暮色-第52部分

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the　house　before　the　hormones　kick　in。　

〃Sounds　like　a　good　idea　to　me；〃　I　agreed　as　I　headed　up　the　stairs。　

〃'Night；　honey；〃　he　called　after　me。　No　doubt　he　would　be　listening　
carefully　all　evening；　waiting　for　me　to　try　to　sneak　out。　

〃See　you　in　the　morning；　Dad。〃　See　you　creeping　into　my　room　tonight　at　
midnight　to　check　on　me。　

I　worked　to　make　my　tread　sound　slow　and　tired　as　I　walked　up　the　stairs　
to　my　room。　I　shut　the　door　loud　enough　for　him　to　hear；　and　then　
sprinted　on　my　tiptoes　to　the　window。　I　threw　it　open　and　leaned　out　into　
the　night。　My　eyes　scanned　the　darkness；　the　imperable　shadows　of　the　
trees。　

〃Edward？〃　I　whispered；　feeling　pletely　idiotic。　

The　quiet；　laughing　response　came　from　behind　me。　〃Yes？〃　

I　whirled；　one　hand　flying　to　my　throat　in　surprise。　

He　lay；　smiling　hugely；　across　my　bed；　his　hands　behind　his　head；　his　
feet　dangling　off　the　end；　the　picture　of　ease。　

〃Oh！〃　I　breathed；　sinking　unsteadily　to　the　floor。　

〃I'm　sorry。〃　He　pressed　his　lips　together；　trying　to　hide　his　amusement。　

〃Just　give　me　a　minute　to　restart　my　heart。〃　

He　sat　up　slowly；　so　as　not　to　startle　me　again。　Then　he　leaned　forward　
and　reached　out　with　his　long　arms　to　pick　me　up；　gripping　the　tops　of　my　
arms　like　I　was　a　toddler。　He　sat　me　on　the　bed　beside　him。　

〃Why　don't　you　sit　with　me；〃　he　suggested；　putting　a　cold　hand　on　mine。　
〃How's　the　heart？〃　

〃You　tell　me　—　I'm　sure　you　hear　it　better　than　I　do。〃　

I　felt　his　quiet　laughter　shake　the　bed。　

We　sat　there　for　a　moment　in　silence；　both　listening　to　my　heartbeat　
slow。　I　thought　about　having　Edward　in　my　room；　with　my　father　in　the　
house。　

〃Can　I　have　a　minute　to　be　human？〃　I　asked。　

〃Certainly。〃　He　gestured　with　one　hand　that　I　should　proceed。　

〃Stay；〃　I　said；　trying　to　look　severe。　

〃Yes；　ma'am。〃　And　he　made　a　show　of　being　a　statue　on　the　edge　of　my　
bed。　

I　hopped　up；　grabbing　my　pajamas　from　off　the　floor；　my　bag　of　toiletries　
off　the　desk。　I　left　the　light　off　and　slipped　out；　closing　the　door。　

I　could　hear　the　sound　from　the　TV　rising　up　the　stairs。　I　banged　the　
bathroom　door　loudly；　so　Charlie　wouldn't　e　up　to　bother　me。　

I　meant　to　hurry。　I　brushed　my　teeth　fiercely；　trying　to　be　thorough　and　
speedy；　removing　all　traces　of　lasagna。　But　the　hot　water　of　the　shower　
couldn't　be　rushed。　It　unknotted　the　muscles　in　my　back；　calmed　my　pulse。　
The　familiar　smell　of　my　shampoo　made　me　feel　like　I　might　be　the　same　
person　I　had　been　this　morning。　I　tried　not　to　think　of　Edward；　sitting　
in　my　room；　waiting；　because　then　I　had　to　start　all　over　with　the　
calming　process。　Finally；　I　couldn't　delay　anymore。　I　shut　off　the　water；　
toweling　hastily；　rushing　again。　I　pulled　on　my　holey　tshirt　and　gray　
sweatpants。　Too　late　to　regret　not　packing　the　Victoria's　Secret　silk　
pajamas　my　mother　got　me　two　birthdays　ago；　which　still　had　the　tags　on　
them　in　a　drawer　somewhere　back　home。　

I　rubbed　the　towel　through　my　hair　again；　and　then　yanked　the　brush　
through　it　quickly。　I　threw　the　towel　in　the　hamper；　flung　my　brush　and　
toothpaste　into　my　bag。　Then　I　dashed　down　the　stairs　so　Charlie　could　
see　that　I　was　in　my　pajamas；　with　wet　hair。　

〃'Night；　Dad。〃　

〃'Night；　Bella。〃　He　did　look　startled　by　my　appearance。　Maybe　that　would　
keep　him　from　checking　on　me　tonight。　

I　took　the　stairs　two　at　a　time；　trying　to　be　quiet；　and　flew　into　my　
room；　closing　the　door　tightly　behind　me。　

Edward　hadn't　moved　a　fraction　of　an　inch；　a　carving　of　Adonis　perched　on　
my　faded　quilt。　I　smiled；　and　his　lips　twitched；　the　statue　ing　to　
life。　

His　eyes　appraised　me；　taking　in　the　damp　hair；　the　tattered　shirt。　He　
raised　one　eyebrow。　〃Nice。〃　

I　grimaced。　

〃No；　it　looks　good　on　you。〃　

〃Thanks；〃　I　whispered。　I　went　back　to　his　side；　sitting　crosslegged　
beside　him。　I　looked　at　the　lines　in　the　wooden　floor。　

〃What　was　all　that　for？〃　

〃Charlie　thinks　I'm　sneaking　out。〃　

〃Oh。〃　He　contemplated　that。　〃Why？〃　As　if　he　couldn't　know　Charlie's　mind　
much　more　clearly　than　I　could　guess。　

