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！
I tensed； waiting for the fury — both his and mine — but it was only quiet and calm in the darkness of his
room。 I could almost taste the sweetness of reunion in the air； a separate fragrance from the perfume of his
breath； the emptiness when we were apart left its own bitter aftertaste； something I didn’t consciously notice
until it was removed。
There was no friction in the space between us。 The stillness was peaceful — not like the calm before the
tempest； but like a clear night untouched by even the dream of a storm。
And I didn’t care that I was supposed to be angry with him。 I didn’t care that I was supposed to be angry
with everyone。 I reached out for him； found his hands in the darkness； and pulled myself closer to him。 His
arms encircled me； cradling me to his chest。 My lips searched； hunting along his throat； to his chin； till I finally
found his lips。
Edward kissed me softly for a moment； and then he chuckled。
“I was all braced for the wrath that was going to put grizzlies to shame； and this is what I get？ I should
infuriate you more often。”
“Give me a minute to work up to it；” I teased； kissing him again。
“I’ll wait as long as you want；” he whispered against my lips。 His fingers knotted in my hair。
My breath was being uneven。 “Maybe in the morning。”
“Whatever you prefer。”
“Wele home；” I said while his cold lips pressed under my jaw。 “I’m glad you came back。”
“That’s a very good thing。”
“Mmm；” I agreed； tightening my arms around his neck。
His hand curved around my elbow； moving slowly down my arm； across my ribs and over my waist；
tracing along my hip and down my leg； around my knee。 He paused there； his hand curling around my calf。 He
pulled my leg up suddenly； hitching it around his hip。
I stopped breathing。 This wasn’t the kind of thing he usually allowed。 Despite his cold hands； I felt
suddenly warm。 His lips moved in the hollow at the base of my throat。
“Not to bring on the ire prematurely；” he whispered； “but do you mind telling me what it is about this bed
that you object to？”
Before I could answer； before I could even concentrate enough to make sense of his words； he rolled to
the side； pulling me on top of him。 He held my face in his hands； angling it up so that his mouth could reach my
throat。 My breathing was too loud — it was almost embarrassing； but I couldn’t care quite enough to be
ashamed。
“The bed？” he asked again。 “I think it’s nice。”
“It’s unnecessary；” I managed to gasp。
He pulled my face back to his； and my lips shaped themselves around his。 Slowly this time； he rolled till he
hovered over me。 He held himself carefully so that I felt none of his weight； but I could feel the cool marble of
his body press against mine。 My heart was hammering so loudly that it was hard to hear his quiet laughter。
“That’s debatable；” he disagreed。 “This would be difficult on a couch。”
Cold as ice； his tongue lightly traced the shape of my lips。
My head was spinning — the air was ing too fast and shallow。
“Did you change your mind？” I asked breathlessly。 Maybe he’d rethought all his careful rules。 Maybe
there was more significance to this bed than I’d originally guessed。 My heart pounded almost painfully as I
waited for his answer。
Edward sighed； rolling back so that we were on our sides again。
“Don’t be ridiculous； Bella；” he said； disapproval strong in his voice — clearly； he understood what I
meant。 “I was just trying to illustrate the benefits of the bed you don’t seem to like。 Don’t get carried away。”
“Too late；” I muttered。 “And I like the bed；” I added。
“Good。” I could hear the smile in his voice as he kissed my forehead。 “I do； too。”
“But I still think it’s unnecessary；” I continued。 “If we’re not going to get carried away； what’s the point？”
He sighed again。 “For the hundredth time； Bella — it’s too dangerous。”
“I like danger；” I insisted。
“I know。” There was a sour edge to his voice； and I realized that he would have seen the motorcycle in the
garage。
“I’ll tell you what’s dangerous；” I said quickly； before he could move to a new topic of discussion。 “I’m
going to spontaneously bust one of these days — and you’ll have no one but yourself to blame。”
He started to push me away。
“What are you doing？” I objected； clinging to him。
“Protecting you from bustion。 If this too much for you。 。 。 。”
“I can handle it；” I insisted。
He let me worm myself back into the circle of his arms。
“I’m sorry I gave you the wrong impression；” he said。 “I didn’t mean to make you unhappy。 That wasn’t
nice。”
“Actually； it was very； very nice。”
He took a deep breath。 “Aren’t you tired？ I should let you sleep。”
“No； I’m not。 I don’t mind if you want to give me the wrong impression again。”
“That’s probably a bad idea。 You’re not the only one who gets carried away。”
“Yes； I am；” I grumbled。
He chuckled。 “You have no idea； Bella。 It doesn’t help that you are so eager to undermine my self
control； either。”
“I’m not going to apologize for that。”
“Can I apologize？”
“For what？”
“You were angry with me； remember？”
“Oh； that。”
“I’m sorry。 I was wrong。 It’s much easier to have the proper perspective when I have you safely here。”
His arms tightened around me。 “I go a little berserk when I try to leave you。 I don’t think I’ll go so far again。
It’s not worth it。”
I smiled。 “Didn’t you find any mountain lions？”
“Yes； I did； actually。 Still not worth the anxiety。 I’m sorry I had Alice hold you hostage； though。 That was
a bad idea。”
“Yes；” I agreed。
“I won’t do it again。”
“Okay；” I said easily。 He was already forgiven。 “But slumber parties do have their advantages。 。 。 。” I
curled myself closer to him； pressing my lips into the indentation over his collarbone。 “You can hold me
hostage any time you want。”
“Mmm；” he sighed。 “I may take you up on that。”
“So is it my turn now？”
“Your turn？” his voice was confused。
“To apologize。”
“What do you have to apologize for？”
“Aren’t you mad at me？” I asked blankly。
“No。”
It sounded like he really meant it。
I felt my eyebrows pull together。 “Didn’t you see Alice when you got home？”
“Yes — why？”
“Are you going to take her Porsche back？”
“Of course not。 It was a gift。”
I wished I could see his expression。 His voice sounded as if I’d insulted him。
“Don’t you want to know what I did？” I asked； starting to be puzzled by his apparent lack of concern。
I felt him shrug。 “I’m always interested in everything you do — but you don’t have to tell me unless you
want to。”
“But I went to La Push。”
“I know。”
“And I ditched school。”
“So did I。”
I stared toward the sound of his voice； tracing his features with my fingers； trying to understand his mood。
“Where did all this tolerance e from？” I demanded。
He sighed。
“I decided that you were right。 My problem before was more about my 。 。 。 prejudice against werewolves
than anything else。 I’m going to try to be more reasonable and trust your judgment。 If you say it’s safe； then I’ll
believe you。”
“Wow。”
“And 。 。 。 most importantly 。 。 。 I’m not willing to let this drive a wedge between us。”
I rested my head against his chest and closed my eyes； totally content。
“So；” he murmured in a casual tone。 “Did you make plans to go back to La Push again soon？”
I didn’t answer。 His question brought back the memory of Jacob’s words； and my throat was suddenly
tight。
He misread my silence and the tension in my body。
“Just so that I can make my own plans；” he explained quickly。 “I don’t want you to feel like you have to
hurry back because I’m sitting around waiting for you。”
“No；” I said in a voice that sounded strange to me。 “I don’t have plans go back。”
“Oh。 You don’t have to do that for me。”
“I don’t think I’m wele anymore；” I whispered。
“Did you run over someone’s cat？” he asked lightly。 I knew he didn’t want to force the story out of me；