Chapter 1
Caught off Guard
BPOV
As I stepped out of the shower, the cool tiles against my feet sent a shiver up my spine. The coldness of Forks was not something I could ever get used to, and definitely not something I was going to miss. I grabbed my towel from the counter and loosely wrapped it around my body. I took a comb and quickly pulled it through my hair. If I didn't hurry, Edward and I were going to be late for school for the third time this week. It wasn't my fault that on foggy mornings like this all I wanted to do was stay in bed and get lost in his longing gaze. He never seized to dazzle me, even if he wasn't trying. When I finished combing my hair, I realized I hadn't picked out clothes before my shower. Leave it to Edward to put me in such a stupor. I sighed, secured my towel around my body, and left the bathroom. I headed down the hall and into my room where I saw my statuesque love sitting on my bed reading.
Not looking up from his book, he chuckled and said, "Alice texted me to tell you that with the current weather it would be a crime if you didn't wear the blue sweater she got you last week."
I smiled, and decided to humor her. I quickly turned around from my dresser, and tripped over my tangled feet. I spun, falling downwards and immediately felt cold hands crash into me, catching me from my fall. His hands were on my hips, holding me almost parallel to the floor, my hands gripped tightly around his neck. He was freezing! I thought I'd grown accustomed to his cool touch, but he was absolutely icy, causing me to shiver from the contact with my skin. My skin. I gasped as I looked down at my naked body, and my pink towel on the floor next to me. Mortified, I blushed fiercely and very slowly peered up at Edward. When I found his face, I stopped breathing. His eyes were smoldering, with an intense mixture of fear and passion. He did not meet my gaze, but was instead feasting on my naked form. If I could have blushed any harder, I would have. His eyes traveled up and down, stopping at my most intimate areas. My body responded in such alien ways, heating and melting against my will.
My involuntary intake of air startled me. I had forgotten to breathe. It was only then that I realized that Edward's breathing was even more ragged than mine, his chest heaving up and down. I looked up at his face and was startled by what I saw. Never before had I seen such a look on Edward's face. I tried to memorize his expression with every cell in my body. The complete carnal lust that consumed him was so familiar. It was a look that I myself had almost every time he touched me. But yet it was so foreign on Edward's chiseled face; his eyes wild, jaw tense, lips wet and slightly parted. I felt a sharp pain and I looked down to see that Edward was still clutching me. Gripping my hips tightly, painfully. But I had no desire for him to stop. I savored the feeling of his hands on my body. I let my eyes trace his form. Going down from his broad shoulders and perfect abs that were visible through his t-shirt. And then, I saw it; the huge bulge threatening to burst through his slacks. My eyes widened, and I licked my lips at the sight. I looked up and our eyes locked. His expression was unreadable. The lust was still there, but it was mixed with a twinge of pain. My gaze flickered back and forth between his eyes and bulge. When I looked back at his face, I instantly recognized his look as one of utter embarrassment. He turned his head away from me, and slowly lowered my body to the ground so I was sitting. My arms remained around his neck, and he gently removed them, placing them in my lap. He got up, turned around, and escaped out of my window in complete silence.
So there I was, on the ground, naked, and alone. Great. I got up and got dressed as quickly as I could. I matched the blue sweater with a grey skirt and some navy blue knitted tights. I looked in the mirror and groaned. The sweater was very low cut, and the skirt was pretty short. Oh well. I didn't have time to change. I ran down stairs, grabbed my bag, and opened the front door. Edward's car was gone. Had he really left? My mind couldn't even begin to process this. I stomped over to my truck and started it in complete shock. Why would Edward leave? The situation was embarrassing for both of us, but enough for him to just drive away? I wasn't even paying attention to the road. All of the sudden, I was at school. I parked my car in the last spot available and rushed to class. As the bell rang I plopped down in my seat, and glanced at the desk to my right. Edward's desk. Empty. Maybe he had gone hunting. Sometimes when I get a little too eager when we kiss, he leaves the next day for a "much needed" hunt.
I decided to text Alice. I wouldn't be too obvious, and tried to keep my mind elsewhere as to not make any telltale decisions. I was mortified, and I didn't want anyone else to know. Just when I reached in my bag to grab my phone, it buzzed. I looked at the screen. He's at home. Don't Worry. We'll talk at lunch. ~Alice. I sighed. There was no use in being upset. She was going to find out anyway. I responded a simple okay and sunk down in my seat. Edward was obviously angry with me. He had every right to be. It was dangerous for me to come in my room in only a towel. I have to remember how fragile he is, how tempted. It's just hard for me to accept that fact that he desires me at all. He's so flawless. With his sculpted body, crimson hair, and those deep, wild eyes. My body began to feel hot, and I closed my eyes, licking my lips at the vision…
EPOV:
I looked at my watch. Bella had fifteen minutes to get ready, and I honestly doubted she would make it. We'd be late again, and Mrs. Sharp would reprimand us with her usual "Maybe your private life is interfering with your education" speech. This always made me laugh considering I knew more about Biology than Mrs. Sharp could even attempt to teach. I tried to concentrate on my book, a new vampire novel that Emmett insisted I read. He loves anything having to do with society's view on vampires. I usually reject anything he recommends, but Emmitt said this is the most realistic story he's ever read. I was beginning to doubt Emmitt's perception of reality, considering that fact that by chapter three the main character had already slept with seven different women. I heard the shower turn off, and timid footsteps on the floor. I chuckled to myself at Bella's hate for the cold. You'd think that her vampire boyfriend would have helped her get over that.
My phone buzzed. I lazily reached in my pocket and flipped it open. Where are you guys? Have you left yet? If not, tell Bells that it would be a complete tragedy if she didn't wear the blue sweater I got her. The foggy weather begs for a deep navy on that skin of hers! ~Alice. I smiled. Alice loved Bella so much. It was such a wonderful gift that my family loved Bella as much as I did. Well, at least the majority of my family. Rose would come around.
I continued reading about Jeff Night, Vampire extraordinaire, when I heard Bella come in. I didn't look up, but simply laughed and said "Alice texted me to tell you that with the current weather it would be a crime if you didn't wear the blue sweater she got you last week." I heard her close her dresser drawer, and stumble. Within half a second I was across the room, catching her to break her fall. I held her hips and looked at her face intently to assess any damage from the fall. She seemed okay, and I sighed in relief as she brought her hands up to wrap around my neck. Her bare arms were so warm and soft. Her bare arms. Her bare everything. My jaw dropped as I realized I was holding totally nude Bella. I couldn't help but drink up the sight. My mind screamed heresy. This was so improper, so uncouth. But I couldn't help myself. Every fiber in my being wanted to touch her, smell her, lick her, taste her. It was taking so much control not to hold her down and claim her as my own in every possible way. My body twitched under the strain of denying its wishes. My breathing was complexly erratic, and I felt a peculiar tightness in my stomach. We locked eyes. She looked like she was in shock, in complete awe of my behavior. Then her eyes flitted downward and grew huge. I followed her line of sight down to my stomach, and then lower. My eyes gaped like her own when I saw what she was staring at. Pressing against my slacks was my now throbbing…member. Mortified, I turned away from Bella. I couldn't bear for her to see me like this. I had to get out. I set her down gently on the ground. Removed her warm, silky arms from my neck, and escaped through the window.