A Continuation of New Moon: Chapter II
"That was brilliant!" Edward laughed joyously as he spoke. I shushed him immediately, clamping a hand firmly over his mouth. As much as I loved his beautiful, bell-like laughter, it wasn't the best idea for him to be too loud right now, seeing as we were sitting on my bed and Charlie probably had his ear pressed up against the door (I had surreptitiously locked it while Edward wasn't looking, to give us more privacy) to make sure we weren't "doing" anything.
"Hush!" I hissed. "Charlie!" I felt the corners of Edward's mouth turn up as e grinned, his marble hands relocating mine from his lips to his cheek and pressing my palm against his icy skin, drinking in the scent at my wrist.
"Oh, please, Bella," he said, louder than I wished. Seeing my pained expression, he shook his head patronisingly and lowered his voice slightly. "What's the worst he could do?"
Famous last words.
"Well, uh," I replied sarcastically, rolling my eyes. "He could...hmm, let's see... lock me up for the rest of my life? Or the opposite, kick me out? Or maybe murder me?"
"Do you honestly think that I would let Charlie do anything that could hurt you?" Edward's eyes, though still sparkling with amusement, thinly veiled real concern. I smiled slightly, and trailed my hand down his face, dislodging his hand so that it dropped to his side, coming to rest forlornly on the bed. I took it and squeezed, then smiled sheepishly.
"Well... no, I guess not," I relented. He looked relieved, happiness taking over his face once more as he returned my squeeze gently. After a moment, his smile faded and he stared intently at my face. My brow furrowed in confusion, and my favourite crooked smile flashed, too quickly, across his face. It disappeared as he answered my unspoken question.
"I was wondering... did you really mean what you said to Charlie?" He waited. I looked at him blankly, blinking twice, still confused. He elaborated. "I mean, do you truly intend to marry me?" His face was pleading, longing, his voice pained. My jaw dropped. He chuckled slightly, still hopeful. I shook my head slowly, disbelief clear in my face.
"I just accepted your proposal and you think I was lying to stall for Charlie?!" I squeaked out, trying futilely to keep my voice to a whisper. It came out sounding like a half-strangled cat. The crooked smile leapt to Edward's face again, staying there this time, and he folded me gently into his iron arms. I pressed my face against his stone chest, greedily drinking in his heavenly scent.
After a long moment, he pulled away abruptly. I blinked, dazed as always by his sudden change of mood. His face, mere inches from mine, was playful, teasing.
"Well, since you've finally decided..." His voice trailed off as he stepped sinuously onto the floor. He grinned up at me, lunatic-like, as he sank down on one knee. My mouth dropped open again. What was he doing? Surely not... again... could he be?
"Will you marry me?" he asked formally, amused at my reaction. I forced my gaping mouth shut, barely missing severing my tongue in the process. I shook my head to clear it; his charm was overwhelming. Why did he have to be so irresistible? So I grinned and leaped on him, throwing my arms around his neck and burying my face in his icy shoulder once more. Surprised, he held me cautiously for a second, and for a brief moment I was suddenly afraid I had pushed him too far, and my body stiffened in fear—but then he chuckled and pulled me close, grabbing my hand and sliding a stunning silver band on my left ring finger. It was simple yet elegant, designed with a filigree of extraordinarily realistic roses. I stared at it for a moment, then at Edward. He laughed again, then took my face in his hands and kissed me in earnest, his marble lips moving against mine. I leaned into the kiss with a little too much enthusiasm, and Edward pulled away, both of us breathing faster than usual.
"I'll take that as a yes," he said, grinning, every one of his perfectly white teeth glimmering in the fluorescent light of my bedroom. In response, I merely leaped on him again. He wrapped his arms around me and pressed his face into my hair in a surprisingly human gesture. It felt so... right, like I was supposed to be here, right now, in his arms. I felt an overwhelming sense of belonging, and I sighed with contentment, wondering vaguely if he could be as unwilling to move as I.
An unfathomably short minute later, Edward's spine stiffened, and he shifted me to a more conventional position at his side. Startled, I glanced up at him. He smiled down at me slightly, but his eyes revealed that his mind was somewhere else. Suddenly, I understood.
"Charlie?" I whispered. He nodded curtly. I tensed, readying myself for whatever could be coming. Then I relaxed, smiling, as I realised he had overlooked one important fact.
"Edward," I whispered, "the door is locked." He looked down at me, then grinned. I chuckled softly as he returned me to his lap, then leaned my head against his chest, tucking it underneath his chin. I listened to the contrast between the loud clomp of Charlie's steps on the stairs and Edward's soft, slow breathing.
"Hey!" Charlie yelled from outside my room, banging a fist on the closed door. "I need Bella for a sec, can I come in?" Rather than sounding angry, as I had assumed he would, he sounded... well, like Charlie. I sighed, then shouted to him that I would be there in a minute, then lifted my face from Edward's chest, looking up at his seraphic features. He smiled down at me, softly, and pulled me to my feet so quickly that I overbalanced and fell forward. He caught me before I could get hurt, then lifted me in his muscular arms, cradling me against his chest.
"Sorry," he whispered, face apologetic, as he walked—still carrying me—to the door. I smiled at him as he gently placed me on my feet, steadying me with a hand upon my back between my shoulder blades.
I could hear Charlie tapping his foot outside, so I opened the door, raising my eyebrows at my father. He looked at Edward, then back at me. I waited.
"Right," he said. "There are a few things I wanted to remind you about. First, you're still grounded—" he sighed good-naturedly as I started to protest. "BUT you can, of course, go to Edward's place. And school. And work. But nowhere else." I smiled.
"You said a few things?"
"Yeah. Also, you have to tell Reneé."