When Angels Cry
by wizardtho
Chapter 5: Something's Not Right
When awareness slowly returned to me, it was to the feeling of Edward's attention, along with water trickling softly down on my body. Edward was sitting down on the bench in the shower. He had the water pointed at us while he held me straddling his lap. I hummed unconsciously at the position, then said softly as I kissed his neck, “I love you so very much, my lion. How long has it been?”
He let out a huge breath, hugging me to him for a second before continuing his attention, saying, “As I love you. I have missed hearing your sweet voice, my little lamb. You've just past the 24 hour mark now. How do you feel, Love?”
I thought for a minute as I took stock, realising that I felt much stronger. I smiled into his neck, then kissed up to his ear before whispering into it, “Much stronger. I can't possibly tell you how amazing your fingers feel dancing across my skin... and that one spot between my shoulder blades. What are you doing there, anyway, because it doesn't even feel like you're touching my skin.”
He smiled widely into my shoulder, then said, “As soon as we're able to get you back into the tub, I'll call Charlie in. He should be the one to tell you. Shall I continue, or would you rather me stop for a bit?”
I shook my head, explaining as I moved just enough to look into his eyes, “Don't stop. Yes, the feeling is intimate... like it's something no one else should do... but it also keeps the flaring heat and pain to a manageable level. I heard most of what you said before you started talking to Dad about the bites, but it's all hazy. The only thing I remember clearly is your touch, along with how good it felt... how close I felt to you when I could feel your fingertips dancing along my skin.”
Edward leaned his forehead against mine, his eyes filled full of love for me, then brushed his lips against mine tentatively. I hummed, then leaned in further, swirling my tongue along his bottom lip. He chuckled, “My sexy little mate, are you feeling feisty?”
I giggled as I nipped his lip, then whispered against them, “Mmm-hmm.”
He smirked at me as he fluttered his fingers on that spot between my shoulder blades, causing my eyes to roll back as a purr bubbled out of my chest. Edward hummed in response, gently bit my neck without breaking the skin, then licked the indentations his teeth made. I whimpered as arousal snaked up my spine, then plastered my chest more firmly to his as I fisted my hands in his hair. “Don't tease... please. I can't even begin to explain how you biting me makes me feel right now, but I know that I'm not strong enough for that yet.”
Edward nodded into my neck as he nuzzled the spot he had bitten, whispering against it, “I'll note that as something to save for when you are strong enough, then.”
It was only a few moments later that I saw Alice. She smiled as she held her hand up to the shower glass, “The tub is ready for the two of you again. You're doing so well, Sweetie. Just promise you won't look at your spectacular new body until after your changes are complete. It'll ruin the final reveal.”
I chuckled, then nodded as I put my hand up to mirror hers, “I promise. I love you, you know. Did you tell Jazz?”
She smiled, then said, “He's stationed himself out in the living room, practically pacing a path-shaped hole into Charlie's wood floor. Esme's was growling about making him replace it, just to give him something to do so he'll stop worrying. The first time his power slipped, he had Charlie fretting like an old biddy for a minute or two before he could rein it in. Charlie threatened to find a way to remove a few body parts, if Jazz's power leaked onto him again.”
I nodded before asking, “Is the pain getting to him? I don't feel it nearly as much with Edward's attention, but does Jazz?”
She smiled, then promised, “No, but when you do feel it, he sends peaceful vibes your way to help. I'll go let him know everything's fine. Should I tell Charlie to head back here in a few minutes?”
I nodded, “Please. I really would like to know what the hell is going on with me.”
As soon as Alice closed the door behind her, Edward teasingly slid his hands to cup my ass. In response, I practically purred, “Christ, that feels good.”
His hands slid from my ass to my hips, squeezed gently, then slid up to tentatively cup the undersides of my breasts. My breath hitched as I arched into his touch, then as my head fell back, he whispered into the hollow of my throat, “God, how I want to make love to you right now. We need to get you back into the tub, though, my little lamb. I can feel your temperature rising again.”
As soon as we were settled into the tub again, Edward went to grab the large cup, to fill and pour down my back. It cooled a few degrees, but it wasn't enough. “Your temperature is cooler than the tub's, Edward. That's part of why I feel better with your touch. Do you mind?”
I wiggled my shoulders, indicating where I wanted his hands, but instantly winced at the pain that shot through my back. “Ow, shit... okay, so that's obviously not a good idea.”
Edward tenderly placed his hands on the spot that hurt, eliciting a sigh from me as the pain eased. “No, Love. Moving like that is definitely not a good idea right now... and I don't mind at all. It feels good to hold you like this... to feel you against me so closely, with no barriers between us.”
I tugged at his boxers playfully, prompting him to add, “Well, a lot closer to no barriers than we've been before now, but you understand my meaning.”
My Dad knocked on the door a minute later, so I called out softly, “We're good, Dad. You can come in.”
He immediately came to my side, sat in the chair that had been placed by the tub, then brushed the stray hair away from my face. “You look better than you did. How do you feel, Princess?”
I smiled as I cupped his hand to my cheek, saying, “A lot stronger than before. Edward's keeping my pain and heat levels down. I think I'm ready for explanations, though, because I'd really like to understand what's happening to me… why I’m going through all this damn pain.”
My Dad and Edward looked at each other for a moment, then my Dad nodded to himself. “You aren't human, Bells. No one in this house is, for that matter. In our species, the males are only passive carriers of the gene. The females, however, are a different story. When a male, like me, gets a human female pregnant, the gene is passed on. If the baby is female, she will not take a human male for a lover when she's grown. She will take a vampire as her lover. The transformation usually only occurs after the vampire has turned the female. Your man is stubborn to the bone, though, and his failed attempt to leave you forced your change to happen early.”
I shook my head, then said, “I got all that, Dad. The million dollar question is, what am I changing into? What the hell is happening to my back?”