〃Apparently；　I　look　a　little　overexcited。〃　

He　lifted　my　chin；　examining　my　face。　

〃You　look　very　warm；　actually。〃　

He　bent　his　face　slowly　to　mine；　laying　his　cool　cheek　against　my　skin。　I　
held　perfectly　still。　

〃Mmmmmm…〃　he　breathed。　

It　was　very　difficult；　while　he　was　touching　me；　to　frame　a　coherent　
question。　It　took　me　a　minute　of　scattered　concentration　to　begin。　

〃It　seems　to　be…　much　easier　for　you；　now；　to　be　close　to　me。〃　

〃Does　it　seem　that　way　to　you？〃　he　murmured；　his　nose　gliding　to　the　
corner　of　my　jaw。　I　felt　his　hand；　lighter　than　a　moth's　wing；　brushing　
my　damp　hair　back；　so　that　his　lips　could　touch　the　hollow　beneath　my　ear。　

〃Much；　much　easier；〃　I　said；　trying　to　exhale。　

〃Hmm。〃　

〃So　I　was　wondering…〃　I　began　again；　but　his　fingers　were　slowly　tracing　
my　collarbone；　and　I　lost　my　train　of　thought。　

〃Yes？〃　he　breathed。　

〃Why　is　that；〃　my　voice　shook；　embarrassing　me；　〃do　you　think？〃　

I　felt　the　tremor　of　his　breath　on　my　neck　as　he　laughed。　〃Mind　over　
matter。〃　

I　pulled　back；　as　I　moved；　he　froze　—　and　I　could　no　longer　hear　the　
sound　of　his　breathing。　

We　stared　cautiously　at　each　other　for　a　moment；　and　then；　as　his　
clenched　jaw　gradually　relaxed；　his　expression　became　puzzled。　

〃Did　I　do　something　wrong？〃　

〃No　—　the　opposite。　You're　driving　me　crazy；〃　I　explained。　

He　considered　that　briefly；　and　when　he　spoke；　he　sounded　pleased。　
〃Really？〃　A　triumphant　smile　slowly　lit　his　face。　

〃Would　you　like　a　round　of　applause？〃　I　asked　sarcastically。　

He　grinned。　

〃I'm　just　pleasantly　surprised；〃　he　clarified。　〃In　the　last　hundred　years　
or　so；〃　his　voice　was　teasing；　〃I　never　imagined　anything　like　this。　I　
didn't　believe　I　would　ever　find　someone　I　wanted　to　be　with…　in　another　
way　than　my　brothers　and　sisters。　And　then　to　find；　even　though　it's　all　
new　to　me；　that　I'm　good　at　it…　at　being　with　you…〃　

〃You're　good　at　everything；〃　I　pointed　out。　

He　shrugged；　allowing　that；　and　we　both　laughed　in　whispers。　

〃But　how　can　it　be　so　easy　now？〃　I　pressed。　〃This　afternoon…〃　

〃It's　not　easy；〃　he　sighed。　〃But　this　afternoon；　I　was　still…　undecided。　
I　am　sorry　about　that；　it　was　unforgivable　for　me　to　behave　so。〃　

〃Not　unforgivable；〃　I　disagreed。　

〃Thank　you。〃　He　smiled。　〃You　see；〃　he　continued；　looking　down　now；　〃I　
wasn't　sure　if　I　was　strong　enough…〃　He　picked　up　one　of　my　hands　and　
pressed　it　lightly　to　his　face。　〃And　while　there　was　still　that　
possibility　that　I　might　be…　overe〃　—　he　breathed　in　the　scent　at　my　
wrist　—　〃I　was…　susceptible。　Until　I　made　up　my　mind　that　I　was　strong　
enough；　that　there　was　no　possibility　at　all　that　I　would…　that　I　ever　
could…〃　

I'd　never　seen　him　struggle　so　hard　for　words。　It　was　so…　human。　

〃So　there's　no　possibility　now？〃　

〃Mind　over　matter；〃　he　repeated；　smiling；　his　teeth　bright　even　in　the　
darkness。　

〃Wow；　that　was　easy；〃　I　said。　

He　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed；　quietly　as　a　whisper；　but　still　
exuberantly。　

〃Easy　for　you！〃　he　amended；　touching　my　nose　with　his　fingertip。　

And　then　his　face　was　abruptly　serious。　

〃I'm　trying；〃　he　whispered；　his　voice　pained。　〃If　it　gets　to　be…　too　
much；　I'm　fairly　sure　I'll　be　able　to　leave。〃　

I　scowled。　I　didn't　like　the　talk　of　leaving。　

〃And　it　will　be　harder　tomorrow；〃　he　continued。　〃I've　had　the　scent　of　
you　in　my　head　all　day；　and　I've　grown　amazingly　desensitized。　If　I'm　
away　from　you　for　any　length　of　time；　I'll　have　to　start　over　again。　Not　
quite　from　scratch；　though；　I　think。〃　

〃Don't　go　away；　then；〃　I　responded；　unable　to　hide　the　longing　in　my　
voice。　

〃That　suits　me；〃　he　replied；　his　face　relaxing　into　a　gentle　smile。　
〃Bring　on　the　shackles　—　I'm　your　prisoner。〃　But　his　long　hands　formed　
manacles　around　my　wrists　as　he　spoke。　He　laughed　his　quiet；　musical　
laugh。　He'd　laughed　more　tonight　than　I'd　ever　heard　in　all　the　time　I'd　
spent　with　him。　

〃You　seem　more…　optimistic　than　usual；〃　I　observed。　〃I　haven't　seen　you　
like　this　before。〃　

〃Isn't　it　supposed　to　be　like　this？〃　He