingers grazed all around. Gently cupped me. Then her mouth was at my chest. She was kissing and licking. Double-teaming with her hand to turn me into a groaning, panting mess.

"You taste amazing," she said as she trailed kisses down to my stomach. "Salty. Manly. So different to vampire-you, but still delicious."

When her journey of kisses reached my crotch, I stopped breathing. She just hovered there, hot breath washing over me in the most arousing way. It sent my brain into overdrive. On countless occasions, I'd fantasized about what it would feel like to have Bella's mouth around me.

Apart from one or two aborted attempts when I was still a vampire, I'd never truly experienced her skills. Of course, I'd observed them on several occasions when I was unfortunate enough to be lurking outside her window when Jacob was still in the picture, and let me tell you, those moments did nothing to temper my homicidal dislike for him. How that boy survived for as long as he did when the beast still inhabited me, I'll never know.

"God, look at you," Bella whispered, directly to my erection. "Magnificent. Perfect. So beautiful."

She kissed the tip, and I nearly launched off the bed. I wasn't sure I could handle this. It was too erotic. I was too on-edge.

"You want me to stop?" she asked, glancing up.

"Only if you want to crush every fellatio fantasy I've ever had."

"You seem wound up."

"Your mouth is very nearly enveloping my cock. I couldn't be more wound up if I were an uptight bungee cord."

"So, you want me to -"

"Oh, fuck, yes."

"Good. I've wanted to do this for the longest time, and since there's no danger of you rupturing my throat any more..."

She moved down and licked me from base to tip. I gripped the mattress so hard, my fingers punctured the sheets and several layers of padding. She continued licking long strokes up and down and looked up every few seconds to make sure I was watching.

I was watching, all right. I'd never witnessed anything so sensual. I grunted against the urge to come. Lord, her tongue. Her eyes. The whole astounding combination.

This was entirely new to me. When she'd put her mouth on me previously, I was so paranoid about hurting her, I couldn't fully give myself over to the pleasure. Now, the sensation owned me. Suffused and surrounded me. Every tiny pass of her tongue drove me higher. Filed the pleasure down into sharp, debilitating barbs that made me twitch and gasp.

In my wildest dreams, I'd never imagined anything could feel this good, and yet, as incredible as her tongue was, it faded into pale insignificance as soon as she took me into her mouth.

Oh ...

I couldn't ...

I'd never ... Oh ...

Wow ...

"Fuuuuuck."

I had to close my eyes. The image of what she was doing was crippling. I weaved my fingers through her hair and flung my other arm over my face. She bobbed and sucked. Caressed me with mouth and hand. Throat. Tongue. The slightest graze of teeth.

Christ, how did I survive for as long as I have without experiencing this? Sure Tanya had pleasured me orally. Once. It was hideous. She acted like an anorexic being force-fed a hot dog. I think she did it because she felt she should. Bella was doing it because she really wanted to. She wanted to pleasure me in the same way I was always ravenous to taste her. And, oh, she was so, so good at it.

It didn't take long for my climax to build. I wished it away for a long as possible, but with Bella's mind-blowing skills, that was a woefully short period of time.

I urged her off me and exhaled.

"You're close?" she asked.

"Very."

"Do you want to ... uh ... you know ... finish? In my mouth?"

Oh, God.

I exhaled harder. My climax was teetering like a drunk on a highwire.

"Edward?"

"Shhhh." I inhaled, slow and somewhat controlled. "Everything you say right now is stupidly arousing. Just ... shhh, and don't touch me."

I lay there, tense and rigid for what seemed like an eternity. Even with my eyes closed and no part of my body touching hers, Bella's presence continued to inflame me. I could feel her body heat. Smell her shampoo and body lotion. Feel her eyes covet me as I gently squeezed my cock and urged it to not explode.

"Oh, yeah," she whispered. "Do that again. So sexy."

"Woman ... ssh!"

I took in a few more steadying breaths and coaxed my climax to stand down then opened my eyes. Bella was staring at me with unnerving intensity.

"Better?" she asked.

"A little."

"Good enough."

She climbed on top of me and proceeded to kiss my neck and chest while rubbing herself against me in an impossibly arousing way. It was clear she was done being patient.

"Uh ... Bella ..."

She ignored me. Her mouth was everywhere. She tugged at her robe as she kissed me, and when she sat up to pull it off, I was rendered speechless. Seeing her straddling me, naked and desperate, was as close to a spiritual experience as a filthy God-hater like me was likely to get.

She leaned forward to slowly allow me a full and magnificent view of her breasts. I swallowed excess saliva and cleared my throat.

"Bella, we need to talk about something ..."

