〃I thought you couldn't read my mind。〃
〃It's getting clearer。〃 I could hear a smile in his voice。
He took my shoulders and I looked into his face。
〃Can I show you something?〃 he asked; sudden excitement flaring in his
eyes。
〃Show me what?〃
〃I'll show you how I travel in the forest。〃 He saw my expression。 〃Don't
worry; you'll be very safe; and we'll get to your truck much faster。〃 His
mouth twitched up into that crooked smile so beautiful my heart nearly
stopped。
〃Will you turn into a bat?〃 I asked warily。
He laughed; louder than I'd ever heard。 〃Like I haven't heard that one
before!〃
〃Right; I'm sure you get that all the time。〃
〃e on; little coward; climb on my back。〃
I waited to see if he was kidding; but; apparently; he meant it。 He
smiled as he read my hesitation; and reached for me。 My heart reacted;
even though he couldn't hear my thoughts; my pulse always gave me away。
He then proceeded to sling me onto his back; with very little effort on
my part; besides; when in place; clamping my legs and arms so tightly
around him that it would choke a normal person。 It was like clinging to a
stone。
〃I'm a bit heavier than your average backpack;〃 I warned。
〃Hah!〃 he snorted。 I could almost hear his eyes rolling。 I'd never seen
him in such high spirits before。
He startled me; suddenly grabbing my hand; pressing my palm to his face;
and inhaling deeply。
〃Easier all the time;〃 he muttered。
And then he was running。
If I'd ever feared death before in his presence; it was nothing pared
to how I felt now。
He streaked through the dark; thick underbrush of the forest like a
bullet; like a ghost。 There was no sound; no evidence that his feet
touched the earth。 His breathing never changed; never indicated any
effort。 But the trees flew by at deadly speeds; always missing us by
inches。
I was too terrified to close my eyes; though the cool forest air whipped
against my face and burned them。 I felt as if I were stupidly sticking my
head out the window of an airplane in flight。 And; for the first time in
my life; I felt the dizzy faintness of motion sickness。
Then it was over。 We'd hiked hours this morning to reach Edward's meadow;
and now; in a matter of minutes; we were back to the truck。
〃Exhilarating; isn't it?〃 His voice was high; excited。
He stood motionless; waiting for me to climb down。 I tried; but my
muscles wouldn't respond。 My arms and legs stayed locked around him while
my head spun unfortably。
〃Bella?〃 he asked; anxious now。
〃I think I need to lie down;〃 I gasped。
〃Oh; sorry。〃 He waited for me; but I still couldn't move。
〃I think I need help;〃 I admitted。
He laughed quietly; and gently unloosened my stranglehold on his neck。
There was no resisting the iron strength of his hands。 Then he pulled me
around to face him; cradling me in his arms like a small child。 He held
me for a moment; then carefully placed me on the springy ferns。
〃How do you feel?〃 he asked。
I couldn't be sure how I felt when my head was spinning so crazily。
〃Dizzy; I think。〃
〃Put your head between your knees。〃
I tried that; and it helped a little。 I breathed in and out slowly;
keeping my head very still。 I felt him sitting beside me。 The moments
passed; and eventually I found that I could raise my head。 There was a
hollow ringing sound in my ears。
〃I guess that wasn't the best idea;〃 he mused。
I tried to be positive; but my voice was weak。 〃No; it was very
interesting。〃
〃Hah! You're as white as a ghost — no; you're as white as me!〃
〃I think I should have closed my eyes。〃
〃Remember that next time。〃
〃Next time!〃 I groaned。
He laughed; his mood still radiant。
〃Showoff;〃 I muttered。
〃Open your eyes; Bella;〃 he said quietly。
And he was right there; his face so close to mine。 His beauty stunned my
mind — it was too much; an excess I couldn't grow accustomed to。
〃I was thinking; while I was running…〃 He paused。
〃About not hitting the trees; I hope。〃
〃Silly Bella;〃 he chuckled。 〃Running is second nature to me; it's not
something I have to think about。〃
〃Showoff;〃 I muttered again。
He smiled。
〃No;〃 he continued; 〃I was thinking there was something I wanted to try。〃
And he took my face in his hands again。
I couldn't breathe。
He hesitated — not in the normal way; the human way。
Not the way a man might hesitate before he kissed a woman; to gauge her
reaction; to see how he would be received。 Perhaps he would hesitate to
prolong the moment; that ideal moment of anticipation; sometimes better
than the kiss itself。
Edward hesitated to test himself; to see if this was safe; to make sure
he was still in control of his need。
And then his cold; marble lips pressed very softly against mine。
What neither of us was prepared for was my response。
Blood boiled under my skin; burned in my lips。 My breath came in a wild
gasp。 My fingers knotted in his hair; clutching him to me。 My lips parted
as I breathed in his heady scent。
Immediately I felt him turn to unresponsive stone beneath my lips。 His
hands gently; but with irresistible force; pushed my face back。 I opened
my eyes and saw his guarded expression。
〃Oops;〃 I breathed。
〃That's an understatement。〃
His eyes were wild; his jaw clenched in acute restraint; yet he didn't
lapse from his perfect articulation。 He held my face just inches from
his。 He dazzled my eyes。
〃Should I… ?〃 I tried to disengage myself; to give him some room。
His hands refused to let me move so much as an inch。
〃No; it's tolerable。 Wait for a moment; please。〃 His voice was polite;
controlled。
I kept my eyes on his; watched as the excitement in them faded and
gentled。
Then he smiled a surprisingly impish grin。
〃There;〃 he said; obviously pleased with himself。
〃Tolerable?〃 I asked。
He laughed aloud。 〃I'm stronger than I thought。 It's nice to know。〃
〃I wish I could say the same。 I'm sorry。〃
〃You are only human; after all。〃
〃Thanks so much;〃 I said; my voice acerbic。
He was on his feet in one of his lithe; almost invisibly quick movements。
He held out his hand to me; an unexpected gesture。 I was so used to our
standard of careful noncontact。 I took his icy hand; needing the support
more than I thought。 My balance had not yet returned。
〃Are you still faint from the run? Or was it my kissing expertise?〃 How
lighthearted; how human he seemed as he laughed now; his seraphic face
untroubled。 He was a different Edward than the one I had known。 And I
felt all the more besotted by him。 It would cause me physical pain to be
separated from him now。
〃I can't be sure; I'm still woozy;〃 I managed to respond。 〃I think it's
some of both; though。〃
〃Maybe you should let me drive。〃
〃Are you insane?〃 I protested。
〃I can drive better than you on your best day;〃 he teased。 〃You have much
slower reflexes。〃
〃I'm sure that's true; but I don't think my nerves; or my truck; could
take it。〃
〃Some trust; please; Bella。〃
My hand was in my pocket; curled tightly around the key。 I purs
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