Chapter 1 : For the love of .....

"Don't" I urged as Edward gently pulled away from my lips. I clung to his shoulders in my futile attempt to hold him in place- as if I would ever win that battle. He smiled the crooked smile that melted my heart every time and left my knees a soggy puddle.

"Careful, love." He spoke quietly in the dark placing his long index finger over the frown that had already formed on my lips. "I'm not made of stone you know." I cocked my eyebrow wryly and he chuckled at my silent accusation. "Okay so maybe I am, but that doesn't mean we should push my limits any more than we already have." His voice was still velvet but his face had taken on a stern edge that I didn't particularly like. I wriggled my body awkwardly toward his cold figure not ready to give in to his rationality.

"What about my limits" I squeaked. "I swear that I'm going to implode or something!" I struggled with the blanket I was currently cocooned in, in my best efforts to sit up straight. Edward sighed and gently caught one of my flailing arms, pulling me carefully up and towards his side.

"Bella," he spoke as he turned his gaze on me. Suddenly I realized that sitting up was a bad idea, a very, very bad idea. I felt my resolve melt away before he even spoke. "How many times have we been over this? Can't you comprehend what it would do to me if I ever hurt you?" He waited silently for me to respond all the while hypnotizing me with his topaz eyes- that were darker than they should be - and tracing his fingers over my jaw bone. I shuddered from his touch and he pulled the discarded blanked back around my body instinctively.

"Fine", sighed heavily, dropping my gaze to the purple comforter I was swaddled in.

"Please don't be upset love; it's only for the best." His patronizing tone did little to ebb my crankiness but I simply nodded and sighed in response, laying my head on his cold shoulder as he sang the lullaby that never failed to coax me into the dream world.