"Later," she said and reached between us to stroke me. "Much, much later."

"We ... uh ... should really talk now."

"We're busy now."

She nibbled my chest. I nearly lost all coherence, but I knew we couldn't continue to make love without discussing this.

"Bella, last night -"

"Was amazing. Today is going to be even better. God, I love your body. Your perfect, gorgeous cock. I love you."

Oh, sweet Jesus. She was licking. And nibbling. And doing something else with her hand. And rocking back just enough so I could feel her, hot and wet against me.

"It was amazing, yes," I said, and groaned. "Jesus, you are ..." I tried to focus. "But I ... I forgot to ... well, I was supposed to use protection, and I ... forgot. You made me forget. Thinking back ... it was ... oh, damn ... it was kind of all your fault." She circled my nipple with her tongue. "Definitely your fault."

She kissed me, hard. When she pulled back, I was breathless and aching for her. I couldn't cope not being joined with her any longer, but we had to solve this issue. She had other ideas. I held my breath as she hovered over me.

"Bella ..."

"It's okay," she said while teasing me to the point of distraction. "I take the shot. I'm covered. Don't panic."

Then she lowered herself onto me. Slowly.

"Ohhhhhh ..."

Every excruciating inch showed on her face and no doubt on mine as well. All coherent thoughts dissolved in a flash of reason-stealing astonishment. We stared into each other's eyes as our bodies contracted and pulsed with both pleasure and intense relief.

"God, I love you."

"Edward ..."

My name was barely a breath on her lips. She rocked back and forth, taking me in a little more each time, inch by inch, until finally, bliss. She settled fully onto me and my whole world was the squeeze and pulse of where we were joined. The indescribable perfection of being inside her.

"Bella ..."

She leaned over and kissed me, and I brushed my hands up her thighs until they settled on the curve of her hips. She moved, just a little. Just enough. Scratching the itch of lust while igniting the fuse of release. Each slide a little longer. Deeper. Needful. Determined.

"Bella, wait ..."

"I can't. Oh ... I need you."

Logic told me to slow her movements, but I couldn't. The pleasure she was taking from me was too magnificent.

"The shot," I said, broken and breathy. "We don't even know if it will... uh ... be effective with your new ... metabolism. There are ... condoms ... in the bathroom. We should ... ohhhh ..."

She put her hands on my shoulders to give herself more leverage. As if I could cope with her riding me harder.

"Bella ..." If she could hear me, she was ignoring me. "The shot may not work."

It was no use. She was hurtling toward her orgasm and taking me with her. I stopped resisting and pushed my hips up to meet her. She cried out and moved faster. The tension in my abdomen tightened and flared. I knew the sensible thing would be to pull out and avoid further risk, but I just couldn't. The thought of separating us was distressing. I wanted her to make me come, and I wanted to come inside her.

I wanted it as savagely as I used to want blood.

I grunted as her orgasm hit her, and when she threw her head back and screamed my name, I finally let go. Like our lovemaking last night, the pleasure was incomprehensible. Muscles contracted and fluttered as pleasure overcame us, rendering us a messy tangle of twitching limbs and tight-throated moans. Time slowed. I could feel every inch of my skin. Every exploding neurone. Everything screamed Bella's name. I may have, as well.

For the longest time, the room seemed to contract around us. Then we simultaneously exhaled as final spasms twisted in on themselves and faded. Bella went limp and collapsed onto my chest. I closed my eyes and stroked her back.

Lord, this woman. I'd never get tired of this. Never want anyone but her. Always need her to be part of me.

Always.

After a few minutes our breathing had calmed, and she stroked my chest and cleared her throat.

"Were you talking at me during that?"

"Yes."

"And you expected me to listen?"

"I thought I should at least try."

"Why?"

"I needed to tell you something."

"What?"

"That there's no guarantee a traditional dosage of the Depo-provera shot would have any effect on your new metabolism."

"Uh huh."

She went silent, and I wondered if she'd fallen asleep.

"Bella?"

"Hmmm?"

"Did you hear what I said?"

"Yes."

"I'm telling you that even though you're on a contraceptive, it may be completely useless."

"I know what you said. I'm just trying to process it without freaking out."

"Is it working?"

"Not even a little bit."

She climbed off me and pulled on her robe. Her hands shook as she tied the belt

"Bella?"

She ran her hands though her hair. "I'm okay."

"You don't look okay."

"I just ... wow. I mean ... wow."

"We should probably call Carlisle."

"Yes. Good. Call the doctor. He'll do, what? Give me a, you know, test, thingy."

"Well, it's probably too soon for a traditional test, but I'm sure he could come up with something. An indicator to see if you're ..."

