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foreign to me。〃
〃I may understand that better than you think。〃
〃I'm not used to feeling so human。 Is it always like this？〃
〃For me？〃 I paused。 〃No； never。 Never before this。〃
He held my hands between his。 They felt so feeble in his iron strength。
〃I don't know how to be close to you；〃 he admitted。 〃I don't know if I
can。〃
I leaned forward very slowly； cautioning him with my eyes。 I placed my
cheek against his stone chest。 I could hear his breath； and nothing else。
〃This is enough；〃 I sighed； closing my eyes。
In a very human gesture； he put his arms around me and pressed his face
against my hair。
〃You're better at this than you give yourself credit for；〃 I noted。
〃I have human instincts — they may be buried deep； but they're there。〃
We sat like that for another immeasurable moment； I wondered if he could
be as unwilling to move as I was。 But I could see the light was fading；
the shadows of the forest beginning to touch us； and I sighed。
〃You have to go。〃
〃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