Сумерки

           "Whatasick,masochisticlion."Hestaredintotheshadowyforestforalongmoment,andIwonderedwherehisthoughtshadtakenhim.

           "Why...?"Ibegan,andthenpaused,notsurehowtocontinue.

           Helookedatmeandsmiled;sunlightglintedoffhisface,histeeth.

           "Yes?"

           "Tellmewhyyouranfrommebefore."

           Hissmilefaded."Youknowwhy."

           "No,Imean,exactlywhatdidIdowrong?I’llhavetobeonmyguard,yousee,soIbetterstartlearningwhatIshouldn’tdo.This,forexample"-Istrokedthebackofhishand-"seemstobeallright."

           Hesmiledagain."Youdidn’tdoanythingwrong,Bella.Itwasmyfault."

           "ButIwanttohelp,ifIcan,tonotmakethisharderforyou."

           "Well..."Hecontemplatedforamoment."Itwasjusthowcloseyouwere.Mosthumansinstinctivelyshyawayfromus,arerepelledbyouralienness...Iwasn’texpectingyoutocomesoclose.Andthesmellofyourthroat."Hestoppedshort,lookingtoseeifhe’dupsetme.

           "Okay,then,"Isaidflippantly,tryingtoalleviatethesuddenlytenseatmosphere.Ituckedmychin."Nothroatexposure."

           Itworked;helaughed."No,really,itwasmorethesurprisethananythingelse."

           Heraisedhisfreehandandplaceditgentlyonthesideofmyneck.Isatverystill,thechillofhistouchanaturalwarning-awarningtellingmetobeterrified.Buttherewasnofeelingoffearinme.Therewere,however,otherfeelings...

           "Yousee,"hesaid."Perfectlyfine."