Bella – The Beginning of a Wonderful Night
I was numb in happiness as Edward picked me up in his arms and rushed me through the forest. Trees whipped by, mere smudges of green. I reclined against the cold, marble arms and pressed my cheek against his chest. Edward breathed into my hair, kissing the top of my head. Through the trees, I saw a glimmer of blue. I felt my breath catch in my throat. Edward set me down on my feet, making sure that I didn't fall over. We stood by a lake that glimmered in the sun. The lake was as clear as a diamond, and fish swam in its serenely in its waters. I sighed blissfully, staring out at the beautiful scene unfolding before me. The trees were beautiful in their shades of green, and birds flitted from branch to branch.
Edward pulled me toward a small path leading to the right of the lake. His cool touch helped me break free of the trance that held me, and I quickly followed – or as quickly as I could without breaking something in my stiletto heels. He brought me into the cool shade of the trees, clasping my hand in his iron hold. We walked for a while, with no words passing between us. I could feel Edward's eyes on my face, gauging my expression. The blood rushed hot to my cheeks, and I could feel my blush spread on my cheeks. And, as I am me, I stumbled on the perfectly flat ground and tumbled toward the dirt path. Edward caught me with his marble arms, hugging me to his chest. I blushed harder.
"You look beautiful when you blush." Edward said with a smile, his velvety voice flowing as calmly as the water. We continued I little while until we reached a small wooden bridge that crossed a small stream. Edward let me up until we reached the top. I stood, leaning on the rail, looking out at the water. The lake could just barely be seen around the bend. Dragonflies flitted atop the water, their wings clear and transparent.
"Do you like it?" Edward breathed on my neck, shattering my concentration and making me blush once more. He kissed slowly up my arm. My heart pounded in my ears.
"I love it. It's beautiful." I sighed. "Beautiful and perfect just like you."
Edward smiled at hearing my heart leap out of my chest. He continued to kiss me – up my collarbone, in the hollow of my neck. His touch was as soft as gossamer, and as light as a feather on the wind. My breathing became ragged. Edward stopped at the corner of my mouth, whispering, "I love you, Bella."
His breath swirled around me, making me nearly faint. He chuckled and moved away, letting me recover. We continued on our way through the forest until we reached a small blanket spread out on the ground underneath a great oak. Edward reached into the basket that was set on the corner of the blanket and brought out a sandwich.
"Is this it? Edward Cullen, 100 year-old vampire, perfect at everything, can only make sandwiches? What happened?"
Edward hung his head, grimacing. "I know, I know."
I laughed, taking the sandwich from his hand. I unwrapped it and took a large bite. I grimaced too.
"That bad, huh?"
"No. I just thought that finally, I did something better than you, and you immediately prove me wrong. This the best sandwich that I have ever tasted."
It really was good. He made it perfect. I wondered for a minute if he was this good at making Fettuccini Alfredo too, before he gave an amused laugh.
"It's amazing I can cook well – I can't eat my own creations. A wonderful cook who can't taste is a bit of an oxymoron."
I laughed too. Edward knelt down behind me, using one hand to anchor me to him with the other running through my hair. I turned to face him. His eyes were bright and delighted, and I could tell he had something planned.
"Whatever you've got coming for me, I'm not going to like it. You know I don't like surprises. I'm always clumsy enough to ruin it."
Edward sighed, and I suddenly found myself sitting on his lap. "You never ruin anything. You just make it a whole lot funnier." He grinned, an amused look on his face.
"I can't argue with that."
He brushed his lips back and forth across my neck, distracting me from my food. My lips trembled and my spine stiffened. Edward chuckled at my discomfort, then backed away. I finished my sandwich and we got up.
"There's still a ways to go. Come, the surprise is still to come."
I looked at him with pained eyes. He simply smirked and pulled me further.
After a ways, we reached a bend in the path.
"We're almost there."
I hung back reluctantly. Who knows what waited for me around the bend? Edward laughed, a good hearty laugh, and pulled me forward once more. Peeking from out of the trees was a white gazebo, complete with ivy climbing up the terraces. I gasped. It looked like something out of an old romance novel. Everything looked perfect, out of a dream.
"How did you manage it? It's wonderful!" I rushed to run up the steps.
Bad idea. Within seconds I ran up the first step, tripped over the second step, and sprawled out on the steps before even Edward could react. He rushed to my side and helped me up. He chuckled again.
"My clumsy, adorable Bella."
I grimaced. My clumsiness had ruined another almost perfect, wonderful moment. He held me steady.
"You know what, I believe I shall have to carry you, or you'll kill yourself before you know what your surprise is." I was scooped up and carried in such a way that I was reclining in his arms. I rested my head on his cold chiseled chest. Edward kissed the top of my heat through my hair. We entered the gazebo and the cool shade covered us both. Sitting on one of the benches, I leaned on his shoulder, learning the contours of his marble figure. Edward tilted my face up to look into his golden, topaz-black eyes. I began loosing my self into the depths of those pools of gold. I turned my head quickly aside before I began to feel faint. I felt Edward move to separate us.
"No Edward. Don't."