"Pregnant." She stopped short and giggled to herself. It was strident and filled with near-hysteria.

"Bella, we don't know anything yet. Don't panic."

"Don't panic? Edward, over the past twelve hours, we've fucked like nymphomaniac rabbits, and for that entire time I was unconcerned because I figured I was covered. But now you tell me my uterus has been bombarded by your superhuman hybrid-sperm completely unprotected?! I'm pretty sure this is the time to panic! Why aren't you panicking?"

"Bella -"

"I could be pregnant!"

"I know, but -"

"Right now!"

"Well, yes. Technically, depending on the number of sperm in my ejaculate and the proximity of a viable egg to your fallopian tubes, you could have been pregnant half an hour after we first made love last night. Maybe sooner if my hybrid sperm are faster than the human variety, which, I'm pretty sure they are. I have no proof, of course. I'm just hypothesizing based on the other improvements the wolf-blood has rendered on my anatomy."

She glared at me. I decided to stop talking.

"Get Carlisle here," she said and strode toward the bathroom. "Now!"

...

...

...

Bella was quiet. I held her hand as Carlisle bustled around with his blood and urine samples.

"I even reminded you before I left," Carlisle said and threw me a disapproving look.

"I know. It's just that at the time, it was very difficult to think clearly."

Carlisle shook his head. "Do you know how much you sound like a regular teenage boy, right now? 'I forgot'. 'It was only one time'. 'I thought she was protected'."

"Carlisle -"

"No, Edward. It's not good enough. Sex has consequences, and I've seen enough of them in my time to get frustrated with young men who let their libidos override their brains. I honestly thought you had more sense."

I heard a muffled sob from upstairs. Pretty sure Esme had just discovered the extent of the damage Bella and I had caused to the house.

"It wasn't all his fault," Bella said. "I thought about condoms but didn't even consider that the Depo wouldn't work. I got it done before the change. It was stupid of me."

Carlisle softened. "Well, considering you two were in the clutches of intense mating haze, I understand that logic can get lost in the heat of the moment. And really, I should have predicted this outcome and made sure I administered an adjusted shot, just to be sure. I've ordered some to be delivered later today so I can rectify that. Assuming, of course, that you don't want children right now."

"No!" Bella said. "Absolutely not."

A block of ice settled in my stomach.

I don't know how I expected Bella to react to a possible pregnancy, but I didn't think she would be so devastated. Then I realized that was a typical male reaction. For us, impregnation is a swift and intensely pleasurable experience. For the woman, it represented an entire life-changing paradigm shift. I was being selfish thinking some part of her might be happy to be carrying my child, but I still felt disappointed.

"Bella, I'm sorry. This is all my fault."

"No. It's my fault, too. I was stupid. And horny. And now ..."

She shook her head.

I wrapped my arms around her, and my heart ached when she shook with a suppressed sob. I despised seeing her upset, especially when I could have, should have, done something to prevent it.

"Hey, it's going to be okay," I said, softly. "Whatever happens, we'll be fine."

"I'm sure that's what my parents thought when my Mom became pregnant with me at nineteen. Look what happened to them."

"That's not going to be us."

"Are you sure? They loved each other. Maybe not as much as we do, but still ... I was the one who ruined their relationship. Neither of them was ready for a baby. It tore them apart."

I pulled back and cupped her face. "I don't believe for one second you were responsible. But regardless, is anyone truly ready for a baby?"

"I know, but ..."

"Yes?"

She sighed. Sounding shaky and uneven, she said, "I'm nineteen, Edward. I've never gone anywhere or seen anything. I have a small-town high school education and exactly seventy-three dollars in my bank account. What on earth could I possibly offer a child? What could I teach them?"

I kissed her. "You truly don't understand what an incredible woman you are, do you?"

"I'm not incredible. I'm ... ordinary. And unrefined. And selfish. And poor. I'd be a terrible parent."

I marveled over her lack of self-awareness and took her hands.

"Bella, I've been alive for a very long time. Well, actually, I've existed for a long time. I didn't feel alive until I met you, and I wasn't truly alive until recently, but my point is this: I've witnessed a lot in my time. Two world wars, dozens of other conflicts, and more technological advances than I can count. But through it all, I've learned one thing: a person's worth has nothing to do with what they have and where they've been, and everything to do with who they are."

She tried to smile. "Money can't buy happiness, huh?"

"Exactly. But more than that, it doesn't make you a good person, and it definitely doesn't make you a good parent. I've known men rich enough to buy and sell countries who viewed their children as mere assets, and I've seen a homeless man give a starving dog the only food he possessed. Even if you're money-poor, you can be rich in so many other ways."

