1 twilight暮色- 第39部分

It　worked；　he　laughed。　〃No；　really；　it　was　more　the　surprise　than　
anything　else。〃　

He　raised　his　free　hand　and　placed　it　gently　on　the　side　of　my　neck。　I　
sat　very　still；　the　chill　of　his　touch　a　natural　warning　—　a　warning　
telling　me　to　be　terrified。　But　there　was　no　feeling　of　fear　in　me。　There　
were；　however；　other　feelings…　

〃You　see；〃　he　said。　〃Perfectly　fine。〃　

My　blood　was　racing；　and　I　wished　I　could　slow　it；　sensing　that　this　must　
make　everything　so　much　more　difficult　—　the　thudding　of　my　pulse　in　my　
veins。　Surely　he　could　hear　it。　

〃The　blush　on　your　cheeks　is　lovely；〃　he　murmured。　He　gently　freed　his　
other　hand。　My　hands　fell　limply　into　my　lap。　Softly　he　brushed　my　cheek；　
then　held　my　face　between　his　marble　hands。　

〃Be　very　still；〃　he　whispered；　as　if　I　wasn't　already　frozen。　

Slowly；　never　moving　his　eyes　from　mine；　he　leaned　toward　me。　Then　
abruptly；　but　very　gently；　he　rested　his　cold　cheek　against　the　hollow　at　
the　base　of　my　throat。　I　was　quite　unable　to　move；　even　if　I'd　wanted　to。　

I　listened　to　the　sound　of　his　even　breathing；　watching　the　sun　and　wind　
play　in　his　bronze　hair；　more　human　than　any　other　part　of　him。　

With　deliberate　slowness；　his　hands　slid　down　the　sides　of　my　neck。　I　
shivered；　and　I　heard　him　catch　his　breath。　But　his　hands　didn't　pause　as　
they　softly　moved　to　my　shoulders；　and　then　stopped。　

His　face　drifted　to　the　side；　his　nose　skimming　across　my　collarbone。　He　
came　to　rest　with　the　side　of　his　face　pressed　tenderly　against　my　chest。　

Listening　to　my　heart。　

〃Ah；〃　he　sighed。　

I　don't　know　how　long　we　sat　without　moving。　It　could　have　been　hours。　
Eventually　the　throb　of　my　pulse　quieted；　but　he　didn't　move　or　speak　
again　as　he　held　me。　I　knew　at　any　moment　it　could　be　too　much；　and　my　
life　could　end　—　so　quickly　that　I　might　not　even　notice。　And　I　couldn't　
make　myself　be　afraid。　I　couldn't　think　of　anything；　except　that　he　was　
touching　me。　

And　then；　too　soon；　he　released　me。　

His　eyes　were　peaceful。　

〃It　won't　be　so　hard　again；〃　he　said　with　satisfaction。　

〃Was　that　very　hard　for　you？〃　

〃Not　nearly　as　bad　as　I　imagined　it　would　be。　And　you？〃　

〃No；　it　wasn't　bad…　for　me。〃　

He　smiled　at　my　inflection。　〃You　know　what　I　mean。〃　

I　smiled。　

〃Here。〃　He　took　my　hand　and　placed　it　against　his　cheek。　〃Do　you　feel　how　
warm　it　is？〃　

And　it　was　almost　warm；　his　usually　icy　skin。　But　I　barely　noticed；　for　I　
was　touching　his　face；　something　I'd　dreamed　of　constantly　since　the　
first　day　I'd　seen　him。　

〃Don't　move；〃　I　whispered。　

No　one　could　be　still　like　Edward。　He　closed　his　eyes　and　became　as　
immobile　as　stone；　a　carving　under　my　hand。　

I　moved　even　more　slowly　than　he　had；　careful　not　to　make　one　unexpected　
move。　I　caressed　his　cheek；　delicately　stroked　his　eyelid；　the　purple　
shadow　in　the　hollow　under　his　eye。　I　traced　the　shape　of　his　perfect　
nose；　and　then；　so　carefully；　his　flawless　lips。　His　lips　parted　under　my　
hand；　and　I　could　feel　his　cool　breath　on　my　fingertips。　I　wanted　to　lean　
in；　to　inhale　the　scent　of　him。　So　I　dropped　my　hand　and　leaned　away；　not　
wanting　to　push　him　too　far。　

He　opened　his　eyes；　and　they　were　hungry。　Not　in　a　way　to　make　me　fear；　
but　rather　to　tighten　the　muscles　in　the　pit　of　my　stomach　and　send　my　
pulse　hammering　through　my　veins　again。　