Dad chuckled as Edward glided his fingers on that spot between my shoulder blades, because I groaned and melted into Edward. When I was calm again, Dad said, “Try to stay calm, Princess. Stress will only make your pain worse. To answer your question, we're angels. They do exist, but are not the heavenly creatures that everyone thinks they are. Your wings growing in are proof of that.”
The pieces started falling into place as I thought out loud, “So that's what's happening? I'm getting my wings?”
Dad nodded, explaining further, “Yes, Bells. It's a slow process, though, and extremely painful. You weren't meant to go through this while human, since your body isn't able to handle all of that pain and blood loss.”
I shook my head, “I remember points when it felt like molten lava was being poured inside my back, but other than that, it's tolerable. It's hard to explain, but it's like Edward's attention is keeping most of the pain and heat at bay. When he stops his hands, both levels slowly start rising again. So that pain in my chest while Edward was gone... that was the start of me changing?”
Edward nodded, holding me a bit tighter to him, then kissed my neck before saying, “Deep down, you felt my decision to try to leave. Your soul had already bound itself to mine, so when I tried to leave, I inadvertently made our bond flare with that pain. Mine calmed most of the way when Jasper got me stabilized, but since your change had already started because of my decision, your pain didn't ease until I was wrapped around you... able to explain that I could never leave you.”
After a breath he continued, “When you were bleeding in the forest, I couldn't tell where the blood was coming from. There was just so much all over you. It was your tears, my little lamb. Angels cry blood tears, and it starts near the 3rd day of the changes. The pain you got right before Charlie first showed up? That was the skin tearing open in two spots between your shoulder blades, making openings for your wings to emerge. The blood transfusion is because you are steadily bleeding from the wounds on your back at a slow rate. The blood acts as a lubricant to ease the passage of your wings. Without giving you blood, you would bleed out before your wings had the chance to completely emerge.”
I nodded, then asked as I nuzzled into his chest, “So the feeling I've been having... is because you've been touching my wings? How far have they gotten?”
My dad smiled as he glided his hand over my hair, “By what we know, our best guess is that you're about halfway there. It's hard to know for sure, because our angel line has been predominantly male for generations. The hardest part will be at the end, from what all of my books say, because your wings are folded when they finish emerging. They are fragile now, because they're like cartilage, making it easier for them to pass through the small openings. The problem is, the opening is still quite small compared to the size of standard wings, and if your wings happen to be larger... well that means more pain. You'll have to be outside for the last part, because you won't be able to keep track of your wingspan while they emerge fully. We don't want to risk you breaking wing bones.”
I looked at Dad with wide eyes, wondering how big they'd be if he was worried about me hitting walls and such, but before I could ask, Edward said tenderly, “From the pictures that Carlisle and Charlie have shown me, your wings will be large, Love. When in their resting or folded position, the bend will reach nearly as high as you can with your fingertips, and the tips will probably reach down to about mid-thigh. They could reach down further, but we won't know until they emerge fully.”
Just then I remembered something, so looked at my dad. My voice came out small, even to my own ears, as I asked, “Dad, are we the only ones? I vaguely remember you guys talking about a war... killing off all of the angels.”
Dad nodded, the sadness clear on his face. I remembered something else, then, but didn't know if it would work. “There's time, though, right? Didn't you say something about the females being able to get pregnant?”
Edward's breathing hitched after a split second, then Charlie said slowly, “I just don't know, Princess. There's so much that's unknown about this, because there have only been a few cases where the changes happened before the female was turned. If your changes hadn't started, I would say that there's time, but I just don't have any answers for you right now. I can only say to follow your instincts for now. You'll need to be clear in telling him when you're ready for him to turn you, because from what Carlisle told me, vampires can bite while intimate without venom. If your instincts don't lead you to having him change you when you make love, then there may still be time.”
I nodded, then thought for a moment. I tightened my arms around Edward, saying softly, “It's something that Edward and I will have to talk about, if it's a possibility.”
Edward kissed a tender path along my shoulder while his fingers fluttered against my... wings (still getting used to that term)... then Dad said softly, “I think I'll give you two some time. Call if you need anything?”
I smiled, nodding my agreement. He placed a kiss on my forehead before he quietly left the room.
I snuggled deeper into Edward, completely melting at his attention, then suddenly felt my eyes becoming heavy again. He must have noticed, because he whispered to me tenderly, “Rest, my little lamb. I have you.”
I woke to a ripping pain up my spine, as well as the feeling of something being dangerously wrong. My body arched and contorted, with Edward holding tightly to me to keep our chests pressed together, while a piercing wail echoed out of me and through the room.
I ground my teeth with my eyes tightly shut, trying to focus. I could feel sticky wetness oozing down my back as I panted, trying to gain my bearings. The room suddenly filled with people, then my eyes snapped to Carlisle's as the ripping pain tore at my spine again. I cried out loudly, “Please, Carlisle! Something... wrong... not in the right... position.”
Carlisle's eyes went wide as I arched and contorted again, another piercing wail echoing around the room, then he was to me in a flash as Dad and Edward both yelled for him to do something. I panted out again as I felt his cool fingers along my back, with him explaining quickly, “I need to feel the position of each wing, Dear. Hold very still for me.”
He asked a frantic Jasper some questions as he worked, but Jasper only managed to choke out a pain-filled, “Her spine! Whatever it is, it’s hurting her spine, Carlisle.”
The pain made my brain fuzzy to anything else, but I remember hearing the phrases 'twisted around', 'break her spine', and 'go inside to ease it past'. That was all I heard before I felt like something cold and hard was being shoved into my body through my back, while a gut-wrenching scream tore forcefully from my throat.
I faintly registered that my voice gave out at some point... long before the scream ended and the blackness took over.
When I next registered anything, it was Edward's tender ministrations as he hummed a beautiful tune I didn't recognize. I took a deep breath before letting it out, to help clear the fuzziness from my head. Edward whispered, “Don't try to talk yet, Love. You’ve strained your vocal chords... and please try not to move. We don't know yet if the process worked.”
