Сумерки

           Therewasahollowringingsoundinmyears.

           "Iguessthatwasn’tthebestidea,"hemused.

           Itriedtobepositive,butmyvoicewasweak."No,itwasveryinteresting."

           "Hah!You’reaswhiteasaghost-no,you’reaswhiteasme!"

           "IthinkIshouldhaveclosedmyeyes."

           "Rememberthatnexttime."

           "Nexttime!"Igroaned.

           Helaughed,hismoodstillradiant.

           "Show-off,"Imuttered.

           "Openyoureyes,Bella,"hesaidquietly.

           Andhewasrightthere,hisfacesoclosetomine.Hisbeautystunnedmymind-itwastoomuch,anexcessIcouldn’tgrowaccustomedto.

           "Iwasthinking,whileIwasrunning..."Hepaused.

           "Aboutnothittingthetrees,Ihope."

           "SillyBella,"hechuckled."Runningissecondnaturetome,it’snotsomethingIhavetothinkabout."

           "Show-off,"Imutteredagain.

           Hesmiled.

           "No,"hecontinued,"IwasthinkingtherewassomethingIwantedtotry."Andhetookmyfaceinhishandsagain.

           Icouldn’tbreathe.

           Hehesitated-notinthenormalway,thehumanway.

           Notthewayamanmighthesitatebeforehekissedawoman,togaugeherreaction,toseehowhewouldbereceived.Perhapshewouldhesitatetoprolongthemoment,thatidealmomentofanticipation,sometimesbetterthanthekissitself.

           Edwardhesitatedtotesthimself,toseeifthiswassafe,tomakesurehewasstillincontrolofhisneed.

           Andthenhiscold,marblelipspressedverysoftlyagainstmine.

           Whatneitherofuswaspreparedforwasmyresponse.

           Bloodboiledundermyskin,burnedinmylips.Mybreathcameinawildgasp.Myfingersknottedinhishair,clutchinghimtome.