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more eager to have mine behind me。 So there's really no point。〃
〃True。〃 I breathed against the wintercold skin of his throat。
This was pretty close to my happy place。 Charlie slept obliviously in his room； which was almost as
good as being alone。 We were curled up on my small bed； intertwined as much as it was possible；
considering the thick afghan I was swathed in like a cocoon。 I hated the necessity of the blanket； but it
sort of ruined the romance when my teeth started chattering。 Charlie would notice if I turned the heat on
in August___
At least； if had to be bundled up； Edward's shirt was on the floor。 I never got over the shock of how
perfect his body was—white； cool； and polished as marble。 I ran my hand down his stone chest now；
tracing across the flat planes of his stomach； just marveling。 A light shudder rippled through him； and his
mouth found mine again。 Carefully； I let the tip of my tongue press against his glasssmooth lip； and he
sighed。 His sweet breath washed—cold and delicious—over my face。
He started to pull away—that was his automatic response whenever he decided things had gone too far；
his reflex reaction whenever he most wanted to keep going。 Edward had spent most of his life rejecting
any kind of physical gratification。 I knew it was terrifying to him trying to change those habits now。
〃Wait；〃 I said； gripping his shoulders and hugging myself close to him。 I kicked one leg free and wrapped
it around his waist。 〃Practice makes perfect。〃
He chuckled。 〃Well； we should be fairly close to perfection by this point； then； shouldn't we？ Have you
slept at all in the last month？〃
〃But this is the dress rehearsal；〃 I reminded him； 〃and we've only practiced certain scenes。 It's no time
for playing safe。〃
I thought he would laugh； but he didn't answer； and his body was motionless with sudden stress。 The
gold in his eyes seemed to harden from a liquid to a solid。
I thought over my words； realized what he would have heard in them。
〃Bella。。。；〃 he whispered。
〃Don't start this again；〃 I said。 〃A deal's a deal。〃
〃I don't know。 It's too hard to concentrate when you're with me like this。 I—I can't think straight。 I won't
be able to control myself。 You'll get hurt。〃
〃I'll be fine。〃
〃Bella 。 。。〃
〃Shh！〃 I pressed my lips to his to stop his panic attack。 I'd heard it before。 He wasn't getting out of this
deal。 Not after insisting I marry him first。
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He kissed me back for a moment； but I could tell he wasn't as into it as before。 Worrying； always
worrying。 How different it would be when he didn't need to worry about me anymore。 What would he do
with all his free time？ He'd have to get a new hobby。
〃How are your feet？〃 he asked。
Knowing he didn't mean that literally； I answered； Toasty warm。〃
〃Really？ No second thoughts？ It's not too late to change your mind。〃
〃Are you trying to ditch me？〃
He chuckled。 〃Just making sure。 I don't want you to do anything you're not sure about。〃
〃I'm sure about you。 The rest I can live through。〃
He hesitated； and I wondered if I'd put my foot in my mouth again。
〃Can you？〃 he asked quietly。 〃I don't mean the wedding—which I am positive you will survive despite
your qualms—but afterward。。。 what about Renee； what about Charlie？〃
I sighed。 〃I'll miss them。〃 Worse； that they would miss me； but I didn't want to give him any fuel。
〃Angela and Ben and Jessica and Mike。〃
〃I'll miss my friends； too。〃 I smiled in the darkness。 〃Especially Mike。 Oh； Mike！ How will I go on？〃
He growled。
I laughed but then was serious。 〃Edward； we've been through this and through this。 I know it will be
hard； but this is what I want。 I want you； and I want you forever。 One lifetime is simply not enough for
me。〃
〃Frozen forever at eighteen；〃 he whispered。
〃Every woman's dream e true；〃 I teased。
〃Never changing。。。 never moving forward。〃
〃What does that mean？〃
He answered slowly。 〃Do you remember when we told Charlie we were getting married？ And he
thought you were。。。 pregnant？〃
〃And he thought about shooting you；〃 I guessed with a laugh。 〃Admit it—for one second； he honestly
considered it。〃
He didn't answer。
〃What； Edward？〃
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〃I just wish。。。 well； I wish that he'd been right。〃
〃Gah；〃 I gasped。
〃More that there was some way he could have been。 That we had that kind of potential。 I hate taking
that away from you； too。〃
It took me a minute。 〃I know what I'm doinq。〃
〃How could you know that； Bella？ Look at my mother； look at my sister。 It's not as easy a sacrifice as
youimagine。〃
〃Esme and Rosalie get by just fine。 If it's a problem later； we can do what Esme did—we'll adopt。〃
He sighed； and then his voice was fierce。 〃It's not right I don't want you to have to make sacrifices for
me。 I want to give you things； not take things away from you。 I don't want to steal your future。 If I were
human—〃
I put my hand over his lips。 〃You are my future。 Now stop。 No moping； or I'm calling your brothers to
e and get you。 Maybe you need a bachelor party。〃
〃I'm sorry。 I am moping； aren't I？ Must be the nerves。〃
〃Are your feet cold？〃
〃Not in that sense。 I've been waiting a century to marry you； Miss Swan。 The wedding ceremony is the
one thing I can't wait—〃 He broke off midthought。 〃Oh； for the love of all that's holy！〃
〃What's wrong？〃
He gritted his teeth。 〃You don't have to call my brothers。 Apparently Emmett and Jasper are not going to
let me bow out tonight。〃
I clutched him closer for one second and then released him。 I didn't have a prayer of winning a
tugofwar with Emmett。 〃Have fun。〃
There was a squeal against the window—someone deliberately scraping their steel nails across the glass
to make a horrible； coveryourears； goosebumpsdownyourspine noise。 I shuddered。
〃If you don't send Edward out；〃 Emmett—still invisible in the night—hissed menacingly； 〃we're ing in
after him！〃