Chapter 8

Marcus sat at his dark wood desk; chair tilted slightly giving him a better view of his sleeping mate. She lay in a cloud of creams and greens, her pale skin peeking through the covers where she had become tangled up in silk sheets. Isabella looked angelic, her hair strewn across the pillows, dark lashes resting on her cheeks. Well, if you ignore the soft snoring, he laughed to himself. Marcus loved her, he truly did. All her perfections and all her flaws. He continued to go through all the Volturi ledgers going over expenses and accounts. Marcus had fallen into this position which was normally Aro's a few centuries ago. Aro thought it best if Marcus took over just to give him something more to do to fill his lonely time. And that was a big step for Aro who was and still is the biggest control freak inside the coven.

Isabella twisted suddenly in her sleep, viciously kicking a leg out from the covers before settling again. Marcus watched with interest as the rash action left her chest exposed to the cool morning air. Forgetting the ledgers, Marcus leaned back in his chair to observe the rise and fall of her chest enjoying the view. He thought back to the handful of nights since Isabella and he had strayed past the boundaries of friends. A vivid memory passed through his mind, her soft moans and mewls. The way her face contorts in a pleasurable twist when she hit her peak; she always looks so surprised coming down from her high. Marcus closed his eyes and focused on all the times he's worshiped her body; each time they got closer to completing the bond. Becoming one. He groaned when he palmed himself through his slacks; his hand would have to do, for now, he thought.

Isabella woke with a start, the bed becoming unbearably hot. She reached out feeling only silk sheets and the empty space near her; Marcus must be working. For not being officially moved in with Marcus, she sure did spend most of her time in his room. Granted hers was connected with a small sitting room in between which now remained unlocked and opened creating just one large suite. Isabella kept hers though, 'for privacy' she told herself. Really, she was just scared of the roof caving in on their relationship. A fail-safe in case this was too good to be true. No matter how comfortable she felt, Isabella still had secrets. Painful secrets that she kept locked deep in the shadows of her mind. Charlie. And if she was completely honest with herself, she was afraid of losing the little family she had just recently gained. Renee, the Cullens, Charlie. Like sand, the people closest to her always slipped right through her hands. Also, like sand they left little pieces of themselves; she could never fully cleanse herself from the grit.

Pushing her dark and self-deprecating thoughts from her mind, she stretched. A dark-haired person sat in the office chair; their body was mostly hidden. Isabella knew it was Marcus; she felt the hum of his closeness in her chest; the pull. He must be really busy to not realize I'm awake, she laughed to herself. As quietly as possible she snuck up on his chair only to be greeted by the sight of Marcus pleasuring himself. Anyone else, Isabella would have died on the spot, but Marcus… Slowly reaching around the chair, she slid a warm hand down his exposed forearm feeling the tensed muscles. Marcus jumped, instantly halting his activities; his face mimicked someone who had been caught with their hand in a cookie jar.

"Cazzo." He gasped. "Isabella, you frightened me."

"I never knew a vampire could be frightened," she chuckled, spinning his chair to face her. A sly smile spread across her face.

"I will admit this is a first for me," Marcus laughed.

"Being frightened by a human or being caught?" Her eyes flashed down solidifying her meaning. "I at least hope you were thinking about me."

"I only think about, Isabella," Marcus answered truthfully in a purr. Responding in a smile of her own, Isabella dropped to her knees to finish what Marcus had started. The sight of Isabella on her knees, pleasuring him almost made Marcus come right on the spot. So far, she hadn't reciprocated anything physical, which was fine by Marcus as he didn't want to rush her. But this moment he would chisel into his mind permanently. The beast within him purred at her submissiveness. He held back moving enjoying Isabella's hard work, worrying slightly for Isabella's safety. I need to change her sooner than later, he groaned inwardly.

oOo

"Let's go on a trip," Isabella softly voiced.

"To where, cara mia?"

"We could go get my stuff. You know all my belongings are still in my flat in Florence." Marcus debated this is his mind quickly.

"I will have to see which guards are available, but it is not an unreasonable request."

"We need an escort?" Isabella slightly scowled. "Can you not protect me by yourself?" Marcus would never admit but his pride was wounded at her question. He knew Isabella didn't like to be babysat, but she was just such a fragile human.

"I can protect you just fine, Isabella." Marcus answered stiffly, "The Volturi have a lot of enemies and you are still human." Isabella huffed at his answer. It was logical but not what she wanted to hear.

"We just never get to be alone, Marcus." He placed his book down looking to his mate who sat adjacent to him on the couch. Isabella had already abandoned her book, waiting for his reply.

"Alright. Let me make the arrangements, but we will have to be back within three days. We have the English coven visiting," He huffed in mock annoyance while Isabella let out a quiet laugh. A simple kiss on her forehead and he disappeared out of their shared sitting room.

Luck must have been on their side as Marcus drove at normal human speed through the Italian countryside. The overcast sky spoke of late spring rain and in a rare treat, Marcus could enjoy the open windows. He relished the air blowing through Isabella's chocolate locks as they swirled through the air pushing her sweet scent toward him. He watched her as she stared out the window, letting her hand flex in the wind like a jet streaming through the air. It was a child-like action but enduring nonetheless. Sometimes Marcus forgot how truly young she was, how little she had seen; he was excited to spend the rest of their eternity sharing and learning together.

"I know you're already dead, Marcus, but I'm not so you should probably keep your eyes on the road," Isabella softly quipped from the passenger's seat. She gave him a knowing smile; Isabella knew he had hardly watched the road deciding instead to watch her. She could always feel his burning gaze.

"You caught me, cara mia."

