4 breaking dawn破晓-第75部分

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have　been　able　to　break　

off　midhunt　with　the　scent　of　human　blood　in　the　air。　Even　mature　vampires　have　difficulty　with　that　
—we're　always　very　careful　of　where　we　hunt　so　as　not　to　put　ourselves　in　the　path　of　temptation。　Bella；　
you're　behaving　like　you're　decades　rather　than　days　old。〃　

〃Oh。〃　But　I'd　known　it　was　going　to　be　hard。　That　was　why　I'd　been　so　on　guard。　I'd　been　expecting　it　
to　be　difficult。　

He　put　his　hands　on　my　face　again；　and　his　eyes　were　full　of　wonder。　〃What　wouldn't　I　give　to　be　able　to　
see　into　your　mind　for　just　this　one　moment。〃　

Such　powerful　emotions。　I'd　been　prepared　for　the　thirst　part；　but　not　this。　I'd　been　so　sure　it　wouldn't　
be　the　same　when　he　touched　me。　Well；　truthfully；　it　wasn't　the　same。　

It　was　stronger。　

I　reached　up　to　trace　the　planes　of　his　face；　my　fingers　lingered　on　his　lips。　

〃I　thought　I　wouldn't　feel　this　way　for　a　long　time？〃　My　uncertainty　made　the　words　a　question。　〃But　I　
stillwant　you。〃　

He　blinked　in　shock。　〃How　can　you　even　concentrate　on　that？　Aren't　you　unbearably　thirsty？〃　




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Of　course　I　was　now；　now　that　he'd　brought　it　up　again！　

I　tried　to　swallow　and　then　sighed；　closing　my　eyes　like　I　had　before　to　help　me　concentrate。　I　let　my　
senses　range　out　around　me；　tensed　this　time　in　case　of　another　onslaught　of　the　delicious　taboo　scent。　

Edward　dropped　his　hands；　not　even　breathing　while　I　listened　farther　and　farther　out　into　the　web　of　
green　life；　sifting　through　the　scents　and　sounds　for　something　not　totally　repellant　to　my　thirst。　There　was　
a　hint　of　something　different；　a　faint　trail　to　the　east___　

My　eyes　flashed　open；　but　my　focus　was　still　on　sharper　senses　as　I　turned　and　darted　silently　eastward。　
The　ground　sloped　steeply　upward　almost　at　once；　and　I　ran　in　a　hunting　crouch；　close　to　the　ground；　
taking　to　the　trees　when　that　was　easier。　I　sensed　rather　than　heard　Edward　with　me；　flowing　quietly　
through　the　woods；　letting　me　lead。　

The　vegetation　thinned　as　we　climbed　higher；　the　scent　of　pitch　and　resin　grew　more　powerful；　as　did　the　
trail　I　followed—it　was　a　warm　scent；　sharper　than　the　smell　of　the　elk　and　more　appealing。　A　few　
seconds　more　and　I　could　hear　the　muted　padding　of　immense　feet；　so　much　subtler　than　the　crunch　of　
hooves。　The　sound　was　up—in　the　branches　rather　than　on　the　ground。　Automatically　I　darted　into　the　
boughs　as　well；　gaining　the　strategic　higher　position；　halfway　up　a　towering　silver　fir。　

The　soft　thud　of　paws　continued　stealthily　beneath　me　now；　the　rich　scent　was　very　close。　My　eyes　
pinpointed　the　movement　linked　with　the　sound；　and　I　saw　the　tawny　hide　of　the　great　cat　slinking　along　
the　wide　branch　of　a　spruce　just　down　and　to　the　left　of　my　perch。　He　was　big—easily　four　times　my　
mass。　His　eyes　were　intent　on　the　ground　beneath；　the　cat　hunted；　too。　I　caught　the　smell　of　something　
smaller；　bland　next　to　the　aroma　of　my　prey；　cowering　in　brush　below　the　tree。　The　lion's　tail　twitched　
spasmodically　as　he　prepared　to　spring。　

With　a　light　bound；　I　sailed　through　the　air　and　landed　on　the　lion's　branch。　He　felt　the　shiver　of　the　wood　
and　whirled；　shrieking　surprise　and　defiance。　He　clawed　the　space　between　us；　his　eyes　bright　with　fury。　
Halfcrazed　with　

thirst；　I　ignored　the　exposed　fangs　and　the　hooked　claws　and　launched　myself　at　him；　knocking　us　both　
to　the　forest　floor。　

It　wasn't　much　of　a　fight。　

His　raking　claws　could　have　been　caressing　fingers　for　all　the　impact　they　had　on　my　skin。　His　teeth　
could　find　no　purchase　against　my　shoulder　or　my　throat。　His　weight　was　nothing。　My　teeth　unerringly　
sought　his　throat；　and　his　instinctive　resistance　was　pitifully　feeble　against　my　strength。　My　jaws　locked　
easily　over　the　precise　point　where　the　heat　flow　concentrated。　

It　was　effortless　as　biting　into　butter。　My　teeth　were　steel　razors；　they　cut　through　the　fur　and　fat　and　
sinews　like　they　weren't　there。　