I furrowed my eyebrows in thought, then drew a question mark on Edward's chest. He hummed thoughtfully, then asked, “Do you remember waking up in pain? Or asking Carlisle for help?”
I drew on Edward's chest again, “Yes. Something off.”
Edward nodded, “Yes, something was off... not in the right position. It was your left wing. We think when you wiggled your shoulders earlier, your wing bone got contorted. With the bone still being soft, it got stuck between your right wing bone and your spine, but couldn't dislodge by itself. Carlisle had to go in... to ease the left main wing bone out from between your spine and other wing, then help it reposition. It would have broken your spine if he had waited even a few moments longer.”
Just then, I heard Carlisle come in, offering softly, “When you feel ready, I need to test to make sure you still have sensation in all of your extremities and your wings, Dear.”
I wrote on Edward's chest again, “Yes, now.”
Carlisle said gently, “If you have feeling, a simple 'Y' on Edward's chest will do, since I can see your hand movement. An 'N' will suffice for no feeling.”
I wrote out “Ok,” then after a second I felt Carlisle run his finger along my free palm.
I wrote a 'Y', then he continued, saying, “That's perfect, Bella. Let's continue.”
I think I heard a collective breath being let out in relief from everyone in the house when Carlisle deemed the process a success. When I thought about asking how much longer this would be going on, Alice breezed through the door before holding a straw to my lips. “Not yet, you don't. You'll just be doing more damage to your pipes, Girlie. It will only be another few hours before you need to head outside. You passed out during the process of dislodging your wing, then you were out for most of the day to recuperate.”
I nodded slightly, drawing a heart on Edward's chest as I looked at Alice. She smiled, saying softly, “Love you too, Sweetie. Not much longer now, and the hard part will all be over.”
My legs were starting to fall asleep, so I knew I hadn't been moved in a good while. I tapped on Edward's chest. He kissed my shoulder in acknowledgment, so I wrote, “Time for shower. Legs falling asleep. Need to stretch.”
Edward hummed, then said, “It's past time to change out your water again, so we'll get you standing in the shower as soon as Charlie has a chance to see those pretty eyes of yours.”
I drew a heart on his chest before spelling lion, causing him to kiss my neck before whispering against it, “As I love you, my little lamb.”
Dad immediately came to my side, so I looked into his tired and worried eyes. He looked like hell; my suspicions were even stronger as he said in a choked, raspy whisper, “I was so scared. I didn't know what to do. If Doc hadn't...”
I shook my head slightly before saying in a bare whisper, “I'm okay now... I can feel that I am. He was here, and he did what had to be done, Dad. Have you had any sleep since this started?”
Dad ran a sluggish hand through his hair, then confirmed what I thought, saying, “I can't. Everytime I close my eyes, images of something going wrong run through my head. I'll get some sleep in a few hours, once I know you're okay. When it's over… when you're sealing your bond with Edward... then I'll be able to sleep.”
I shook my head knowing he wouldn't budge, then breathed seriously, “Not a minute later, Dad. I need you to be healthy, because I can't stand the thought of losing you. Plus, you're the only one who can teach me all that I need to know about being an angel. I have so many questions that only you can answer.”
He nodded with a small smile, “I promise, Princess. It looks like your water drastically needs a change.”
I peered my eyes down toward the bath water, only to gasp as I noticed it looked more like a deep red wine than just pink-tinged water. Edward cooed to me, reminding me that I've been having blood transfused into me the whole time, making me relax slightly. I whispered in a bare breath, “I know you're right. It was a little startling to see the proof, though. Since your touch blocks out most of the pain, it's easy to forget that I've been steadily losing blood for so long.”
Edward nodded into my neck, then offered, “We do need to get you standing in the shower, though, before your legs get any worse.”
My dad nodded, then said as he stood, “I'll let Alice know.”
He gave me a smile and kiss to my forehead, then he was out the door, closing it quietly behind him.
Edward immediately stood to walk us from the tub to the shower. Once the water was gently raining down on us, he carefully let me down. My hands grasped his hips as he clasped his hands at my tailbone, then he gently coaxed me in an emotion-filled kiss.
Though I know he wasn't meaning to do so, my body betrayed me by becoming seriously aroused at the slow and erotic way his tongue caressed mine. Edward inhaled deeply, breaking the kiss, which caused me to blush at the look that took over his features. He lifted my chin when I tried to avert my eyes, whispering, “Don't hide from me, Love, please. Am I making you uncomfortable when I do that?”
I furrowed my eyebrows, wondering what he was talking about, but before I could ask, he whispered, “Me scenting your reaction to our kiss... did it make you uncomfortable?”
My eyes went wide, knowing then what he was thinking. I shook my head slightly as I cupped both of his cheeks. I looked deep into his eyes, then pecked his lips before saying, “Not in the least. I was just embarrassed because I know that wasn't what the kiss meant, yet clearly my body wanted to believe otherwise.”
I bit my lip, but he smiled tenderly. “Never fear your reaction to my attention, Bella. Knowing that I can effect you with just a kiss is actually quite sexy. You have the same effect on me, you know. Just a simple look or innocent action by you, and I constantly find myself achingly hard.”
He leaned in to lick at my trapped lip, then moaned against my mouth, “You biting that lip... Christ, that alone will be the death of me one of these days.”
He gently pried my lip from behind my teeth with his own, groaning and swirling his tongue along it as he sucked it into his mouth.
I let out a shuddered breath at the sensations he was creating, then pushed gently on his chest as I walked further into him. He got the point; as soon as he adjusted the water spray, he was gently pulling me down with him to straddle his lap on the shower bench.
