End of Chapter 3

"Edward. You are so mature that I sometimes forget what a boy you still are. Though you have seen the world, you have done very little in the realm of exploring your own soul." Tanya held up her hand, and I started to speak. "Let me finish. I know you have worked hard in establishing a fine mind. I know you are a good man, because you stand steadfast to our way of life. You have been around the block MANY times when it comes to physical love, but there is one part of yourself that is still very virginal." I looked at her confused. She smiled and stroked my cheek. "Love, Edward...love."

I thought a lot about what Tanya had said my first night in Denali. Love? With a human? Impossible. She had limited years to her life, and I was cursed to live on forever. Plus, she couldn't know about this world. There were rules. If the Volturi ever found out that Bella knew about our existence, the sentence would be death, or worse...she would have to become one of us. I couldn't do that to another human. Not when they had a choice. Carlisle never took one of us who had a choice at life. Esme, Rosalie, Emmett, and I were all at death's door. But to take a human girl from a perfectly healthy life...it was unthinkable.

So what were my options? Return to the life I was leading before Bella Swan walked through that cafeteria door. I could do that. My habits were selfish and shallow, but I was enjoying the pleasures of my existence. I could go back to my normal pattern, and resume the narrowing of my list of candidates from this year's senior class. But every time I started going through the faces of the girls I lusted after before, they faded to gray nothingness. My mind always turned to Bella. I had to know more about her. Maybe if I did, I would find her to be a normal, boring teenage girl, and that would kill the fascination. Yes, that is what I would do. There was one flaw in my plan, though...her blood would still be the sweetest wine. I found my body start to moan with the euphoria a taste of that sweet nectar would bring. Just then, a hand smacked my face!

"OW! What the hell was that for?!" I asked as I saw Kate grinning down at me, her hand still swung out behind her from where she had struck.

"Alice just called. She said you needed that." Kate smiled and walked away.

"Thanks, Kate." I muttered sarcastically running my hand over my cheek.

"Anytime, dear cousin...anytime." I watched her hips sway as she swaggered away. The little minx.

After almost a week in Denali, I knew it was time to go back home and face the music. To try to be the man everyone thought I was capable of being, and I could. I hadn't spilled human blood in 70 years. I was a trained machine. I also only had to endure close contact with her for 45 minutes, 5 days a week. I could do that. It would be a test of my character, and I was always at the top of my class.

I would miss my cousins when I left. We sat for days talking about our latest conquests since I had last seen them. I didn't talk about mine with anyone at home. I would be mortified to talk to Carlisle about them, and Jasper was a southern gentleman through and through. Emmett, on the other hand, practically begged me on a daily basis, but I couldn't. Somehow, with the Denali ladies, it seemed less of a betrayal. Maybe because my forays paled to their centuries of enticement. If my brothers had ever known about my talks with them, I am sure there would have been many comments about curlers in my hair and painted toe nails. I prefer them to think these get-a-ways were all lecherous days of pleasure, and my cousins would never betray me if one of my brothers...OK, if Emmett ever asked them directly. The ladies always seemed to know what I needed, and this weekend I needed friends.

"We'll miss you, Edward. Don't let it be so long between visits next time." My cousins took their turns kissing and hugging me good-bye. I walked down to the car, and turned to look back at them. They stood with their arms around each other staring down at me from the porch.

"What a picture of loveliness to keep with me until next time." I called to them, and smiled as I climbed into the car. I honked softly as I pulled away, and waved out the window. I could see them waving back to me from the porch from the rearview mirror. I turned onto the highway that was at the bottom of their long drive, and began my long drive home.

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Thanks to everyone who has been adding my story to their watch lists, favorites, etc.! Holidays will cause a break in new chapters this weekend, but I hope to be back to the grind stone next week! Stay tuned, and send me a review of this one why you are waiting!