I leaned my forehead onto Bella's and stroked her cheek. "Besides, I have more money than the reserve bank of America, so I never want you to worry about being poor, okay?"

She tried to smile, but it came out like a grimace. I hated seeing her struggle to hold in her emotions.

I kissed her, tender and slow. She exhaled against my lips, and I'd like to think I calmed her a little.

"I love you, Bella," I said and urged her to look at me. "You're brave, and intelligent, and witty, and loving, and frankly, the most magnificent woman I've ever encountered. If you were to pass any of those characteristics on to a child, the world would be a better place. I have no doubt about that. I also have no doubt you would be an incredible mother. And incidentally, I can't wait to start a family with you, but only when you're ready."

For a moment, she just stared at me, and then, she did a strange thing where she laughed and cried at the same time. Seeing a single tear run down her cheek, I felt my tear ducts give out in sympathy. I swiped the tear away. I didn't cry. Well, up until recently I couldn't, but still ...

Bella wiped my cheek with her thumb. "Was that a tear?"

"No."

"It was, too."

"I don't cry."

"Obviously, you do."

"It was one tear. Hardly crying."

She stroked my cheek. It was hot and red.

"It's been a long time since that happened, huh?"

I sighed. "Yes. I'm used to my tear ducts being purely decorative. I don't know how I feel about them overflowing without permission. It doesn't seem very manly."

"I think it's very manly."

"My human father wouldn't have agreed. In his time, men were expected to be stoic and strong."

"You are strong. And you've never been sexier to me."

"Really?"

"Oh, my God, yes. A man who isn't afraid to cry? Get in me, now."

Carlisle cleared his throat. I'd almost forgotten he was there. Obviously, so had Bella.

"Just joking, C," she said. "No more P in V until I get a big old injection of D, because even if your son is going to be my baby-Daddy one day, I'm really hoping that day isn't today."

Carlisle chuckled. "I have no idea what you just said, but I get the general idea."

I pulled Bella onto my lap, and we sat there silently for a while, lost in thought.

"So, I'm definitely going to be your baby-Daddy one day, huh?"

"Yes."

"And if that turns out to be today?"

She took a deep breath. "Then I'll step up and be the best mom I can be."

"And if you're not pregnant?"

She exhaled. "Then I'll enjoy having protected, increasingly kinky, responsibility-free sex with you for a few more years."

I stroked her back, and she sighed. I knew that whatever the outcome, she'd be fine. We'd deal with it together.

Carlisle turned to us. "These results are going to take some time, so if you want to go and do something else ... you're more than welcome. Maybe help Esme clean up your mess."

"How long will it take?" Bella asked.

"I'll have analyzed your hormone levels in a few hours, but I'll need more samples to compare, so we should have some idea by the end of the day."

"That long?"

"Usually it takes a few days for the hormone levels to spike, but I'm predicting it will take less time for you."

"Okay, well, I guess we could go help Esme."

"You help, Esme," I said. "If I go anywhere near her, I'm pretty sure she'll ruin my pretty, new organic body."

Bella squeezed my bicep. "Can't have that."

Before we could leave, Alice walked in hand-in-hand with Jasper.

"Morning, sweet hybrids. How's the pregnancy scare going?"

"Scary," said Bella.

"Well, dear sister-in-law, worry no longer. You don't need to wait for the test results. You're not pregnant."

"What?"

"What?" Carlisle echoed. "You had a vision?"

"Yep. Short and fuzzy, but a vision nonetheless."

Bella and I stood. "What did it show?"

"I don't think I should say. It was kind of disgusting." She screwed up her face.

"Alice."

"Fine. It showed you two trying to get pregnant. Over and over again. Sometimes, in really strange positions with very kinky sex toys. I vomited in my mouth a little."

"Trying to get pregnant?" Bella said. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. It was a couple of years in the future. Don't say anything to Emmett and Rose, but I got a glimpse of their future as well, and, you guys ..." She beamed. "They had the cutest little boy you've ever seen. Dark, curly hair like Em, but blue eyes, like Rose's. Well, human Rose. Completely adorable. Just like his Aunt Alice."

Carlise frowned. "So, we'll be able to reproduce?"

"Seems like it. Although, Bella and Edward will have a little trouble."

He smiled. "Wait until Esme hears about this. It might actually make her forget about all the damage to the house. Maybe." His smiled faded as he looked around the lab and slumped. "But, Alice, as grateful as I am to hear this news, I have to tell you, experiments are far less fun when one knows the eventual outcome."

"Sorry, pops. But I knew Bella was stressing, so I thought I'd let her know."

