A Matter of Taste

On Friday evening, I decided to take a shower for no real reason, and Edward was cleaning up the aftermath of dinner anyway(he insisted), so it seemed the perfect thing to do. It was very, very nice. I had to hurry, though, because Edward couldn't stand waiting for more than fifteen minutes—once, I went on for more than that and…well, I try to take quick showers, now-a-days. After I finished, I got dressed. I was walking into the bedroom, still toweling my hair, when I was seized from behind by a pair of familiar arms.

"Mmm," Edward moaned in ecstasy as he nuzzled my neck. "You are quite possibly the most scrumscious woman I have ever tasted," he purred playfully.

I giggled, and said sternly," And I'd better be the only woman, too, or you're in big trouble."

He chuckled, but then asked worriedly, "Oh, dear, do relatives count?"

My eyes widened in surprise, and I was too caught off guard to really think about what he had said.

"Umm...no, I guess not, even though that sounds a little wrong...and gross..."

Edward sighed with amplified relief, "Oh, good, because your great-great grandmother--"

"Edward!"

"--was delicious."

"Eww! Do you have any idea how--how completely--disturbing that is?!" I spluttered.

Edward just continued with his fit of hysterics, and after a while I couldn't help laughing with him.

I pushed at him teasingly and shook my head, saying, "You are so weird."

"Why, Bella, just because I happen to have a 'thing' for older women--"

"Akh! Stop!"

After further teasing, we finally calmed down, and Edward pulled me close, his face glowing with unconcealed affection.

"I love you," he told me.

"I love you, too," was my automatic yet heart-felt response.

Then he leaned in, anticipating a kiss, no doubt. Ha!

"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute!" I exclaimed. "You just told me that you atemy great-great grandmother, and now you expect me to kiss you? I don't think so, mister!"

He sighed with exaggerated patience.

"I never said that I ate her, Bella, only that I tasted her. That's quite a remarkable difference, I should think."

I thought for a moment.

"That's still a bit unnerving. I should think."

Edward brought his lips to my ear, and said in a silky voice, "Well, then, suppose I told you that you taste better?"

I bit my lip, trying to control the shivers that ran rebelliously down my spine.

"Suppose that you did." I waited. "What else might you say?" I finally asked.

"Well..."

Edward began kissing my neck in an obnoxiously delicate way that was certain to drive me insane.

"Perhaps I would then tell you that everyone else is disgustingly bland in comparison."

"Hmm..." I was almost totally caught in his spell, but still I resisted.

Once he determined that this method wasn't achieving what he had hoped as quickly as he wanted, Edward desisted his tortuous treatment, and tried to catch my gaze. I tried valiantly to keep from meeting it.

"Bella, why won't you look at me?" he asked piteously.

As if he didn't know!

"Because,as soon as I do, I won't remember what I was thi--well, I won't remember anything, actually."

He thought that was very funny, of course, and I scowled. Then he took hold of my chin, attempting to force me to look at him, so I promptly closed my eyes, tightly.

Edward chuckled.

"Honestly, Bella, why try? You're going to open your eyes sooner or later, and even if you don't..." I could sense that his face was now mere inches from mine, and his cool, sweet breath assaulted my pathetically susceptible senses.

Cheater.

I felt my own face crumple in consternation and indecision: to give in, or not to give in?That is the question. Already, though, the only thing that kept me breathing was the overwhelming desire to take in his intoxicating scent, which was currently washing over me in thick, concentrated waves. If I didn't act quickly, any reserves of willpower I had left to me would flee the country, never to be seen or heard from again.

...So I took the offensive.

I opened my eyes to look into Edward's teasing but hungry ones. Then, before he could react, I threw myself into an impassioned kiss, which caught him completely by surprise and made me deliriously pleased with myself.

Edward recovered speedily and began kissing me back, pulling me towards the--

"--Mm!Edward," I mumbled around his eager kisses. "Edward, I just--got--dressed!"

He paused a moment and looked at me quizzically.

"Bella, do you really care that much?"

I considred briefly, then grinned and pulled myself closer.

"No."

He smiled crookedly before--well, you get the idea.

A/N: Sorry, I know that that wasn't very long, but I'll try to update soon, promise! However, I always update more quickly when motivated by reviews! Also, if any of you have suggestions, I'd love to hear them!