〃I　wish；〃　he　whispered；　〃I　wish　you　could　feel　the…　plexity…　the　
confusion…　I　feel。　That　you　could　understand。〃　

He　raised　his　hand　to　my　hair；　then　carefully　brushed　it　across　my　face。　

〃Tell　me；〃　I　breathed。　

〃I　don't　think　I　can。　I've　told　you；　on　the　one　hand；　the　hunger　—　the　
thirst　—　that；　deplorable　creature　that　I　am；　I　feel　for　you。　And　I　think　
you　can　understand　that；　to　an　extent。　Though〃　—　he　halfsmiled　—　〃as　you　
are　not　addicted　to　any　illegal　substances；　you　probably　can't　empathize　

pletely。　

〃But…〃　His　fingers　touched　my　lips　lightly；　making　me　shiver　again。　
〃There　are　other　hungers。　Hungers　I　don't　even　understand；　that　are　
foreign　to　me。〃　

〃I　may　understand　that　better　than　you　think。〃　

〃I'm　not　used　to　feeling　so　human。　Is　it　always　like　this？〃　

〃For　me？〃　I　paused。　〃No；　never。　Never　before　this。〃　

He　held　my　hands　between　his。　They　felt　so　feeble　in　his　iron　strength。　

〃I　don't　know　how　to　be　close　to　you；〃　he　admitted。　〃I　don't　know　if　I　
can。〃　

I　leaned　forward　very　slowly；　cautioning　him　with　my　eyes。　I　placed　my　
cheek　against　his　stone　chest。　I　could　hear　his　breath；　and　nothing　else。　

〃This　is　enough；〃　I　sighed；　closing　my　eyes。　

In　a　very　human　gesture；　he　put　his　arms　around　me　and　pressed　his　face　
against　my　hair。　

〃You're　better　at　this　than　you　give　yourself　credit　for；〃　I　noted。　

〃I　have　human　instincts　—　they　may　be　buried　deep；　but　they're　there。〃　

We　sat　like　that　for　another　immeasurable　moment；　I　wondered　if　he　could　
be　as　unwilling　to　move　as　I　was。　But　I　could　see　the　light　was　fading；　
the　shadows　of　the　forest　beginning　to　touch　us；　and　I　sighed。　

〃You　have　to　go。〃　

〃I　thought　you　couldn't　read　my　mind。〃　

〃It's　getting　clearer。〃　I　could　hear　a　smile　in　his　voice。　

He　took　my　shoulders　and　I　looked　into　his　face。　

〃Can　I　show　you　something？〃　he　asked；　sudden　excitement　flaring　in　his　
eyes。　

〃Show　me　what？〃　

〃I'll　show　you　how　I　travel　in　the　forest。〃　He　saw　my　expression。　〃Don't　
worry；　you'll　be　very　safe；　and　we'll　get　to　your　truck　much　faster。〃　His　
mouth　twitched　up　into　that　crooked　smile　so　beautiful　my　heart　nearly　
stopped。　

〃Will　you　turn　into　a　bat？〃　I　asked　warily。　

He　laughed；　louder　than　I'd　ever　heard。　〃Like　I　haven't　heard　that　one　
before！〃　

〃Right；　I'm　sure　you　get　that　all　the　time。〃　

〃e　on；　little　coward；　climb　on　my　back。〃　

I　waited　to　see　if　he　was　kidding；　but；　apparently；　he　meant　it。　He　
smiled　as　he　read　my　hesitation；　and　reached　for　me。　My　heart　reacted；　
even　though　he　couldn't　hear　my　thoughts；　my　pulse　always　gave　me　away。　
He　then　proceeded　to　sling　me　onto　his　back；　with　very　little　effort　on　
my　part；　besides；　when　in　place；　clamping　my　legs　and　arms　so　tightly　
around　him　that　it　would　choke　a　normal　person。　It　was　like　clinging　to　a　
stone。　

〃I'm　a　bit　heavier　than　your　average　backpack；〃　I　warned。　

〃Hah！〃　he　snorted。　I　could　almost　hear　his　eyes　rolling。　I'd　never　seen　
him　in　such　high　spirits　before。　

He　startled　me；　suddenly　grabbing　my　hand；　pressing　my　palm　to　his　face；　
and　inhaling　deeply。　

〃Easier　all　the　time；〃　he　muttered。　

And　then　he　was　running。　

If　I'd　ever　feared　death　before　in　his　presence；　it　was　nothing　pared　
to　how　I　felt　now。　

He　streaked　through　the　dark；　thick　underbrush　of　the　forest　like　a　
bullet；　like　a　ghost。　There　was　no　sound；　no　evidence　that　his　feet　
touched　the　earth。　His　breathing　never　changed；　never　indicated　any　
effort。　But　the　trees　flew　by　at　deadly　speeds；　always　missing　us　by　
inches。　

