"Yes?"
"Will you promise me something?"
"Yes," she agreed easily, and then her eyes tightened as if she'd thought of a reason to object.
"Don't go into the woods alone," I warned her, wondering if this request would trigger the objection in
her eyes.
She blinked, startled. "Why?"#p#分页标题#e#
I glowered into the untrustworthy darkness. The lack of light was no problem for my eyes, but neither
would it trouble another hunter. It only blinded humans.
"I'm not always the most dangerous thing out there," I told her. "Let's leave it at that."
She shivered, but recovered quickly and was even smiling when she told me, "Whatever you say."
Her breath touched my face, so sweet and fragrant.
I could stay here all night like this, but she needed her sleep. The two desires seemed equally strong as
they continually warred inside me: wanting her versus wanting her to be safe.
I sighed at the impossibilities. "I'll see you tomorrow," I said, knowing that I would see her much sooner
than that. She wouldn't see me until tomorrow, though.
"Tomorrow, then," she agreed as she opened her door.
Agony again, watching her leave. I leaned after her, wanting to hold her here. "Bella?"
She turned, and then froze, surprised to find our faces so close together.
I, too, was overwhelmed by the proximity. The heat rolled off her in waves, caressing my face. I could all
but feel the silk of her skin... Her heartbeat stuttered, and her lips fell open.
"Sleep well," I whispered, and leaned away before the urgency in my body-either the familiar thirst or
the very new and strange hunger I suddenly felt-could make me do something that might hurt her.
She sat there motionless for a moment, her eyes wide and stunned. Dazzled, I guessed. As was I.
She recovered-though her face was still a bit bemused-and half fell out of the car, tripping over her feet
and having to catch the frame of the car to right herself.
I chuckled-hopefully it was too quiet for her to hear.
I watched her stumble her way up to the pool of light that surrounded the front door. Safe for the
moment. And I would be back soon to make sure.
I could feel her eyes follow me as I drove down the dark street. Such a different sensation than I was
accustomed to. Usually, I could simply watch myself through someone's following eyes, were I of a mind
to. This was strangely exciting-this intangible sensation of watching eyes. I knew it was just because they
were her eyes.
A million thoughts chased each other through my head as I drove aimlessly into the night.
For a long time I circled through the streets, going nowhere, thinking of Bella and the incredible release
of having the truth known. No longer did I have to dread that she would find out what I was. She knew.
It didn't matter to her. Even though this was obviously a bad thing for her, it was amazingly liberating for
me.
More than that, I thought of Bella and requited love. She couldn't love me the way I loved her-such an
overpowering, all-consuming, crushing love would probably break her fragile body. But she felt strongly
enough. Enough to subdue the instinctive fear. Enough to want to be with me. And being with her was
the greatest happiness I had ever known.
For a while-as I was all alone and hurting no one else for a change-I allowed myself to feel that
happiness without dwelling on the tragedy. Just to be happy that she cared for me. Just to exult in the
triumph of winning her affection. Just to imagine day after day of sitting close to her, hearing her voice
and earning her smiles.
I replayed that smile in my head, seeing her full lips pull up at the corners, the hint of a dimple that
touched her pointed chin, the way her eyes warmed and melted...
Her fingers had felt so warm and soft on my hand tonight. I imagined how it would feel to touch the
delicate skin that stretched over her cheekbones-silky, warm...so fragile.
Silk over glass...frighteningly breakable.
I didn't see where my thoughts were leading until it was too late. As I dwelt on that devastating
vulnerability, new images of her face intruded on my fantasies.
Lost in the shadows, pale with fear-yet her jaw tight and determined, her eyes fierce, full of
concentration, her slim body braced to strike at the hulking forms that gathered around her, nightmares
in the gloom...
"Ah," I groaned as the simmering hate that I'd all but forgotten in the joy of loving her burst again into
an inferno of rage.
I was alone. Bella was, I trusted, safe inside her home; for a moment I was fiercely glad that Charlie
Swan-head of the local law enforcement, trained and armed-was her father. That ought to mean
something, provide some shelter for her.
She was safe. It would not take me so very long to avenge the insult...
No. She deserved better. I could not allow her to care for a murderer.
But...what about the others?