I settled with my core directly against the prominent proof of his need for me, causing a soft moan to leave my lips while my eyes fluttered. Edward's hands immediately found their home grasping my ass, then he gently pulled me closer before grasping the sides of my boyshorts in his hands tightly. He groaned, his head falling to my shoulder as he practically pleaded, “God, how I need to taste you. Your arousal is so intoxicating.”
His hands tightened further on the material at my hips, then he rocked against me to make his point. My breath hitched before I teasingly bit his neck and moaned, “Rip them.”
Without hesitation, a ripping sound filled the shower, then I felt him carefully pulling the material away. I heard the wet thud as they hit the tile floor, then I grabbed one of Edward's hands, skimming it down the front of my body. He backed up only enough to look me in the eyes, then I felt his fingertips flutter against my collarbone. I let out a sigh at the feeling, but it instantly turned into a moan as his thumb brushed over my nipple while his hand cupped the side of my breast.
My arousal skyrocketed at the look of desire and need in his eyes, so I did the only thing I could. I whispered, “Let me see your hand.”
He complied without a thought. I slowly guided it down my body as I whispered against his lips, “Taste me, my lion.”
Edward's breath hitched, but soon I felt his fingers gliding easily along my folds as he captured me in a desire-filled kiss. He let out a deep and sexy groan as he dipped a finger just barely inside my entrance, so I panted with a nod as I broke the kiss, “Please.”
He took hold of my hand with his free one, sucked two of my fingers into his mouth, then guided my hand down to press lightly at my clit. My breath hitched at the action, but he nodded, moaning in need, “I want to feel you let go around my fingers, Love. I want your honey on my tongue at its sweetest.”
When his fingers swirled around my opening as he sucked a trail of water from my shoulder, I gasped, “Edward... oh, God, yes,” only to circle my bundle of nerves teasingly with my fingers.
He inhaled deeply as my arousal spiked again, then captured my eyes as he slowly worked a single finger inside me. “God, you feel incredible, Love... scorching hot, yet softer than silk.”
He captured me in another steamy kiss as his finger retreated, then I felt him add another finger before stilling them just inside me. My breath hitched into the kiss, but Edward moaned as his fingers retreated before pushing in a little further and stilling.
He repeated the process twice more, only going the same depth. The feeling was driving me insane with need. I could feel my wetness practically triple at his actions, so I broke the kiss, panting against his lips, “Please, Edward... more. I need you so much.”
I took his free hand, placing it on my breast. He growled his appreciation as he gently tugged my nipple, offering, “Christ, yes... tell me what you need, Love. Say it for me.”
I whimpered in need, “Deeper... please, Edward, I'm so close. Make me cum for you.”
His growl deepened as his eyes caught mine, then he watched my panting and trembling form as he slowly slid his fingers deeper. His eyes widened slightly as his long fingers seated fully inside me, but I cried out softly, “Oh, fuck... more... don't stop.”
Edward shook his head, then lifted me slightly higher while spreading my legs a bit more. His fingers inched that much deeper, causing me to let out a breathy cry of his name as I clutched at his shoulders. He twisted his fingers, then his thumb circled my clit while his fingers curled slightly, saying in a pure sex tone as he nipped along the pulse in my neck, “Almost there, my sexy angel... let it take you. I can feel your silky walls fluttering around my fingers. Cum for me, Isabella, and let me taste you.”
He bit down gently on my neck as his fingers curled. His thumb pressed hard against my clit, then I was suddenly gasping and crying out his name in ecstasy. The pleasure had my entire body trembling in blissful release.
I went limp against Edward's chest as the pleasure faded. I felt him gliding his spare hand along my wings as he slowed the motion of his fingers. The feeling had me purring and nuzzling his neck in an instant, with Edward smiling into my shoulder in response. I panted softly after a kiss to his neck, “That was... mmm, wow.”
Edward chuckled, then kissed a trail along my shoulder as he slowly removed his fingers. “You look completely sexy when you're cumming for me, Isabella. Jesus, I was a breath away from cumming with you, yet you hadn't even touched me.”
I sat up slightly to look into his eyes. That's when his fingers glided through my soaked core one more time before slowly making their way up. He glanced longingly at his fingers before his eyes returned to mine, so I took his wrist, guiding his hand toward his mouth as I whispered, “Taste me.”
Edward's eyes stayed locked with mine as he let out a shaky breath, then he took a long lick of his fingers. His eyes rolled back in his head while a deep rumbling moan slipped from his lips, then suddenly he was sucking on his fingers hungrily.
He looked almost jilted when he released them from his mouth, so I guided my vampire's hand back between my legs to my still-soaked core. He groaned loudly as he cupped and palmed my core, slipping his fingers in and out of me in a teasing manner, “Fuuck, you're positively soaked, my little lamb. I can't even describe how badly I ache to bury my face between your thighs right now.”
With that, he gave a light tap to my clit, making the vibration surge through my whole body, then thrust two fingers deep inside me. The feeling made my stomach clench in anticipation as my voice rushed out of me in a breathy, “Edward, please...” from being on the edge again already.
The responding curl of his fingers as he bit gently on my collarbone with a growl, was all I needed to push me straight into another blissful climax. It was so intense, that spots exploded behind my eyes as I cried out and clutched myself to him.
When I finally registered my surroundings again, Edward was cradling me tenderly, brushing his fingers up and down my spine in a soothing manner while humming around the fingers in his mouth. I let out a shaky breath at the sight, feeling incredible that I could provide him with something he wanted so badly, then whispered, “Love you, my lion.”
He hummed as he took one long lick of his palm, then nuzzled into my neck, saying, “As I love you, my little lamb. Thank you for giving me such a wonderful treat.”
I chuckled tiredly in response, “I think you turned me to jello, Mr. Cullen, so the pleasure was definitely mine. I need to stand back up, but there's no way my legs will hold me.”
He grinned cheekily into my neck, then kissed it while assuring me, “Just rest against me, Love, and I'll hold you up. I'll call Alice in to redo your bath, too, now that you're getting sleepy.”