"I guess I could investigate why impregnation hasn't occurred. Perhaps the shot worked. Or the change fatigued Edward's reproductive system."

"Or," Jasper said, "Edward spanked the monkey so much before Bella got home, he didn't have any sperm left."

"Hmmm," Carlisle said and nodded. "Interesting theory. I wonder if the wolf regeneration affects sperm production. I'll get back to analyzing Edward's fertility. The sample of his ejaculate should almost be ready for testing."

"Oh, joy," I said and rubbed my eyes. I loved it when the subject of my ejaculate was brought up in casual conversation.

"There you go," Alice said, smiling. "Experiments are still necessary. The world is a wonderful place again."

"God, yes," Bella said.

A knot of disappointment curled in my stomach, but I tried not to let it show. Bella was relieved, and I was relieved for her, and yet ...

Now that the seed of fatherhood had been planted in my brain, I was impatient for it to reach fruition.

"You okay?" Bella asked. She knew my moods too well.

"Yep. Fine. You?"

"Fine."

I composed myself and pulled her against me. "Well, now that we have an answer, do you want to get out of here?"

Upstairs, I heard Esme chanting, "I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him."

"Uh, yeah," Bella said as she grabbed my hand. "Maybe we should go for a run. You know, put some distance between you and your mother."

We headed up the stairs and quickly exited the back door.

"Edward!" Esme called from an upstairs window.

"Bella ruined the bathroom!" I said as Bella slapped my arm. "That mess is all hers! Be angry at her, too! It wasn't all me!"

"But most of it was!" Bella added. "Your son's an animal!"

I could still hear Esme swearing as we dashed into the forest.

...

...

...

Bella and I sprinted through the trees. I was impressed with her speed. For someone who hadn't been at all physically fit before the change, her reflexes and technique were extraordinary. I kept pace with her but tried to make it look harder than it was.

She gave me a knowing look. "Oh, you think you can outrun me? I've been practicing, you know. Every day."

I laughed. "Don't challenge me. I don't want to destroy your ego, but I will if I have to."

"Always have to be the fastest, don't you?"

"Don't have to be. Just am."

"Then come on, cheetah-boy, give me your best shot. First one to the lake wins."

"Wins what?"

"Whatever you like."

That was an offer too good to refuse. "Say the word."

"Go!"

She pulled away and swerved in front of me. I let her. I was barely breaking a sweat. Plus, I really enjoyed ogling her ass as she ran. She was wearing a skirt today, and it flew up every now and then, giving me a tantalizing flash of panties. My jeans were suddenly too tight.

She headed west, and I followed. I figured I'd bide my time and pass her at the last minute. At least she'd spend most of the run believing she was faster than I was. Let her dream.

We ducked and weaved, and every now and then she'd laugh, high on the exhilaration of speed. This was new to her. For years I'd used running as therapy for my miserable existence. Now, she was using it as a celebration of her new self. Our new beginning.

I could get on board with that.

I could smell the lake miles before I could see it. In front of me, Bella slowed. I could have used the opportunity to speed around her, but when she stopped and turned to me, eyes dark with lust, I screeched to a halt.

In a second, she was on me. She shoved me back against a large pine while kissing me and tugging my hair, unbuttoning my shirt, pulling at my jeans. I was hard and breathless within seconds. Aggressive-Bella was one of her most arousing incarnations, and considering she made me insane with desire by simply existing, that was saying something.

"I can't even tell you how much you turn me on," she said and rubbed me through the denim. "I want you, all the time. More specifically, right now."

She began unbuttoning my jeans.

"Uh ... okay, so, we're done racing, then?"

"Shhhh." She roughly tugged down my jeans, followed closely by my underwear. Then she palmed me, and any notion of racing was completely forgotten. How could her hand feel so much better than my own? It was only a palm and fingers, and yet, hers felt like warm heaven.

She squeezed and stroked me, and I closed my eyes as my head fell back against the tree. This was an unexpected turn of events, but I certainly wasn't complaining.

I should have known she was up to something.

Within a second, her hand was gone, and she whispered, "Sucker!" before a rush of air hit me as she dashed away.

I opened my eyes to see her disappear in a blur between the trees.

"Are you ...? What was ...? YOU FILTHY CHEATER!"

I yanked up my boxers and jeans and tried to fasten them as I took off. It wasn't easy. There was too much of me and not enough denim. I didn't bother buttoning my shirt, and it flapped noisily around me as I kicked into high gear. I could hear her laughing in front of me, but by the time I'd caught up, she was standing at the edge of the lake wearing her smuggest smile.

"That wasn't fair," I said as I stalked over to her.

"It's not my fault you're so easily distracted."

