Chapter Two – Temptation


On one hand, I was fed up with Edward trying to convince me to remain mortal; on the other, I didn’t want him to look like that ever, ever again. I didn’t want to believe I was having second thoughts about him changing me; his words just struck a nerve, that’s all. But I couldn’t even lie to myself. His words sent me into the deepest corners of my brain, running over and over the reasons I wanted to be with him forever. . . for eternity.

I had finally tried hard enough to push the thoughts to the back of my mind long enough to get lunch for myself started as Edward put away the dishes from last night’s dinner – I’d been too whipped to put them away, and left them in the rack overnight. I didn’t notice that my soup was boiling until Edward’s hands formed themselves around mine and his lips were at my ear. “I’m no chef, but I don’t think that’s supposed to happen.”

I quickly turned off the burner and stirred, asking Edward to hand me a bowl. The soup was steaming as I set it down on the table, scared to take a spoonful due to the fact everything for a week would taste like rubber. Before I sat down, I retrieved some ice from the freezer and plopped them into the scalding broth.

“You’re being awfully quiet today,” Edward commented as I spun my spoon around the bowl, my stomach growling.

I shrugged, and replied simply, “I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

He shook his head, smirking, “And again, my Bella, I cannot read your mind.” And I was glad he couldn’t. I didn’t even want to give him an ounce of what I was thinking about right now; if he knew I was thinking about maybe not going through with the transformation, he’d leap at the opportunity.

“You’re torturing me, Bella.” He said, referring to the fact that his forehead was creased over as he tried to bash his way into my mind.

“Why did I need missile-proof glass?” I asked quickly, trying to distract him.

He tipped his head back and chuckled. When he finally composed himself enough to look at me in the eye again, I was giving him a stern look. “Where did you ever hear that the Guardian has missile-proof glass?”

“Last week when I went to get gas for the death-trap you got for me,” I said, “These two men wanted to take a picture with it and said it was for big-time hot-shots and drug dealers. Perfect image for me, Edward.” I said sarcastically, still stirring my soup.

He laughed again, pulling me into his lap. “I still have to eat, you know.” I said, looking up at him through my lashes, my lower lip puckered out in a pout.

“I’m afraid that your tongue will burn off,” He said.

I rolled my eyes. “You would know,” I mumbled. Edward’s icy fingers snaked their way under my chin and pulled my lips to his. I shivered in delight. His lips kissed a circuit to the side of my neck; his teeth grazed over my skin and my breath hitched.

“Please, you’re killing me, Bells.” Edward murmured into my throat. I knew he could hear my heart hammering against my ribcage, and the blood thumping through the artery where his ice cold lips lay.

It took me a second to clear my head before I could respond. “It’s nothing important,” I bluffed, hoping he would let it go. I felt his breath rush over my skin as he sighed, frustrated, and pulled away, setting me back in the chair where my soup sat, untouched. I didn’t look up from my meal as I ate in silence.

As I washed the bowl, Edward came up behind me and his arms wrapped themselves around my waist, his hands locking at my naval. I bit my lip to stifle any sound I’d make on accident, though I knew he could hear my heart beating rapidly in my chest. His head rested on my right shoulder, his lips pressed to the crook of my neck. I placed the bowl in the rack and turned around in his arms, wrapping my arms around his neck.

“What do you want to do today?” I asked when he didn’t say anything. My fingers played with the bronze hair on the back of his head. “Charlie doesn’t come home until six. . . and it’s only three.”

He raised an eyebrow, “Have you changed your mind?” he asked, using the same tone I used so many nights ago.

My eyes widened and I giggled, slapping his shoulder – hurting myself more than him. “No, Edward!” I said, still not over my bout of laughter, “I meant do you want go to the movies or something?”

His lips pursed, and his golden eyes studied me carefully. “Not until you tell me what you were thinking earlier.”

I groaned and tried to worm my way out of his arms, but he gently held me held me closer, his arms like iron bars. “Would it hurt if I took a blow torch to your arms?” I asked sarcastically.

His eyes widened drastically, “Um. . . yes, since that’s how you kill vampires. . . .”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry.” I smiled sheepishly up at him, and he smiled.

“Just tell me,” he begged, picking me up by my waist and setting me up on the counter next to the sink. I folded my arms across my chest stubbornly, looking away from his piercing eyes. “Bella,” he said and I felt his chilly hands on either side of my face and he turned my head so I had to look at him. He would give me whiplash if he kept doing that. “Why can’t you tell me?” he asked, his eyes fearful.

“Crap. . .” I sighed, dropping my arms into my lap and he let go of my face. “Alright, yesterday you got me thinking. But this is completely irrelevant, I guess. I don’t want you to look like that again and – ”

“Wait, when?”

“When I got out of the shower and you told me how bad it was for you to see me blush and hear my heart beat everyday and know that you’ve promised to take that away from me.”

“Okay, go on.”

“Anyway, I don’t ever want to see you like that again. So I was having second thoughts on you changing me.” I pushed my finger to his lips as his mouth opened and his eyes brightened like I knew they would. “Don’t jump at that, please, Edward. I still want to spend eternity with you,” – his eyes didn’t dim of their luminescence as I explained myself like I thought they would – “and you’re not going to talk me out of it.” He stayed silent even when I removed my finger from his lips. “I’m done,” I said, smiling slightly.

He stuttered for a moment – was it even possible that he could stutter? – but then composed himself long enough to complete a sentence, “Bella, I never thought I’d say this, but please don’t ever say you don’t want to be a vampire again.”

Before I could respond, his lips were on mine and I threaded my fingers through his hair. My head spun with both lack of oxygen and his wonderful scent that filled my lungs with every gasp of breath that I could manage. I reluctantly pulled away for my need to breathe, since Edward had forgotten.

He watched me as he and I calmed our ragged breath – even if his was unnecessary. I swallowed before I spoke, “What was that about?” I asked.

“Bella, I’ve been thinking too.” He said, taking the hair that fell over my shoulder and running it through his hands. “I knew you were thinking about it, too, because you wouldn’t tell me. I read Alice’s mind and she had seen us talking about this. I jumped at the opportunity to not change you and, well, somehow you caved and agreed to remain human. . . you grew old. . . .”

“Oh, Edward,” I said, pulling him to me, his head resting in the crook on my neck. “I love you so much,” I murmured into his hair, feeling my lashes wet with unshed tears.

“I love you, Bella.” He whispered into the soft skin of my throat. I felt his teeth graze my flesh there and I pulled away quickly.

“What’re you doing?” I asked urgently.

“Nothing,” he said. I swallowed hard, eyeing him carefully. “I’m sorry, Bella.”

“For what?”

“I scared you.” He paused, “I lost myself for a moment.”

I swallowed hard again. Edward could loose his sanity that fast around me. It was the first time I’d ever been truly frightened by him; it was a cold, dark feeling. I didn’t want to be afraid of Edward, and I wasn’t, just frightened by the moment. . . .