"I'll let it slide this one time… but only if you buy me some gelato when we make it to Giulia's."

"Deal." Marcus agreed, corner of his mouth turning up in amusement. "You know, I am beginning to wonder if you are with me just because I can supply you with endless amounts of food."

"Well, that and the books."

"Food and books?"

"Yes… and I guess if I had to pick a third you're not completely terrible at sexual things," Isabella answered, turning her face away trying to hide her laugh.

"Not completely terrible?!" Marcus questioned, riled at her assessment of his skills.

"I shall not repeat myself, Marcus, I know you have perfect hearing." Isabella was barely winning the battle to not laugh. Isabella looked out the window seeing the familiar area.

"I believe the lack of oxygen from you screaming in pleasure has affected your memories, Isabella," Marcus smirked. He could smell the blood rushing to her cheeks, her heart beating harder. She wasn't the champion when it came to these games, but he liked when she tried. "I would be happy to pull over and remind you." Isabella gave a quick cough.

"Pull over here." Marcus quickly agreed, eyes darkening at the suggestion. Pulling over in front of a quaint little bakery, Marcus turned to a pink-faced Isabella who greeted him with a coy smile. Unclicking her seatbelt, Isabella leaned across the supple leather console, her lips almost brushing against Marcus's cool ones.

"We're here," She stated, planting a quick kiss to his lips. Pushing her door open and hopping out of the car as fast as humanly possible. Marcus sat momentarily stunned. Isabella had won this round and her victorious smirk displayed her triumph. Marcus quickly checked that the sun still hid behind the clouds before following his mate into the quaint bakery.

Pushing away the assaulting smell of human food, Marcus scented out his mate. He watched as a tiny elderly woman launched herself, with surprising speed, at Isabella wrapping her in a motherly embrace. Isabella laughed as the woman began turning her, inspecting her, and occasionally prodding her with a bony finger.

"Ah… Si, you are gain weight. Very nice." The elderly lady spun Isabella one last time before taking in Marcus standing close by.

"So this is who keeps you away?" Giulia turned an inspective eye on Marcus. She raked over his appearance like she was sizing up a stud for a broodmare. Marcus wasn't sure even with his vampire perfection that this woman would go easy on him when it came to Isabella. He switched to his bond-sight seeing the thick familiar lines between the two women hold tightly together.

"Yes," Isabella chuckled grasping Marcus's hand, "This is Marcus. Marcus meet Giulia."

"I told you men love a little extra to hold on to," Giulia whispered to Isabella before moving to embrace Marcus. Isabella choking on her laugh, knowing that Marcus heard what Giulia had said. Marcus quickly exchanged pleasantries with Giulia, slowly warming the woman up to him. This was the closest to family approval he would be able to get with Isabella and he secretly craved it. If this was Isabella's father he would have already asked for Isabella's hand.

Within twenty minutes, Marcus was firmly in the approved category, bordering on 'Giulia might have fallen in love with him'. He was delighted to meet someone who cherished Isabella almost as much as he did. Someone, even for a short time, had cared for Isabella. They sat late into the afternoon talking while Isabella wolfed down more food than Marcus had ever seen her eat. She would for sure be in for a stomach ache tonight, but she looked to be in pure bliss as she picked through the bakery display. Isabella decided to call it a night for Marcus's sake when Giulia started to get handsy. It was hilarious to watch this old gray-headed grandma banter and flirt with a vampire king. Someone who looked half her age but was lifetimes older. Marcus took all the advice and sly touches with grace and a bit of humor, occasionally giving Isabella a raised brow asking for help. They made their way to the stairs of Isabella's flat. Giulia stopping him on the stairs before shooing Isabella up the stairs with a smile.

"Don't let her get away. I was hoping she would marry one of my grandsons but who do I kid? She's too good for them. Take care of her," Giulia pleaded, giving Marcus's cool hand a squeeze.

"I will," Marcus promised. He gave a quick goodnight before heading up the small, creaking stairway to Isabella's room. He spotted her standing in the tiny attached bath brushing her teeth he toed off his shoes by the door. Laying on her full bed, Marcus's legs were practically hanging off but he settled further down in the sheets, the light scent of freesias and strawberries mingled in the sheets. He was glad there was no other masculine scent lingered in her bed.

"Hey," Isabella whispered. Marcus gave her a warm smile and she climbed in the too-small bed, half laying on top of him.

"Are you happy to see Giulia again?"

"Yes," she breathed. "It's bittersweet." Marcus ran a soothing hand through her long hair, he was the only person who could do it without catching her curls.

"It always is, but the eternity outweighs the loss, cara mia." She buried her face further into his chest. "At least I hope you feel that way when you're spending it with me."

"I'd give up not being able to enjoy food to spend eternity with you," she said, trying to hide any true feelings behind a joke. He chuckled in response, seeing straight through her tactic.

"That is the highest compliment coming from you. I know how much you enjoy your food," he tenderly palmed her soft stomach. He earned an indignant huff from Isabella.

"Go ahead. Make fun of my pain," She said, "I regret nothing and I'd eat all that food over again in a heartbeat," causing him to laugh. Marcus began tracing his fingers lightly across her back, just the way she liked and Isabella settled down, pulling herself tighter against him.

"You still owe me gelato, Marcus. Don't think I forgot," she murmured sleepily.

"Tomorrow, amore."

A/N: short and fluff, but an update!

special thanks to my reviewers: marlastiano, sweetsouthernsongbird, daisy grace, josie2994, hellsangel44, guest, jaysto, tulips at twilight, mynameishelby, traceybuie, lunjul, arkah 15, courtneyc1108, rene mai, twiggy85, 01katie, reading in moonlight, nmturcios.