The　flavor　was　wrong；　but　the　blood　was　hot　and　wet　and　it　soothed　the　ragged；　itching　thirst　as　I　drank　
in　an　eager　rush。　The　cat's　struggles　grew　more　and　more　feeble；　and　his　screams　choked　off　with　a　
gurgle。　The　warmth　of　the　blood　radiated　throughout　my　whole　body；　heating　even　my　fingertips　and　
toes。　

The　lion　was　finished　before　I　was。　The　thirst　flared　again　when　he　ran　dry；　and　I　shoved　his　carcass　off　
my　body　in　disgust。　How　could　I　still　be　thirsty　after　all　that？　



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I　wrenched　myself　erect　in　one　quick　move。　Standing；　I　realized　I　was　a　bit　of　a　mess。　I　wiped　my　face　
off　on　the　back　of　my　arm　and　tried　to　fix　the　dress。　The　claws　that　had　been　so　ineffectual　against　my　
skin　had　had　more　success　with　the　thin　satin。　

〃Hmm；〃　Edward　said。　I　looked　up　to　see　him　leaning　casually　against　a　tree　trunk；　watching　me　with　a　
thoughtful　look　on　his　face。　

〃I　guess　I　could　have　done　that　better。〃　I　was　covered　in　dirt；　my　hair　knotted；　my　dress　bloodstained　
and　hanging　in　tatters。　Edward　didn't　e　home　from　hunting　trips　looking　like　this。　

〃You　did　perfectly　fine；〃　he　assured　me。　〃It's　just　that。。。　it　was　much　more　difficult　for　me　to　watch　than　it　
should　have　been。〃　

I　raised　my　eyebrows；　confused。　

〃It　goes　against　the　grain；〃　he　explained；　〃letting　you　wrestle　with　lions。　I　was　having　an　anxiety　attack　the　
whole　time。〃　

〃Silly。〃　

〃I　know。　Old　habits　die　hard。　I　like　the　improvements　to　your　dress；　though。〃　

If　I　could　have　blushed；　I　would　have。　I　changed　the　subject。　〃Why　am　I　still　thirsty？〃　

〃Because　you're　young。〃　

I　sighed。　〃And　I　don't　suppose　there　are　any　other　mountain　lions　nearby。〃　

〃Plenty　of　deer；　though。〃　

I　made　a　face。　〃They　don't　smell　as　good。〃　

〃Herbivores。　The　meateaters　smell　more　like　humans；〃　he　explained。　

〃Not　that　much　like　humans；〃　I　disagreed；　trying　not　to　remember。　

〃We　could　go　back；〃　he　said　solemnly；　but　there　was　a　teasing　light　in　his　eye。　〃Whoever　it　was　out　
there；　if　they　were　men；　they　probably　wouldn't　even　mind　death　if　you　were　the　one　delivering　it。〃　His　
gaze　ran　over　my　ravaged　dress　again。　〃In　fact；　they　would　think　they　were　already　dead　and　gone　to　
heaven　the　moment　they　saw　you。〃　

I　rolled　my　eyes　and　snorted。　〃Let's　go　hunt　some　stinking　herbivores。〃　

We　found　a　large　herd　of　mule　deer　as　we　ran　back　toward　home。　He　hunted　with　me　this　time；　now　
that　I'd　gotten　the　hang　of　it。　I　brought　down　a　large　buck；　making　nearly　as　much　of　a　mess　as　I　had　with　
the　lion。　He'd　finished　with　two　before　I　was　done　with　the　first；　not　a　hair　ruffled；　not　a　spot　on　his　white　
shirt。　We　chased　the　scattered　and　terrified　herd；　but　instead　of　feeding　again；　this　time　I　watched　
carefully　to　see　how　he　was　able　to　hunt　so　neatly。　

All　the　times　that　I　had　wished　that　Edward　would　not　have　to　leave　me　behind　when　he　hunted；　I　had　



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secretly　been　just　a　little　relieved。　Because　I　was　sure　that　seeing　this　would　be　frightening。　Horrifying。　
That　seeing　him　hunt　would　finally　make　him　look　like　a　vampire　to　me。　

Of　course；　it　was　much　different　from　this　perspective；　as　a　vampire　myself。　But　I　doubted　that　even　my　
human　eyes　would　have　missed　the　beauty　here。　

It　was　a　surprisingly　sensual　experience　to　observe　Edward　hunting。　His　smooth　spring　was　like　the　
sinuous　strike　of　a　snake；　his　hands　were　so　sure；　so　strong；　so　pletely　inescapable；　his　full　lips　were　
perfect　as　they　parted　gracefully　over　his　gleaming　teeth。　He　was　glorious。　I　felt　a　sudden　jolt　of　both　
pride　and　desire。　He　was　mine。　Nothing　could　ever　separate　him　from　me　now。　I　was　too　strong　to　be　
torn　from　his　side。　

He　was　very　quick。　He　turned　to　me　and　gazed　curiously　at　my　gloating　expression。　

〃No　longer　thirsty？〃　he　asked。　

I　shrugged。　〃You　distracted　me。　You're　much　better　at　it　than　I　am。〃　

〃Centuries　of　practice。〃　He　smiled。　His　eyes　were　a　disconcertingly　lovely　shade　of　honey　gold　now。　

〃Just　one；〃　I　corrected　him。