Chapter One – Savor



Bella,
I will be back soon, my love. If you are to wake
before I return, I love you and good morning.
Love, for eternity,
Edward

Edward should have known that I would wake up with his ever-so-present being not in the room with me during the night. He had left early in the night – I probably had woken only minutes later – because my alarm clock’s green-lit numbers stared at me, reading one-thirty. It made me sick to think that I couldn’t sleep without him either watching me from the rocking chair in the corner or I nestled into his marble chest. I settled for curling up at the head of my bed and watched as the rain pattered relentlessly on my now-closed window.

He hadn’t even told me where he was going, but I had an idea. After we were done with the certain wedding plans with Alice the day before, I had asked him to let me leave the Mercedes in his garage instead of risking the pestering eyes of everyone in town as they stared at my car with both envy and repulse. I didn’t understand why he couldn’t just let me get a regular car – even one that could run past sixty would be okay with me – instead of one that could kill something if I moved the pedal down only a centimeter. It seemed like a deathtrap more than something that would protect me.

I loved the car – it was a gift from my Edward – but I just wanted my beloved truck back. I even missed the way it sounded like something was dying every time I changed gears. It certainly alerted everyone of Bella Swan driving their way.

I took in a big breath of air, holding it for a second until I felt just that bit of dizziness, then I blew it out in a gust. The second-long high did nothing to pass the time as I watched ever impatient for Edward to return. I hated the fact that I was still awake when he wanted me to sleep, but he should’ve known. Even if I didn’t like the fact that I pretty much told him everything in my sleep, his constant presence soothed me.

The silence was suffocating, even with the hammering rain on my window. I was bored out of my mind, and horribly tired, but I had the worst bout of insomnia I’ve ever had. I almost jumped out of my skin when something vibrated on my nightstand; I cursed when I realized it was Edward’s silver cell phone.

I leaned over and answered it before I looked at the number. “Hello?” my voice sounded like I had just woken up.

“Hey, Bella!” came Alice’s always-chipper voice, “Edward was wondering if he left his cell phone there?”

She seriously didn’t just say that. I wanted to scream, but I swallowed the urge and replied sarcastically with “Why, no, I don’t think he did, Alice.” I pressed ‘Alice’ with a little more force than the rest of my words. Her laughter chimed brilliantly before she answered.

“I was just kidding, Bells, calm down.” She paused for a second, and a door closing echoed through the signal, “Oh, don’t be surprised if a certain Guardian is sitting in your driveway in the morning. Most likely Edward’s getting out of the car now.”

Edward was just so freaking stubborn! “Why? I asked him to keep it there!”

“Bella, he just really wants you to be safe. Just drive the car. Or I could drive it for you.” She sounded hopeful.

“Sorry to crush you, but I think Edward intended for me to drive it.” I rolled my eyes

“That I did,” his cool breath wafting over my neck and available ear my ear sent thrills down my spine.

“Alice I have to go,” I said suddenly, interrupting what ever she was saying and shutting the phone on her.

Edward’s quiet chuckle filled the air, “She’s going to have to talk to you about that.”

“I don’t care,” I said. I waved the small phone in my left hand, “I believe this is yours.” I said and handed it to him. He wrapped his hands around mine as he took the device from me, the cool marble of them melting me. It was when he pulled his hands away that I noticed he left something there.

“You didn’t purposefully leave your ring in the bathroom at my house, am I correct?”

“Sorry, I washed my hands and me, not used to wearing a wedding ring, accidentally left it on the counter.” I explained the truth. The weight on the bed shifted as Edward sat next to me. “Will you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?” I asked, overly dramatic.

He chuckled and pulled me into his lap; I buried my face into his shoulder, taking in his wonderful scent. Then I remembered why I had been up for over an hour, waiting for him. “Why did you leave?” I asked, looking up at him.

“I had to move your After Car so Emmett wouldn’t play with it.” He explained, smiling brilliantly.

“Mmm, couldn’t it have waited until morning?” I asked, half asleep already.

I felt his chest rumble with a low chuckle, “My dear, Bella, you didn’t see what he was planning to do with that car.”

“Oh. . . .” I said as I drifted further into unconsciousness.

I felt his cool lips on my forehead, “Sleep, Bella,” he murmured into my skin before starting to hum my lullaby and I slipped quickly into a dreamless sleep.


I woke the next morning with Edward at my side, his eyes shut and his face so peaceful, for a moment I thought he was sleeping. I placed a gentle kiss on his lips and his eyes jolted open. I laughed quietly and pulled away. “Good morning, Bella,” he said, a grin reaching his mouth.

“Good morning, Edward,” I copied his tone with an undertone of laughter. He wrapped his fingers in my hair and pulled me in for another kiss, but before my lips could reach his, I placed my finger there instead. His eyebrows raised in question. “Let me be human for fifteen minutes,”

He sighed, smiled that brilliant warped smile I loved, and released me from his gentle hand. I slid off the bed and scampered out of my room, pulling down the baggy shirt that I had worn to bed – it was way too high for my liking, and I didn’t want Edward to spontaneously combust when I wasn’t in the room to enjoy it.

I took a shower as fast as I could so I would have time to brush my teeth and get dressed before Edward suddenly appeared in my bathroom, telling me my time was up. Leave it to Edward to count down until he could be with me again – not like I didn’t do the same thing with him, but still.

When I had dried off, wrapped myself in a towel, and brushed my teeth was when I realized I’d been too preoccupied with my shirt to grab any clothes on my way out of my room. “Shit. . . .” I cursed to myself, running my hands through my wet hair. Oh, Edward was going to love this.

I hurriedly tip-toed my way through the hall, not wanting to wake Charlie so Edward would have to leave. Cracking the door, I peered in to find Edward sitting on the edge of my bed, his back towards me, and his shoulders tense. “Edward?” I asked quietly, slipping through the door and shutting it behind me silently.

He didn’t as much as move when I said his name. This worried me, and I walked over and kneeled in front of him, placing my hand on his knee; his eyes were closed, his hands fisted into balls around my sheets. “Edward?” I asked again, feeling my eyebrows pull up in worry.

He jumped at my touch, his eyes bolting open, blazing. When his gaze rested on me, his statuesque posture softened instantly. My eyes widened at the sudden change, “Are you okay?” I asked, wondering if my fiancé was holding a bi-polar secret from me.

“Yeah,” he said, nodding; he smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. When I gave him a skeptical look, he sighed loudly, closing his eyes again. “I’m okay, but. . . Bella, you have no idea how much you mean to me.” his response was tight, trying desperately to make his point.

I smiled lightly, taking one of his stiff hands from my bed and into my hands, “I love you, Edward.” His hand in mine felt huge and strong, making mine feel like feathers holding onto an anvil.

When he opened his golden eyes my jaw slacked and my eyes widened further. A horrible since of pain pressed through his eyes, making my stomach flip. “What’s wrong, Edward?” I asked, my voice an octave higher than normal.

He shook his head, looking away towards my window, but keeping his hand enveloped in mine. I saw him swallow, closing his eyes for a second longer than needed before he turned his gaze back to me. “Do you realize how hard it is for me everyday to see you blush and hear your heart beat frantically when I kiss you and know that I’ve promised to take that all away from you?”

I stayed silent, speechless by what he said. I cast my gaze downward when he shook his head slowly and looked back to my window again.

“Edward, I –”

“No, Bella. Don’t.” He interrupted, pulling me up as he stood from the bed. He placed his hands on either side of my face, staring deeply into my eyes, “I will just have to savor it while I can,” he said, giving me a small – but real – smile before bringing my lips to his.