When awareness slowly returned to me, it was to the feeling of Edward's attention, along with water trickling softly down on my body. Edward was sitting down on the bench in the shower. He had the water pointed at us while he held me straddling his lap. I hummed unconsciously at the position, then said softly as I kissed his neck, “I love you so very much, my lion. How long has it been?”
He let out a huge breath, hugging me to him for a second before continuing his attention, saying, “As I love you. I have missed hearing your sweet voice, my little lamb. You've just past the 24 hour mark now. How do you feel, Love?”
I thought for a minute as I took stock, realising that I felt much stronger. I smiled into his neck, then kissed up to his ear before whispering into it, “Much stronger. I can't possibly tell you how amazing your fingers feel dancing across my skin... and that one spot between my shoulder blades. What are you doing there, anyway, because it doesn't even feel like you're touching my skin.”
He smiled widely into my shoulder, then said, “As soon as we're able to get you back into the tub, I'll call Charlie in. He should be the one to tell you. Shall I continue, or would you rather me stop for a bit?”
I shook my head, explaining as I moved just enough to look into his eyes, “Don't stop. Yes, the feeling is intimate... like it's something no one else should do... but it also keeps the flaring heat and pain to a manageable level. I heard most of what you said before you started talking to Dad about the bites, but it's all hazy. The only thing I remember clearly is your touch, along with how good it felt... how close I felt to you when I could feel your fingertips dancing along my skin.”
Edward leaned his forehead against mine, his eyes filled full of love for me, then brushed his lips against mine tentatively. I hummed, then leaned in further, swirling my tongue along his bottom lip. He chuckled, “My sexy little mate, are you feeling feisty?”
I giggled as I nipped his lip, then whispered against them, “Mmm-hmm.”
He smirked at me as he fluttered his fingers on that spot between my shoulder blades, causing my eyes to roll back as a purr bubbled out of my chest. Edward hummed in response, gently bit my neck without breaking the skin, then licked the indentations his teeth made. I whimpered as arousal snaked up my spine, then plastered my chest more firmly to his as I fisted my hands in his hair. “Don't tease... please. I can't even begin to explain how you biting me makes me feel right now, but I know that I'm not strong enough for that yet.”
Edward nodded into my neck as he nuzzled the spot he had bitten, whispering against it, “I'll note that as something to save for when you are strong enough, then.”
It was only a few moments later that I saw Alice. She smiled as she held her hand up to the shower glass, “The tub is ready for the two of you again. You're doing so well, Sweetie. Just promise you won't look at your spectacular new body until after your changes are complete. It'll ruin the final reveal.”
I chuckled, then nodded as I put my hand up to mirror hers, “I promise. I love you, you know. Did you tell Jazz?”
She smiled, then said, “He's stationed himself out in the living room, practically pacing a path-shaped hole into Charlie's wood floor. Esme's was growling about making him replace it, just to give him something to do so he'll stop worrying. The first time his power slipped, he had Charlie fretting like an old biddy for a minute or two before he could rein it in. Charlie threatened to find a way to remove a few body parts, if Jazz's power leaked onto him again.”
I nodded before asking, “Is the pain getting to him? I don't feel it nearly as much with Edward's attention, but does Jazz?”
She smiled, then promised, “No, but when you do feel it, he sends peaceful vibes your way to help. I'll go let him know everything's fine. Should I tell Charlie to head back here in a few minutes?”
I nodded, “Please. I really would like to know what the hell is going on with me.”
As soon as Alice closed the door behind her, Edward teasingly slid his hands to cup my ass. In response, I practically purred, “Christ, that feels good.”
His hands slid from my ass to my hips, squeezed gently, then slid up to tentatively cup the undersides of my breasts. My breath hitched as I arched into his touch, then as my head fell back, he whispered into the hollow of my throat, “God, how I want to make love to you right now. We need to get you back into the tub, though, my little lamb. I can feel your temperature rising again.”
As soon as we were settled into the tub again, Edward went to grab the large cup, to fill and pour down my back. It cooled a few degrees, but it wasn't enough. “Your temperature is cooler than the tub's, Edward. That's part of why I feel better with your touch. Do you mind?”
I wiggled my shoulders, indicating where I wanted his hands, but instantly winced at the pain that shot through my back. “Ow, shit... okay, so that's obviously not a good idea.”
Edward tenderly placed his hands on the spot that hurt, eliciting a sigh from me as the pain eased. “No, Love. Moving like that is definitely not a good idea right now... and I don't mind at all. It feels good to hold you like this... to feel you against me so closely, with no barriers between us.”
I tugged at his boxers playfully, prompting him to add, “Well, a lot closer to no barriers than we've been before now, but you understand my meaning.”
My Dad knocked on the door a minute later, so I called out softly, “We're good, Dad. You can come in.”
He immediately came to my side, sat in the chair that had been placed by the tub, then brushed the stray hair away from my face. “You look better than you did. How do you feel, Princess?”
I smiled as I cupped his hand to my cheek, saying, “A lot stronger than before. Edward's keeping my pain and heat levels down. I think I'm ready for explanations, though, because I'd really like to understand what's happening to me… why I’m going through all this damn pain.”
My Dad and Edward looked at each other for a moment, then my Dad nodded to himself. “You aren't human, Bells. No one in this house is, for that matter. In our species, the males are only passive carriers of the gene. The females, however, are a different story. When a male, like me, gets a human female pregnant, the gene is passed on. If the baby is female, she will not take a human male for a lover when she's grown. She will take a vampire as her lover. The transformation usually only occurs after the vampire has turned the female. Your man is stubborn to the bone, though, and his failed attempt to leave you forced your change to happen early.”
I shook my head, then said, “I got all that, Dad. The million dollar question is, what am I changing into? What the hell is happening to my back?”
