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away for a few seconds before suddenly pulling me closer。
〃Wrong again；〃 he murmured in my ear。 〃You are utterly indecent — no one
should look so tempting； it's not fair。〃
〃Tempting how？〃 I asked。 〃I can change…〃
He sighed； shaking his head。 〃You are so absurd。〃 He pressed his cool
lips delicately to my forehead； and the room spun。 The smell of his
breath made it impossible to think。
〃Shall I explain how you are tempting me？〃 he said。 It was clearly a
rhetorical question。 His fingers traced slowly down my spine； his breath
ing more quickly against my skin。 My hands were limp on his chest； and
I felt lightheaded again。 He tilted his head slowly and touched his cool
lips to mine for the second time； very carefully； parting them slightly。
And then I collapsed。
〃Bella？〃 His voice was alarmed as he caught me and held me up。
〃You… made… me… faint；〃 I accused him dizzily。
〃What am I going to do with you？〃 he groaned in exasperation。 〃Yesterday
I kiss you； and you attack me！ Today you pass out on me！〃
I laughed weakly； letting his arms support me while my head spun。
〃So much for being good at everything；〃 he sighed。
〃That's the problem。〃 I was still dizzy。 〃You're too good。 Far； far too
good。〃
〃Do you feel sick？〃 he asked； he'd seen me like this before。
〃No — that wasn't the same kind of fainting at all。 I don't know what
happened。〃 I shook my head apologeticallv； 〃I think I forgot to breathe。〃
〃I can't take you anywhere like this。〃
〃I'm fine；〃 I insisted。 〃Your family is going to think I'm insane anyway；
what's the difference？〃
He measured my expression for a moment。 〃I'm very partial to that color
with your skin；〃 he offered unexpectedly。 I flushed with pleasure； and
looked away。
〃Look； I'm trying really hard not to think about what I'm about to do； so
can we go already？〃 I asked。
〃And you're worried； not because you're headed to meet a houseful of
vampires； but because you think those vampires won't approve of you；
correct？〃
〃That's right；〃 I answered immediately； hiding my surprise at his casual
use of the word。
He shook his head。 〃You're incredible。〃
I realized； as he drove my truck out of the main part of town； that I had
no idea where he lived。 We passed over the bridge at the Calawah River；
the road winding northward； the houses flashing past us growing farther
apart； getting bigger。 And then we were past the other houses altogether；
driving through misty forest。 I was trying to decide whether to ask or be
patient； when he turned abruptly onto an unpaved road。 It was unmarked；
barely visible among the ferns。 The forest encroached on both sides；
leaving the road ahead only discernible for a few meters as it twisted；
serpentlike； around the ancient trees。
And then； after a few miles； there was some thinning of the woods； and we
were suddenly in a small meadow； or was it actually a lawn？ The gloom of
the forest didn't relent； though； for there were six primordial cedars
that shaded an entire acre with their vast sweep of branches。 The trees
held their protecting shadow right up to the walls of the house that rose
among them； making obsolete the deep porch that wrapped around the first
story。
I don't know what I had expected； but it definitely wasn't this。 The
house was timeless； graceful； and probably a hundred years old。 It was
painted a soft； faded white； three stories tall； rectangular and well
proportioned。 The windows and doors were either part of the original
structure or a perfect restoration。 My truck was the only car in sight。 I
could hear the river close by； hidden in the obscurity of the forest。
〃Wow。〃
〃You like it？〃 He smiled。
〃It… has a certain charm。〃
He pulled the end of my ponytail and chuckled。
〃Ready？〃 he asked； opening my door。
〃Not even a little bit — let's go。〃 I tried to laugh； but it seemed to
get stuck in my throat。 I smoothed my hair nervously。
〃You look lovely。〃 He took my hand easily； without thinking about it。
We walked through the deep shade up to the porch。 I knew he could feel my
tension； his thumb rubbed soothing circles into the back of my hand。
He opened the door for me。
The inside was even more surprising； less predictable； than the exterior。
It was very bright； very open； and very large。 This must have originally
been several rooms； but the walls had been removed from most of the first
floor to create one wide space。 The back； southfacing wall had been
entirely replaced with glass； and； beyond the shade of the cedars； the
lawn stretched bare to the wide river。 A massive curving staircase
dominated the west side of the room。 The walls； the highbeamed ceiling；
the wooden floors； and the thick carpets were all varying shades of white。
Waiting to greet us； standing just to the left of the door； on a raised
portion of the floor by a spectacular grand piano； were Edward's parents。
I'd seen Dr。 Cullen before； of course； yet I couldn't help but be struck
again by his youth； his outrageous perfection。 At his side was Esme； I
assumed； the only one of the family I'd never seen before。 She had the
same pale； beautiful features as the rest of them。 Something about her
heartshaped face； her billows of soft； caramelcolored hair； reminded me
of the ingénues of the silentmovie era。 She was small； slender； yet less
angular； more rounded than the others。 They were both dressed casually；
in light colors that matched the inside of the house。 They smiled in
wele； but made no move to approach us。 Trying not to frighten me； I
guessed。
〃Carlisle； Esme；〃 Edward's voice broke the short silence； 〃this is Bella。〃
〃You're very wele； Bella。〃 Carlisle's step was measured； careful as he
approached me。 He raised his hand tentatively； and I stepped forward to
shake hands with him。
〃It's nice to see you again； Dr。 Cullen。〃
〃Please； call me Carlisle。〃
〃Carlisle。〃 I grinned at him； my sudden confidence surprising me。 I could
feel Edward's relief at my side。
Esme smiled and stepped forward as well； reaching for my hand。 Her cold；
stone grasp w