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— I didn’t know how to do what I was trying to do； and that guaranteed me some serious jitters。 He sat in the
passenger seat； fighting a smile at my slow pace。 I was surprised that he hadn’t insisted on taking the wheel；
but tonight he seemed content to go at my speed。
It was after dark when we reached the house。 In spite of that； the meadow was bright in the light shining
from every window。
As soon as I cut the engine he was at my door； opening it for me。 He lifted me from the cab with one arm；
slinging my bag out of the truck bed and over his shoulder with the other。 His lips found mine as I heard him
kick the truck’s door shut behind me。
Without breaking the kiss； he swung me up so that I was cradled in his arms and carried me into the
house。
Was the front door already open？ I didn’t know。 We were inside； though； and I was dizzy。 I had to
remind myself to breathe。
This kissing did not frighten me。 It wasn’t like before when I could feel the fear and panic leaking through
his control。 His lips were not anxious； but enthusiastic now — he seemed as thrilled as I was that we had
tonight to concentrate on being together。 He continued to kiss me for several minutes； standing there in the
entry； he seemed less guarded than usual； his mouth cold and urgent on mine。
I began to feel cautiously optimistic。 Perhaps getting what I wanted would not be as difficult as I’d
expected it to be。
No； of course it was going to be just exactly that difficult。
With a low chuckle； he pulled me away； holding me at arm’s length。
“Wele home；” he said； his eyes liquid and warm。
“That sounds nice；” I said； breathless。
He set me gently on my feet。 I wrapped both my arms around him； refusing to allow any space between
us。
“I have something for you；” he said； his tone conversational。
“Oh？”
“Your handmedown； remember？ You said that was allowable。”
“Oh； that’s right。 I guess I did say that。”
He chuckled at my reluctance。
“It’s up in my room。 Shall I go get it？”
His bedroom？ “Sure；” I agreed； feeling quite devious as I wound my fingers through his。 “Let’s go。”
He must have been eager to give me my nonpresent； because human velocity was not fast enough for
him。 He scooped me up again and nearly flew up the stairs to his room。 He set me down at the door； and
darted into his closet。
He was back before I’d taken a step； but I ignored him and went to the huge gold bed； plopping down on
the edge and then sliding to the center。 I curled up in a ball； my arms wrapped around my knees。
“Okay；” I grumbled。 Now that I was where I wanted to be； I could afford a little reluctance。 “Let me have
it。”
Edward laughed。
He climbed onto the bed to sit next to me； and my heart thumped unevenly。 Hopefully he would write that
off as some reaction to him giving me presents。
“A handmedown；” he reminded me sternly。 He pulled my left wrist away from my leg； and touched the
silver bracelet for just a moment。 Then he gave me my arm back。
I examined it cautiously。 On the opposite side of the chain from the wolf； there now hung a brilliant heart
shaped crystal。 It was cut in a million facets； so that even in the subdued light shining from the lamp； it
sparkled。 I inhaled in a low gasp。
“It was my mother’s。” He shrugged deprecatingly。 “I inherited quite a few baubles like this。 I’ve given
some to Esme and Alice both。 So； clearly； this is not a big deal in any way。”
I smiled ruefully at his assurance。
“But I thought it was a good representation；” he continued。 “It’s hard and cold。” He laughed。 “And it
throws rainbows in the sunlight。”
“You forgot the most important similarity；” I murmured。 “It’s beautiful。”
“My heart is just as silent；” he mused。 “And it； too； is yours。”
I twisted my wrist so the heart would glimmer。 “Thank you。 For both。”
“No； thank you。 It’s a relief to have you accept a gift so easily。 Good practice for you； too。” He grinned；
flashing his teeth。
I leaned into him； ducking my head under his arm and cuddling into his side。 It probably felt similar to
snuggling with Michelangelo’s David； except that this perfect marble creature wrapped his arms around me to
pull me closer。
It seemed like a good place to start。
“Can we discuss something？ I’d appreciate it if you could begin by being openminded。”
He hesitated for a moment。 “I’ll give it my best effort；” he agreed； cautious now。
“I’m not breaking any rules here；” I promised。 “This is strictly about you and me。” I cleared my throat。 “So
。 。 。 I was impressed by how well we were able to promise the other night。 I was thinking I would like to
apply the same principle to a different situation。” I wondered why I was being so formal。 Must be the nerves。
“What would you like to negotiate？” he asked； a smile in his voice。
I struggled； trying to find exactly the right words to open with。
“Listen to your heart fly；” he murmured。 “It’s fluttering like a hummingbird’s wings。 Are you all right？”
“I’m great。”
“Please go on then；” he encouraged。
“Well； I guess； first； I wanted to talk to you about that whole ridiculous marriage condition thing。”
“It’s only ridiculous to you。 What about it？”
“I was wondering 。 。 。 is that open to negotiation？”
Edward frowned； serious now。 “I’ve already made the largest concession by far and away — I’ve agreed
to take your life away against my better judgment。 And that ought to entitle me to a few promises on your
part。”
“No。” I shook my head； focusing on keeping my face posed。 “That part’s a done deal。 We’re not
discussing my 。 。 。 renovations right now。 I want to hammer out some other details。”
He looked at me suspiciously。 “Which details do you mean exactly？”
I hesitated。 “Let’s clarify your prerequisites first。”
“You know what I want。”
“Matrimony。” I made it sound like a dirty word。
“Yes。” He smiled a wide smile。 “To start with。”
The shock spoiled my carefully posed expression。 “There’s more？”
“Well；” he said； and his face was calculating。 “If you’re my wife； then what’s mine is yours 。 。 。 like tuition
money。 So there would be no problem with Dartmouth。”
“Anything else？ While you’re already being absurd？”
“I wouldn’t mind some time。”
“No。 No time。 That’s a deal breaker right there。”
He sighed longingly。 “Just a year or two？”
I shook my head； my lips set in a stubborn frown。 “Move along to the next one。”
“That’s it。 Unless you’d like to talk cars 。 。 。”
He grinned widely when I grimaced； then took my hand and began playing with my fingers。
“I didn’t realize there was anything else you wanted besides being transformed into a monster yourself。 I’m
extremely curious。” His voice was low and soft。 The slight edge would have been hard to detect if I hadn’t
known it so well。
I paused； staring at his hand on mine。 I still didn’t know how to begin。 I felt his eyes watching me and I
was afraid to look up。 The blood began to burn in my face。
His cool fingers brushed my cheek。 “You’re blushing？” he asked in surprise。 I kept my eyes down。
“Please； Bella； the suspense is painful。”
I bit my lip。
“Bella。” His tone reproached me now； reminded me that it was hard for him when I kept my thoughts to
myself。
“Well； I’m a little worried 。 。 。 about after；” I admitted； finally looking at him。
I felt his body tense； but his voice was gentle and velvet。 “What has you worried？”
“All of you just seem so convinced that the only thing I’m going to be interested in； afterward； is
slaughtering everyone in town；” I confessed； while he winced at my choice of words。 “And I’m afraid I’ll be so
preoccupied with the mayhem that I won’t be me anymore 。 。 。 and that I won’t 。 。 。 I won’t want you the
same way I do now。”
“Bella； that part doesn’t last forever；” he assured me。
He was missing the point。
“Edward；” I said； nervous； staring at a freckle on my wrist。 “There’s something that I want to do before
I’m not human anymore。”
He waited for m