I　was　too　terrified　to　close　my　eyes；　though　the　cool　forest　air　whipped　
against　my　face　and　burned　them。　I　felt　as　if　I　were　stupidly　sticking　my　
head　out　the　window　of　an　airplane　in　flight。　And；　for　the　first　time　in　
my　life；　I　felt　the　dizzy　faintness　of　motion　sickness。　

Then　it　was　over。　We'd　hiked　hours　this　morning　to　reach　Edward's　meadow；　
and　now；　in　a　matter　of　minutes；　we　were　back　to　the　truck。　

〃Exhilarating；　isn't　it？〃　His　voice　was　high；　excited。　

He　stood　motionless；　waiting　for　me　to　climb　down。　I　tried；　but　my　
muscles　wouldn't　respond。　My　arms　and　legs　stayed　locked　around　him　while　
my　head　spun　unfortably。　

〃Bella？〃　he　asked；　anxious　now。　

〃I　think　I　need　to　lie　down；〃　I　gasped。　

〃Oh；　sorry。〃　He　waited　for　me；　but　I　still　couldn't　move。　

〃I　think　I　need　help；〃　I　admitted。　

He　laughed　quietly；　and　gently　unloosened　my　stranglehold　on　his　neck。　
There　was　no　resisting　the　iron　strength　of　his　hands。　Then　he　pulled　me　
around　to　face　him；　cradling　me　in　his　arms　like　a　small　child。　He　held　
me　for　a　moment；　then　carefully　placed　me　on　the　springy　ferns。　

〃How　do　you　feel？〃　he　asked。　

I　couldn't　be　sure　how　I　felt　when　my　head　was　spinning　so　crazily。　
〃Dizzy；　I　think。〃　

〃Put　your　head　between　your　knees。〃　

I　tried　that；　and　it　helped　a　little。　I　breathed　in　and　out　slowly；　
keeping　my　head　very　still。　I　felt　him　sitting　beside　me。　The　moments　
passed；　and　eventually　I　found　that　I　could　raise　my　head。　There　was　a　
hollow　ringing　sound　in　my　ears。　

〃I　guess　that　wasn't　the　best　idea；〃　he　mused。　

I　tried　to　be　positive；　but　my　voice　was　weak。　〃No；　it　was　very　
interesting。〃　

〃Hah！　You're　as　white　as　a　ghost　—　no；　you're　as　white　as　me！〃　

〃I　think　I　should　have　closed　my　eyes。〃　

〃Remember　that　next　time。〃　

〃Next　time！〃　I　groaned。　

He　laughed；　his　mood　still　radiant。　

〃Showoff；〃　I　muttered。　

〃Open　your　eyes；　Bella；〃　he　said　quietly。　

And　he　was　right　there；　his　face　so　close　to　mine。　His　beauty　stunned　my　
mind　—　it　was　too　much；　an　excess　I　couldn't　grow　accustomed　to。　

〃I　was　thinking；　while　I　was　running…〃　He　paused。　

〃About　not　hitting　the　trees；　I　hope。〃　

〃Silly　Bella；〃　he　chuckled。　〃Running　is　second　nature　to　me；　it's　not　
something　I　have　to　think　about。〃　

〃Showoff；〃　I　muttered　again。　

He　smiled。　

〃No；〃　he　continued；　〃I　was　thinking　there　was　something　I　wanted　to　try。〃　
And　he　took　my　face　in　his　hands　again。　

I　couldn't　breathe。　

He　hesitated　—　not　in　the　normal　way；　the　human　way。　

Not　the　way　a　man　might　hesitate　before　he　kissed　a　woman；　to　gauge　her　
reaction；　to　see　how　he　would　be　received。　Perhaps　he　would　hesitate　to　
prolong　the　moment；　that　ideal　moment　of　anticipation；　sometimes　better　
than　the　kiss　itself。　

Edward　hesitated　to　test　himself；　to　see　if　this　was　safe；　to　make　sure　
he　was　still　in　control　of　his　need。　

And　then　his　cold；　marble　lips　pressed　very　softly　against　mine。　

What　neither　of　us　was　prepared　for　was　my　response。　

Blood　boiled　under　my　skin；　burned　in　my　lips。　My　breath　came　in　a　wild　
gasp。　My　fingers　knotted　in　his　hair；　clutching　him　to　me。　My　lips　parted　
as　I　breathed　in　his　heady　scent。　

Immediately　I　felt　him　turn　to　unresponsive　stone　beneath