Bella walked into our home, shaking her strawberry scented hair nervously. Who could blame her? Walking into a house of vampires was something that no human nerves should have been able to handle. And a desire of more than just a human's blood was something no vampire should have been able to fathom. But Bella... she was different, as she so often grumbled. And I wanted her more than anything. I had to have her...

And it killed me that I couldn't. She was so fragile, so delicate. So human. And I could break her with just one wrong move. Even one that felt so right...

Every move she made sent me spiraling into a different fantasy. Fantasies that, thankfully, allowed me to take matters into my own hands. Literally. As she caught my eye, I gave her a quick half-smile, something she'd probably view as sarcastic, and turned from the edge of the second-floor landing. I loped quickly back to my room, shutting the door and locking it behind me. My unnecessary breathing was already faster than normal. My hands were shaking, and I tried to restrain them for just a moment longer as I turned my radio on to drown out any noise I was about to make.

I walked to my bed, tossing aside the pillows and blankets we used to stage each room. Images of Bella ran through my head. Her shy smile, that irresistable blush that rose frequently in her smooth, pale cheeks, that natural scent of freesias that made my taste buds quiver...

As I thought of her, my hands glided smoothly down my still-clothed body, pretending it was her touch bringing me such pleasure. I ripped my shirt off and imagined Bella was with me, her mouth starting at my collarbone and working downward, kissing and licking every inch of my cold, granite skin. My hands trailed along the path I wished she was making, my fingertips lingering at the sensitive points. My breathing again quickened, and a small sigh escaped my lips. I moved farther down my body, tracing the waistband of my pants with shaking hands, just as I imagined Bella would. I was close enough to feel what little heat my body emanated from my core as Emmett called my name.

"Rose," he said from the other side of the door, "it's time to leave, babe. We're gonna miss the storm if we don't hurry."

I sighed, cursing Emmett's timing, and took a minute to calm my nerves. I grabbed my lucky baseball shirt from my bureau drawer and quickly straightened up the bed, then ran to the door to let Emmett into our room.

He embraced me, kissed me deeply, then gave me a sly smile and gripped my hand, saying, "You know, Rose, I know you don't like Bella that much, but I really think it hurts her feelings that you barricade yourself in our room everytime she's here."

I rolled my eyes and gave a fake grimace as we walked towards the stairs. "Believe me, Em," I said, "it really beats the alternative."