按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
He started shaking his head before I was done。
“It might not work like that; Bella。”
“Might;” I scoffed。 “You have no more idea what you’re talking about than I do。”
“Exactly。 Do you imagine I would ever take that kind of risk with you?”
I stared into his eyes for a long minute。 There was no sign of promise; no hint of indecision in them。
“Please;” I finally whispered; hopeless。 “It’s all I want。 Please。” I closed my eyes in defeat; waiting for the
quick and final no。
But he didn’t answer immediately。 I hesitated in disbelief; stunned to hear that his breathing was uneven
again。
I opened my eyes; and his face was torn。
“Please?” I whispered again; my heartbeat picking up speed。 My words tumbled out as I rushed to take
advantage of the sudden uncertainty in his eyes。 “You don’t have to make me any guarantees。 If it doesn’t
work out right; well; then that’s that。 Just let us try 。 。 。 only try。 And I’ll give you what you want;” I promised
rashly。 “I’ll marry you。 I’ll let you pay for Dartmouth; and I won’t plain about the bribe to get me in。 You
can even buy me a fast car if that makes you happy! Just 。 。 。 please。”
His icy arms tightened around me; and his lips were at my ear; his cool breath made me shiver。 “Thisis
unbearable。 So many things I’ve wanted to give you — and this is what you decide to demand。 Do you have
any idea how painful it is; trying to refuse you when you plead with me this way?”
“Then don’t refuse;” I suggested breathlessly。
He didn’t respond。
“Please;” I tried again。
“Bella 。 。 。” He shook his head slowly; but it didn’t feel like a denial as his face; his lips; moved back and
forth across my throat。 It felt more like surrender。 My heart; racing already; spluttered frantically。
Again; I took what advantage I could。 When his face turned toward mine with the slow movement of his
indecision; I twisted quickly in his arms till my lips reached his。 His hands seized my face; and I thought he was
going to push me away again。
I was wrong。
His mouth was not gentle; there was a brandnew edge of conflict and desperation in the way his lips
moved。 I locked my arms around his neck; and; to my suddenly overheated skin; his body felt colder than
ever。 I trembled; but it was not from the chill。
He didn’t stop kissing me。 I was the one who had to break away; gasping for air。 Even then his lips did
not leave my skin; they just moved to my throat。 The thrill of victory was a strange high; it made me feel
powerful。 Brave。 My hands weren’t unsteady now; I got through with the buttons on his shirt this time easily;
and my fingers traced the perfect planes of his icy chest。 He was too beautiful。 What was the word he’d used
just now? Unbearable — that was it。 His beauty was too much to bear。 。 。 。
I pulled his mouth back to mine; and he seemed just as eager as I was。 One of his hands still cupped my
face; his other arm was tight around my waist; straining me closer to him。 It made it slightly more difficult as I
tried to reach the front of my shirt; but not impossible。
Cold iron fetters locked around my wrists; and pulled my hands above my head; which was suddenly on a
pillow。
His lips were at my ear again。 “Bella;” he murmured; his voice warm and velvet。 “Would you please stop
trying to take your clothes off?”
“Do you want to do that part?” I asked; confused。
“Not tonight;” he answered softly。 His lips were slower now against my cheek and jaw; all the urgency
gone。
“Edward; don’t —;” I started to argue。
“I’m not saying no;” he reassured me。 “I’m just saying not tonight。”
I thought about that while my breathing slowed。
“Give me one good reason why tonight is not as good as any other night。” I was still breathless; it made
the frustration in my voice less impressive。
“I wasn’t born yesterday。” He chuckled inmy ear。 “Out of the two of us; which do you think is more
unwilling to give the other what they want? You just promised to marry me before you do any changing; but if
I give in tonight; what guarantee do I have that you won’t go running off to Carlisle in the morning? I am —
clearly — much less reluctant to give you what you want。 Therefore 。 。 。 you first。”
I exhaled with a loud huff。 “I have to marry you first?” I asked in disbelief。
“That’s the deal — take it or leave it。 promise; remember?”
His arms wrapped around me; and he began kissing me in a way that should be illegal。 Too persuasive —
it was duress; coercion。 I tried to keep a clear head 。 。 。 and failed quickly and absolutely。
“I think that’s a really bad idea;” I gasped when he let me breathe。
“I’m not surprised you feel that way。” He smirked。 “You have a orack mind。”
“How did this happen?” I grumbled。 “I thought I was holding my own tonight — for once — and now; all
of a sudden —”
“You’re engaged;” he finished。
“Ew! Please don’t say that out loud。”
“Are you going back on your word?” he demanded。 He pulled away to read my face。 His expression was
entertained。 He was having fun。
I glared at him; trying to ignore the way his smile made my heart react。
“Are you?” he pressed。
“Ugh!” I groaned。 “No。 I’m not。 Are you happy now?”
His smile was blinding。 “Exceptionally。”
I groaned again。
“Aren’t you happy at all?”
He kissed me again before I could answer。 Another toopersuasive kiss。
“A little bit;” I admitted when I could speak。 “But not about getting married。”
He kissed me another time。 “Do you get the feeling that everything is backward?” he laughed in my ear。
“Traditionally; shouldn’t you be arguing my side; and I yours?”
“There isn’t much that’s traditional about you and me。”
“True。”
He kissed me again; and kept going until my heart was racing and my skin was flushed。
“Look; Edward;” I murmured; my voice wheedling; when he paused to kiss the palm of my hand。 “I said I
would marry you; and I will。 I promise。 I swear。 If you want; I’ll sign a contract in my own blood。”
“Not funny;” he murmured against the inside of my wrist。
“What I’m saying is this — I’m not going to tr