I grabbed her and within a second had lifted her skirt and torn off her underwear. I touched her with sure fingers that made her gasp in surprise and pleasure.

"Pretty sure I could distract you so much you couldn't walk, let alone run," I whispered. "Then we'll see who wins a race back to the house, shall we?"

Her eyelids fluttered, and she grabbed my shoulders. Her legs gave out. "Ohhhh ... uhhhhh ... "

She sagged against me as I circled my fingers, firm and fast. Within seconds, I'd found every spot that made her squirm and moan. I brought her to the edge quicker than ever before and reveled in the power I had over her body.

"Edward, uh ..."

Just before she came, I stopped and kissed her neck. She tried to rub against me, to grant herself release. I prevented her.

"Please," she said, panting and restless.

"Admit you're a cheat."

"Yes. I am. A dirty, filthy cheat."

"Admit I'm the fastest and the best."

"God, yes. The best. Always."

"Beg me to make you come."

"Please. Oh, please ..."

"I don't think you really want it."

"Edwaaaard! Pleeeease ..."

Her pleading undid me, and I complied. It didn't take much. She convulsed and gripped me as her eyes rolled back into her head when her orgasm hit her. I watched in wonder. I'd never get tired of seeing her like this. Magnificent and radiant in her abandon. Apoplectic with pleasure. All because of me.

Only me.

She shuddered and fell against me, limp and listless. I scooped her into my arms and carried her to the edge of the lake where I sat on a large rock and cradled her as we watched the sun on the water until she gave a deep sigh.

"You don't play fair," she said, her voice rough with satisfaction.

"And yet, you still won."

"That's true."

She pushed her face into my neck and inhaled then snuggled into me. We watched a flock of birds circle over the lake. Bella traced circles on my chest, and I sighed in contentment.

"Are you okay about me not being pregnant?" she asked quietly.

"Of course."

"Really? Because back at the house you seemed kind of ... upset."

I thought for a moment. "I'm not going to lie and say I'm not disappointed, but I'm glad you weren't forced into something you're not ready for."

She nodded and ran her nose along my jaw. "You know, I've never really thought about having kids. I mean, I love them, but it was always something that people who were less selfish and more responsible did. And older. But now, with you ..."

She pulled back and ran her fingers through my hair. "How could I not want to pass along the genetic awesomeness that is you? I should be committed to reproducing a little army of future Edwards, so women in the next generation can get themselves some of this finery."

I laughed and pulled her in for a kiss. "So, how many little Edwards are we talking about?"

"Oh, I don't know. At least a dozen. It depends on how resilient my hybrid uterus is."

I lifted her hair away from her neck and planted a kiss there. "Oh, after the past twenty-four hours, I can attest to it being extremely resilient." I kissed her neck again and tried to ignore how much my erection was aching to be inside her.

"Hmmm. You need to stop that," she whispered, "or I'll forget why we can't have sex right now."

"We can't?" I said and kissed down to her collar bone.

"Well, until I Carlisle gives me an adjusted shot, there's still a chance of pregnancy, right?"

Her throat smelled amazing. Tasted even better. I trailed my mouth all over it. "Alice's visions are fallible, I suppose. We could use a condom."

"Do you have one with you?" He voice was getting breathier every second.

"No."

"Damn. Doesn't mean we can't do other stuff, I guess."

"Of all the true things in the world, that is the truest."

She grabbed the back of my head and pulled me down to kiss her. I did so happily. Her mouth was so soft. Delicious in a distinctly Bella way. Her own arousing flavor.

We kissed for long minutes. Then she pushed me down onto the flat rock and proceeded to anoint every inch of my chest with her mouth. I have no idea how long it lasted. Time was a blur of kissing, licking, and crumbling rock beneath my fingers. This time when she pulled down my jeans and underwear, there was no disappearing and running off. Only the sweet heaven of her mouth, bringing me to edge of climax, time and again, before dragging me into a freefall of spinning, exploding pleasure.

For the longest time, I was caught up in the spasms of orgasm. I squeezed my eyes shut and groaned through the absolute power of it, only vaguely aware of Bella still touching me. Urging every last ounce of ecstasy out of me.

Afterward, when I'd regained a semblance of coherence, we stripped down and swam in the lake. Well, I swam. Bella doggy paddled. It was both adorable and hilarious. She didn't think so, and slapped at me when I couldn't stop laughing. Apparently she'd never been fond of the water, even when living in Arizona. I tried to teach her the basics of freestyle but found her nakedness way too distracting to maintain any real concentration. Fortunately, she felt the same way. After some frantic underwater groping, I vowed to teach her to swim another day.