Dad chuckled as Edward glided his fingers on that spot between my shoulder blades, because I groaned and melted into Edward. When I was calm again, Dad said, “Try to stay calm, Princess. Stress will only make your pain worse. To answer your question, we're angels. They do exist, but are not the heavenly creatures that everyone thinks they are. Your wings growing in are proof of that.”
The pieces started falling into place as I thought out loud, “So that's what's happening? I'm getting my wings?”
Dad nodded, explaining further, “Yes, Bells. It's a slow process, though, and extremely painful. You weren't meant to go through this while human, since your body isn't able to handle all of that pain and blood loss.”
I shook my head, “I remember points when it felt like molten lava was being poured inside my back, but other than that, it's tolerable. It's hard to explain, but it's like Edward's attention is keeping most of the pain and heat at bay. When he stops his hands, both levels slowly start rising again. So that pain in my chest while Edward was gone... that was the start of me changing?”
Edward nodded, holding me a bit tighter to him, then kissed my neck before saying, “Deep down, you felt my decision to try to leave. Your soul had already bound itself to mine, so when I tried to leave, I inadvertently made our bond flare with that pain. Mine calmed most of the way when Jasper got me stabilized, but since your change had already started because of my decision, your pain didn't ease until I was wrapped around you... able to explain that I could never leave you.”
After a breath he continued, “When you were bleeding in the forest, I couldn't tell where the blood was coming from. There was just so much all over you. It was your tears, my little lamb. Angels cry blood tears, and it starts near the 3rd day of the changes. The pain you got right before Charlie first showed up? That was the skin tearing open in two spots between your shoulder blades, making openings for your wings to emerge. The blood transfusion is because you are steadily bleeding from the wounds on your back at a slow rate. The blood acts as a lubricant to ease the passage of your wings. Without giving you blood, you would bleed out before your wings had the chance to completely emerge.”
I nodded, then asked as I nuzzled into his chest, “So the feeling I've been having... is because you've been touching my wings? How far have they gotten?”
My dad smiled as he glided his hand over my hair, “By what we know, our best guess is that you're about halfway there. It's hard to know for sure, because our angel line has been predominantly male for generations. The hardest part will be at the end, from what all of my books say, because your wings are folded when they finish emerging. They are fragile now, because they're like cartilage, making it easier for them to pass through the small openings. The problem is, the opening is still quite small compared to the size of standard wings, and if your wings happen to be larger... well that means more pain. You'll have to be outside for the last part, because you won't be able to keep track of your wingspan while they emerge fully. We don't want to risk you breaking wing bones.”
I looked at Dad with wide eyes, wondering how big they'd be if he was worried about me hitting walls and such, but before I could ask, Edward said tenderly, “From the pictures that Carlisle and Charlie have shown me, your wings will be large, Love. When in their resting or folded position, the bend will reach nearly as high as you can with your fingertips, and the tips will probably reach down to about mid-thigh. They could reach down further, but we won't know until they emerge fully.”
Just then I remembered something, so looked at my dad. My voice came out small, even to my own ears, as I asked, “Dad, are we the only ones? I vaguely remember you guys talking about a war... killing off all of the angels.”
Dad nodded, the sadness clear on his face. I remembered something else, then, but didn't know if it would work. “There's time, though, right? Didn't you say something about the females being able to get pregnant?”
Edward's breathing hitched after a split second, then Charlie said slowly, “I just don't know, Princess. There's so much that's unknown about this, because there have only been a few cases where the changes happened before the female was turned. If your changes hadn't started, I would say that there's time, but I just don't have any answers for you right now. I can only say to follow your instincts for now. You'll need to be clear in telling him when you're ready for him to turn you, because from what Carlisle told me, vampires can bite while intimate without venom. If your instincts don't lead you to having him change you when you make love, then there may still be time.”
I nodded, then thought for a moment. I tightened my arms around Edward, saying softly, “It's something that Edward and I will have to talk about, if it's a possibility.”
Edward kissed a tender path along my shoulder while his fingers fluttered against my... wings (still getting used to that term)... then Dad said softly, “I think I'll give you two some time. Call if you need anything?”
I smiled, nodding my agreement. He placed a kiss on my forehead before he quietly left the room.
I snuggled deeper into Edward, completely melting at his attention, then suddenly felt my eyes becoming heavy again. He must have noticed, because he whispered to me tenderly, “Rest, my little lamb. I have you.”
I woke to a ripping pain up my spine, as well as the feeling of something being dangerously wrong. My body arched and contorted, with Edward holding tightly to me to keep our chests pressed together, while a piercing wail echoed out of me and through the room.
I ground my teeth with my eyes tightly shut, trying to focus. I could feel sticky wetness oozing down my back as I panted, trying to gain my bearings. The room suddenly filled with people, then my eyes snapped to Carlisle's as the ripping pain tore at my spine again. I cried out loudly, “Please, Carlisle! Something... wrong... not in the right... position.”
Carlisle's eyes went wide as I arched and contorted again, another piercing wail echoing around the room, then he was to me in a flash as Dad and Edward both yelled for him to do something. I panted out again as I felt his cool fingers along my back, with him explaining quickly, “I need to feel the position of each wing, Dear. Hold very still for me.”
He asked a frantic Jasper some questions as he worked, but Jasper only managed to choke out a pain-filled, “Her spine! Whatever it is, it’s hurting her spine, Carlisle.”
The pain made my brain fuzzy to anything else, but I remember hearing the phrases 'twisted around', 'break her spine', and 'go inside to ease it past'. That was all I heard before I felt like something cold and hard was being shoved into my body through my back, while a gut-wrenching scream tore forcefully from my throat.
I faintly registered that my voice gave out at some point... long before the scream ended and the blackness took over.
When I next registered anything, it was Edward's tender ministrations as he hummed a beautiful tune I didn't recognize. I took a deep breath before letting it out, to help clear the fuzziness from my head. Edward whispered, “Don't try to talk yet, Love. You’ve strained your vocal chords... and please try not to move. We don't know yet if the process worked.”
