The guest bed was a double, but Bella was pressed as close to me as if we were sharing the single bed in her room in Forks. Phil and Renee were asleep, for the moment at least.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" I murmured into Bella's ear.

"Don't you want to?" She pretended to pout.

"You know what I mean. What if they catch us?"

"Honestly, I can't imagine Renee would be surprised. Or that upset, especially since you won't get under the covers with me. But you'll make sure they don't. Now kiss me," she commanded.

I was all too eager to comply. It had been far too many hours since I'd felt her body next to mine. I was hungry for the taste and heat of her mouth on my lips. She gasped as I leaned into her and used my body to push her onto her back. Lying carefully on top of her, I kissed her until she had to turn her head away to breathe. I didn't break contact with her skin. I kissed her jaw, her neck and her eyelids. When I thought she'd taken in enough oxygen, I moved back to her mouth. The hot, soft texture of her lips moving against mine was intoxicating. She had to pull away again. She was panting. Her heart was pounding. I ran my tongue along her collarbone, careful not to let my teeth touch her.

"Edward," she moaned. That sound! My name in her voice, filled with emotion from my touch. It went straight to my heart. I was charged with energy. I wanted to rip away all the barriers between us and kiss her everywhere. Anything to hear that sound again.

It was too much. I had to move away. She reached out to keep me close, but I gently trapped her hands at the wrist, holding them against her body. When I knew she understood, I let go, and we lay on our backs side by side, catching our breath.

We spoke the same words at the same time: "I'm sorry."

We both laughed. At this moment, we were completely in harmony.

"Go ahead," I said. "But you have nothing to be sorry for. I won't let you apologize for being so beautiful and desirable."

"I always get too excited. I'm not trying to push your limits. Not tonight, anyway."

"Your reactions are natural. I love that about you. It's my fault. My natural reactions would put you in the hospital, and the only way I can control them is to stop."

"Someday you won't be able to hurt me, and we won't have to stop."

"Now you are trying to push me."

"Maybe a little." I could hear the smile in her voice.

"That's enough for tonight. Or, it's not enough, but it's all I can handle. Do you think you can go to sleep now?"

"Will you stay with me, please? Not the whole night. I know it's safer for you to be where you're supposed to be. Just until I fall asleep."

I rearranged our positions so that her back was towards me. I put my arms around her and pulled her close.

"I'll sing your song in a minute," I whispered in her ear. "Can we just talk for a little bit? I want to tell you something. I'm so happy we came here. Your mother is important to you, such a big part of your life before you came to Forks. Spending time with the two of you helps me to know you better. It's still so strange for me, so frustrating sometimes. The only one on earth who matters to me is the only one whose mind is closed to me. I need all the clues I can get."

"It's wonderful to see Renee. And being here with you, it helps me to know you better. You're different here. It's another side of you. You're not in your element."

"That's for sure."

"You're doing great, though. They don't suspect anything, do they?"

"No. Renee is just worried that we're too wrapped up in each other. I can't help that. I can walk slowly and eat food and ignore everyone's thoughts, but I can't pretend that you're not everything to me. I wouldn't know how."

"Me neither. I love you so much."

Her heartbeat and breathing were slowing down. She was getting sleepy. At this moment, I felt perfectly content.

"I love you, Bella. You're the most precious thing in the universe to me."

She snuggled closer to me, and I hummed her lullaby until she fell asleep.


Author's Note: Thank you so much for all the great reviews!