When the sun began to sink, we pulled on our clothes and jogged toward home. We were ravenous for some of Esme's delicious food.

We'd just stepped in the back door when Carlisle called to us. Heading downstairs when there were mouth-watering smells coming from the kitchen wasn't easy, but we did it. I think we were both secretly avoiding confronting Esme.

When we entered the basement, Carlisle was filling a syringe with a milky substance, and he beckoned Bella over to lie down on the gurney.

"On your stomach, please."

"This is the adjusted Depo shot?" Bella asked as she pulled down the top of her skirt and exposed the upper portion of her left buttock.

"Yes. Arrived a short time time ago."

"That was quick."

"I have a very good courier service."

"I'm sure."

Carlisle swiped Bella's skin with antiseptic then said, "This shouldn't hurt too much," as he injected deep into the muscle.

"There we go," he said as he fixed a Band-Aid over the area. "From my calculations, you should be fully covered now, although to be safe, you might consider using condoms for the next twenty-four hours. I'm not certain how your body will metabolize this."

"Thanks, Carlisle."

"You're welcome."

He turned to me. "And I've just completed the initial analysis of your ejaculate, Edward."

"And?"

"Well, I can see why Alice saw you having problems getting pregnant."

"I'm infertile?"

"Not exactly. While the concentration of sperm is unusually high, the sperm's motility rate is poor."

"What does that mean?" Bella asked.

"Well, the sperm are hyper-stimulated. They're so desperate to fertilize an egg, they're practically paralyzed."

"They're swimming abnormally?" I asked.

"Yes. This could be for a number of reasons, but my theory right now is that the trauma of the change, plus the genetic mutation of vampire and wolf physiology, has confused them."

"So, I'm shooting blanks," I said.

"In the short term, yes, but that's not to say as your body adjusts to its new state, motility won't improve. And I certainly think we should continue administering Bella's contraceptive shot, just in case."

I felt deflated. Avoiding a pregnancy scare was one thing. Being unable to propagate one was another. It filled me with a savage need to try doubly hard. I had the strongest urge to bend her over the gurney and fuck her roughly.

Come to think of it, I couldn't really blame that on needing to prove my masculinity. I always had that urge.

"Now, why don't you two have dinner?" Carlisle said and returned to his tests. "I'm sure you're starved, and I know Esme has something she wants to discuss with you."

"Does it involve murdering me?" I asked.

Carlisle smirked. "Not that I'm aware of, but your mother doesn't always tell me of her homicidal plans."

Bella and I emerged from the basement, starving and wary, but Esme was nowhere to be seen. The kitchen was deserted. Heavenly aromas drew us into the dining room where a buffet of enough food to feed a football team was waiting.

"Oh, wow," Bella said and swallowed. "My mouth just squirted everywhere."

I exhaled. "I shouldn't find that arousing, but I do."

"Be aroused later. Now, we eat."

"I can't do both?"

"Oh, yeah. Let's do that."

We sat down and ate like we were starving. Plate after plate of food disappeared, and throughout, I tried to keep my attention on the food and not how sensually decadent Bella looked eating it.

It wasn't easy.

After dinner, we cleared the plates and stacked the dishwasher. Well, Bella stacked the dishwasher. I watched. Each time she bent over, I got harder, until I couldn't take it any more and shoved her back against the refrigerator.

"Took you long enough," she said and scraped her nails over my scalp.

I pulled her legs up around my waist and pressed against her so hard, the metal door buckled. "Please shut up and kiss me."

She did. Hard. I palmed her breasts. Kissed down her neck. Bit down on the juncture between her neck and shoulder until her fingernails dug into my shoulders.

Things were just starting to get x-rated when a throat cleared behind us.

We turned to see Esme with two suitcases in front of her. Alice was there, too, as well as Emmett and Rose. At the entrance to the living room, Jasper was leaning against a wall, alternating between groaning and glaring at us.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"I'm kicking you out," Esme said.

"What? Why?" I placed Bella on her feet. A perfect impression of her back was left in the stainless steel fridge. "Is this because of the damage?"

"No. Well, kind of. It's partly because I need to repair the house, and knowing how you two are, I want to ensure it stays repaired."

"We can be more careful," Bella said. "Really."

"Really?" said Esme as she eyed the misshapen metal.

Bella slumped. "No. What can I say? I have a thing for rough and destructive right now. So does Edward."

I shrugged. It was true.

"The thing is," Esme said, "we all know what it's like to be in the clutches of the mating bond. Add to that you also have some weird wolf imprinting thing happening, and I'm predicting either more demolition or an uncomfortable amount of outdoor sex."

The events of our afternoon came back to me.

Hmmmm. Outdoor sex.