I furrowed my eyebrows in thought, then drew a question mark on Edward's chest. He hummed thoughtfully, then asked, “Do you remember waking up in pain? Or asking Carlisle for help?”
I drew on Edward's chest again, “Yes. Something off.”
Edward nodded, “Yes, something was off... not in the right position. It was your left wing. We think when you wiggled your shoulders earlier, your wing bone got contorted. With the bone still being soft, it got stuck between your right wing bone and your spine, but couldn't dislodge by itself. Carlisle had to go in... to ease the left main wing bone out from between your spine and other wing, then help it reposition. It would have broken your spine if he had waited even a few moments longer.”
Just then, I heard Carlisle come in, offering softly, “When you feel ready, I need to test to make sure you still have sensation in all of your extremities and your wings, Dear.”
I wrote on Edward's chest again, “Yes, now.”
Carlisle said gently, “If you have feeling, a simple 'Y' on Edward's chest will do, since I can see your hand movement. An 'N' will suffice for no feeling.”
I wrote out “Ok,” then after a second I felt Carlisle run his finger along my free palm.
I wrote a 'Y', then he continued, saying, “That's perfect, Bella. Let's continue.”
I think I heard a collective breath being let out in relief from everyone in the house when Carlisle deemed the process a success. When I thought about asking how much longer this would be going on, Alice breezed through the door before holding a straw to my lips. “Not yet, you don't. You'll just be doing more damage to your pipes, Girlie. It will only be another few hours before you need to head outside. You passed out during the process of dislodging your wing, then you were out for most of the day to recuperate.”
I nodded slightly, drawing a heart on Edward's chest as I looked at Alice. She smiled, saying softly, “Love you too, Sweetie. Not much longer now, and the hard part will all be over.”
My legs were starting to fall asleep, so I knew I hadn't been moved in a good while. I tapped on Edward's chest. He kissed my shoulder in acknowledgment, so I wrote, “Time for shower. Legs falling asleep. Need to stretch.”
Edward hummed, then said, “It's past time to change out your water again, so we'll get you standing in the shower as soon as Charlie has a chance to see those pretty eyes of yours.”
I drew a heart on his chest before spelling lion, causing him to kiss my neck before whispering against it, “As I love you, my little lamb.”
Dad immediately came to my side, so I looked into his tired and worried eyes. He looked like hell; my suspicions were even stronger as he said in a choked, raspy whisper, “I was so scared. I didn't know what to do. If Doc hadn't...”
I shook my head slightly before saying in a bare whisper, “I'm okay now... I can feel that I am. He was here, and he did what had to be done, Dad. Have you had any sleep since this started?”
Dad ran a sluggish hand through his hair, then confirmed what I thought, saying, “I can't. Everytime I close my eyes, images of something going wrong run through my head. I'll get some sleep in a few hours, once I know you're okay. When it's over… when you're sealing your bond with Edward... then I'll be able to sleep.”
I shook my head knowing he wouldn't budge, then breathed seriously, “Not a minute later, Dad. I need you to be healthy, because I can't stand the thought of losing you. Plus, you're the only one who can teach me all that I need to know about being an angel. I have so many questions that only you can answer.”
He nodded with a small smile, “I promise, Princess. It looks like your water drastically needs a change.”
I peered my eyes down toward the bath water, only to gasp as I noticed it looked more like a deep red wine than just pink-tinged water. Edward cooed to me, reminding me that I've been having blood transfused into me the whole time, making me relax slightly. I whispered in a bare breath, “I know you're right. It was a little startling to see the proof, though. Since your touch blocks out most of the pain, it's easy to forget that I've been steadily losing blood for so long.”
Edward nodded into my neck, then offered, “We do need to get you standing in the shower, though, before your legs get any worse.”
My dad nodded, then said as he stood, “I'll let Alice know.”
He gave me a smile and kiss to my forehead, then he was out the door, closing it quietly behind him.
Edward immediately stood to walk us from the tub to the shower. Once the water was gently raining down on us, he carefully let me down. My hands grasped his hips as he clasped his hands at my tailbone, then he gently coaxed me in an emotion-filled kiss.
Though I know he wasn't meaning to do so, my body betrayed me by becoming seriously aroused at the slow and erotic way his tongue caressed mine. Edward inhaled deeply, breaking the kiss, which caused me to blush at the look that took over his features. He lifted my chin when I tried to avert my eyes, whispering, “Don't hide from me, Love, please. Am I making you uncomfortable when I do that?”
I furrowed my eyebrows, wondering what he was talking about, but before I could ask, he whispered, “Me scenting your reaction to our kiss... did it make you uncomfortable?”
My eyes went wide, knowing then what he was thinking. I shook my head slightly as I cupped both of his cheeks. I looked deep into his eyes, then pecked his lips before saying, “Not in the least. I was just embarrassed because I know that wasn't what the kiss meant, yet clearly my body wanted to believe otherwise.”
I bit my lip, but he smiled tenderly. “Never fear your reaction to my attention, Bella. Knowing that I can effect you with just a kiss is actually quite sexy. You have the same effect on me, you know. Just a simple look or innocent action by you, and I constantly find myself achingly hard.”
He leaned in to lick at my trapped lip, then moaned against my mouth, “You biting that lip... Christ, that alone will be the death of me one of these days.”
He gently pried my lip from behind my teeth with his own, groaning and swirling his tongue along it as he sucked it into his mouth.
I let out a shuddered breath at the sensations he was creating, then pushed gently on his chest as I walked further into him. He got the point; as soon as he adjusted the water spray, he was gently pulling me down with him to straddle his lap on the shower bench.