Esme snapped her fingers in front of my face.

"Sweetheart," she said, "I understand it's hard to get enough of each other right now, and I figured you'd like some privacy to enjoy yourselves for a while. So I've packed your bags and -"

"She's letting you have Isle Esme!" Alice blurted. She was beaming.

Esme sighed. "You're such a surprise ruiner, Alice."

"Seconded," said Carlisle as he walked over and put his arm around his wife.

Alice just continued to smile.

"I don't get it," I said. "You two never let us kids have the island. Not by ourselves, anyway. When you let Em and Rose stay there for their honeymoon, you insisted on going with them."

"Yes," Esme said and rubbed her eyes."A decision I will forever regret. Some things can never be unseen."

"We thought you were hunting!" Emmett said.

"Obviously," Carlisle said. "I'll never look at a whisk the same way again."

Alice snorted. Rose face-palmed.

"Anyway," Esme said and turned back to me. "I feel bad about how I treated you yesterday when Charlie was here, and after talking to Carlisle, he suggested some alone-time might be good for you both. I agree. So do your brothers and sisters."

"Absolutely," Jasper said. "Alone time. Elsewhere. Far, far away from me."

"But, the house on the island," I said. "It's probably going to get ... you know ... ruined."

"I know. But I figure it's due for renovation anyway. As long as you don't destroy anything structural, it'll give me a good excuse to completely gut it."

Bella frowned. "Are you sure? I mean, you won't freak out if we annihilate it? 'Cause that's kind of likely."

"It's fine," Esme said with a smile. "I've asked Lupe to remove some of my more valuable pieces, but everything else can be collateral damage."

"How long can we stay there?"

"As long as you like."

"As long as it takes for all this hideous uber-lust to fade," Jasper muttered. "Please."

"That could be a while," I said.

Jas smiled. "Take your time."

Alice slapped him. "We'll miss you, of course, but you should go and enjoy yourselves. A lot. I've packed stuff for you, Bella. Pretty, lacy, sexy stuff. Edward, you're going to go insane."

Jasper scoffed.

"Well, more insane," Alice added.

"What about the transformations?" I asked Carlisle. "Will you continue them while we're away?"

"No. I've been doing some research into the protein strands which I believe are pivotal in the transformation, and I think that if I can isolate them and synthesize a concentrated serum, I may be able to make the change faster and less painful. But it's going to take time. A month or so, at least."

Beside me, Bella was thrumming with excitement. "Well, if you're sure."

Esme nodded. "We are. You've both earned this."

Thinking back on everything we'd enduring over the past twelve months, I agreed with her.

I squeezed Bella's hand. "When do we leave?"

"Now, if you like. I've called Howard and arranged for the plane to be fueled, and a boat is booked in Rio. The staff is preparing the house as we speak. You can call Charlie when you get there to let him know you're on vacation. We'll take care of him while you're gone."

I didn't need any further urging. I grabbed the suitcases, and everyone followed us out to the garage. I chose the Porsche. Right now, I needed speed. Plus, I'd always had a fantasy about fucking Bella on the hood. Tonight, I was going to make that a reality.

After saying our good-byes to my family we headed out, and the feeling of anticipation that filled me was deep and thrilling.

"Bella, let me ask you this," I said as I sped down toward the highway. "Ever had sex on a Porsche?"

She smiled and stroked my thigh. "No. Am I going to?"

"Fuck, yes. And on a plane, and on a boat, and on every inch of a beautiful, tropical island where the sand is like diamonds and the sea is the color of sapphires. In fact, pretty much anywhere the whim takes me. That okay with you?"

She palmed my crotch, and the steering wheel groaned beneath my grip. "More than okay. It's perfect. Ready when you are."

I floored the accelerator and hoped like hell Bella's father, or one of his deputies, wasn't paroling the highway tonight. Things were finally going my way, and I aimed for that to continue.

The cost of fueling a private plane to fly to South America? $34,000. Chartering a luxury yacht? $12,000. Having a practically indestructible Bella to myself for an indefinite amount of time?

Priceless.

...

...

...

So, my darling readers, that's where I'm going to leave our happy couple for the foreseeable future. The thing is, I had a whole other subplot outlined, and if I went down that track, this fic would have turned into another full-length saga, and my original fic projects would have been put on the backburner for another six months. Even my inner procrastinator vetoed that idea. I hope you understand.

Thank you so much for taking this journey with WindowWard and Bella. No doubt their future is filled with massive amounts of sex and happiness, and a whole new world awaits the Cullen family when they all achieve their transformations.

Much love to all of you. WindowWard sends his eternal affection and gratitude.

Kiya x