I settled with my core directly against the prominent proof of his need for me, causing a soft moan to leave my lips while my eyes fluttered. Edward's hands immediately found their home grasping my ass, then he gently pulled me closer before grasping the sides of my boyshorts in his hands tightly. He groaned, his head falling to my shoulder as he practically pleaded, “God, how I need to taste you. Your arousal is so intoxicating.”
His hands tightened further on the material at my hips, then he rocked against me to make his point. My breath hitched before I teasingly bit his neck and moaned, “Rip them.”
Without hesitation, a ripping sound filled the shower, then I felt him carefully pulling the material away. I heard the wet thud as they hit the tile floor, then I grabbed one of Edward's hands, skimming it down the front of my body. He backed up only enough to look me in the eyes, then I felt his fingertips flutter against my collarbone. I let out a sigh at the feeling, but it instantly turned into a moan as his thumb brushed over my nipple while his hand cupped the side of my breast.
My arousal skyrocketed at the look of desire and need in his eyes, so I did the only thing I could. I whispered, “Let me see your hand.”
He complied without a thought. I slowly guided it down my body as I whispered against his lips, “Taste me, my lion.”
Edward's breath hitched, but soon I felt his fingers gliding easily along my folds as he captured me in a desire-filled kiss. He let out a deep and sexy groan as he dipped a finger just barely inside my entrance, so I panted with a nod as I broke the kiss, “Please.”
He took hold of my hand with his free one, sucked two of my fingers into his mouth, then guided my hand down to press lightly at my clit. My breath hitched at the action, but he nodded, moaning in need, “I want to feel you let go around my fingers, Love. I want your honey on my tongue at its sweetest.”
When his fingers swirled around my opening as he sucked a trail of water from my shoulder, I gasped, “Edward... oh, God, yes,” only to circle my bundle of nerves teasingly with my fingers.
He inhaled deeply as my arousal spiked again, then captured my eyes as he slowly worked a single finger inside me. “God, you feel incredible, Love... scorching hot, yet softer than silk.”
He captured me in another steamy kiss as his finger retreated, then I felt him add another finger before stilling them just inside me. My breath hitched into the kiss, but Edward moaned as his fingers retreated before pushing in a little further and stilling.
He repeated the process twice more, only going the same depth. The feeling was driving me insane with need. I could feel my wetness practically triple at his actions, so I broke the kiss, panting against his lips, “Please, Edward... more. I need you so much.”
I took his free hand, placing it on my breast. He growled his appreciation as he gently tugged my nipple, offering, “Christ, yes... tell me what you need, Love. Say it for me.”
I whimpered in need, “Deeper... please, Edward, I'm so close. Make me cum for you.”
His growl deepened as his eyes caught mine, then he watched my panting and trembling form as he slowly slid his fingers deeper. His eyes widened slightly as his long fingers seated fully inside me, but I cried out softly, “Oh, fuck... more... don't stop.”
Edward shook his head, then lifted me slightly higher while spreading my legs a bit more. His fingers inched that much deeper, causing me to let out a breathy cry of his name as I clutched at his shoulders. He twisted his fingers, then his thumb circled my clit while his fingers curled slightly, saying in a pure sex tone as he nipped along the pulse in my neck, “Almost there, my sexy angel... let it take you. I can feel your silky walls fluttering around my fingers. Cum for me, Isabella, and let me taste you.”
He bit down gently on my neck as his fingers curled. His thumb pressed hard against my clit, then I was suddenly gasping and crying out his name in ecstasy. The pleasure had my entire body trembling in blissful release.
I went limp against Edward's chest as the pleasure faded. I felt him gliding his spare hand along my wings as he slowed the motion of his fingers. The feeling had me purring and nuzzling his neck in an instant, with Edward smiling into my shoulder in response. I panted softly after a kiss to his neck, “That was... mmm, wow.”
Edward chuckled, then kissed a trail along my shoulder as he slowly removed his fingers. “You look completely sexy when you're cumming for me, Isabella. Jesus, I was a breath away from cumming with you, yet you hadn't even touched me.”
I sat up slightly to look into his eyes. That's when his fingers glided through my soaked core one more time before slowly making their way up. He glanced longingly at his fingers before his eyes returned to mine, so I took his wrist, guiding his hand toward his mouth as I whispered, “Taste me.”
Edward's eyes stayed locked with mine as he let out a shaky breath, then he took a long lick of his fingers. His eyes rolled back in his head while a deep rumbling moan slipped from his lips, then suddenly he was sucking on his fingers hungrily.
He looked almost jilted when he released them from his mouth, so I guided my vampire's hand back between my legs to my still-soaked core. He groaned loudly as he cupped and palmed my core, slipping his fingers in and out of me in a teasing manner, “Fuuck, you're positively soaked, my little lamb. I can't even describe how badly I ache to bury my face between your thighs right now.”
With that, he gave a light tap to my clit, making the vibration surge through my whole body, then thrust two fingers deep inside me. The feeling made my stomach clench in anticipation as my voice rushed out of me in a breathy, “Edward, please...” from being on the edge again already.
The responding curl of his fingers as he bit gently on my collarbone with a growl, was all I needed to push me straight into another blissful climax. It was so intense, that spots exploded behind my eyes as I cried out and clutched myself to him.
When I finally registered my surroundings again, Edward was cradling me tenderly, brushing his fingers up and down my spine in a soothing manner while humming around the fingers in his mouth. I let out a shaky breath at the sight, feeling incredible that I could provide him with something he wanted so badly, then whispered, “Love you, my lion.”
He hummed as he took one long lick of his palm, then nuzzled into my neck, saying, “As I love you, my little lamb. Thank you for giving me such a wonderful treat.”
I chuckled tiredly in response, “I think you turned me to jello, Mr. Cullen, so the pleasure was definitely mine. I need to stand back up, but there's no way my legs will hold me.”
He grinned cheekily into my neck, then kissed it while assuring me, “Just rest against me, Love, and I'll hold you up. I'll call Alice in to redo your bath, too, now that you're getting sleepy.”