AN: giggles (I'm doing that a lot lately…) Well, I think this ist he first time I have no clue what to write in my AN… But ok, just one thing: Thank you very, very much for all your reviews :)! I'm soooo happy to get them!
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight and New Moon. S.Meyer does. Anyway, the plot of this fic is mine /huggles the plot/
Chapter ten – Ice cold punishment
"I won't run, Bella, why don't you believe me?" My angel asked me with his velvety voice.
I was a bit puzzled. "Huh? I didn't do anything."
"Well, you tightened your grip on the rope and my wrists, so…" I could hear amusement in his voice.
Blood gathered in my cheeks and made them red. "Well, you didn't say you wouldn't try… And furthermore: The girls would kill me if you'd escape."
That made him chuckle. "Yes, in fact, they would. To be honest: Lauren would like to kill you nevertheless, since you are the one who has the honour to guard me. She's lucky I'm in a good mood and I don't take her serious." He added the last two sentences with sincerity in his voice and almost growling.
"As I said, never mind Lauren. I'm already used to her attitude towards me and I don't need any mind-reading-ability to know that she's still dreaming about you and her together." I shuddered because of that thought.
"Aren't you jealous?"
"To be honest, a little. But I know that you would never cheat on me." By now, I stood on my tip toes and from behind, I whispered into his ear: "I love you, Edward."
He bent his head a little towards me and whispered back: "I love you, too, Bella. Although you're holding me hostage right now."
I gave him a shove with a bit more force than the last time. Nevertheless, it felt like shoving a brick wall. "Hey, what was that for?" He asked as he made a big show of almost falling. I chuckled about that, it was just a too funny sight. "You really don't know how very deep in trouble you are, love…" His voice wasn't much more than a very quiet whisper.
By now, we had reached the other girls – and poor Mike – outside the cabin. They were gathered at the fire place and it looked like as if Alice was waiting for someone or something to happen.
"Was he already mean to you, Bella?" She asked with a grin on her face.
"No, I wasn't." Edward replied a bit too innocent.
"He was." I said and gave him one more little shove towards our group. Somehow, I enjoyed it to be the one with power, even though I really wasn't and Edward was just playing along.
Alice grinned once more in my direction, then she looked towards the boys' cabin.
"Tyler, Emmett! You've got to see that!" Eric was standing in front of the small building, disbelieve evident on his face. He was directly staring at our small group – well, mostly at Alice who was standing in front of us and then to Mike and Edward who were surrounded by our group.
A few seconds later, Emmett and Tyler appeared in their doorway. Tyler stepped out and positioned himself next to Eric. "What…?" He obviously tried to understand what he was seeing in front of him.
Emmett was just leaning relaxed against the doorframe, a huge grin plastered on his face, showing his white teeth.
"Edward? Mike? What are you doing there?" Eric asked warily.
Mike and Edward were clever enough not to ask for help, although Mike looked as he was on the edge of crying out for it. Jessica gave him a forceful shove to show him he would better not try to ask and Mike stumbled a bit forward. Angela had to hold him – he would have had a meeting with the floor if she hadn't.
Alice crossed her arms on her chest, stood in a relaxed position and began her explanation. "Edward and Mike were so clever to sneak in our cabin this morning. We just wanted to show you what awaits those who try. Well, as you can see, my dear brother and Mike are not standing here out of free will. They will accompany us to a place which is maybe half an hour away from here, so you don't have to worry about where they are. They are in good hands – literally. Maybe, if they survive their punishment, they'll tell you about the horrors." She looked to Edward, then to Mike. "Any last wishes, boys?"
Both of them just glared at Alice.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I could see Emmett nod his head once. His grin was even wider than before but now he had an evil glint in his eyes, too. Edward blinked once, than looked back to Alice.
Did I imagine that? Or did Emmett and Edward really have a silent conversation? Oh no, if they had, that would mean trouble.
"Well, good luck, Mike, Edward…?" Emmett said with a smug grin.
The two boys in our middle just glared at him but said nothing. I think, they already figured out that speaking would be a mistake in the presence of Alice.
"Ok, since no one wants to make any last wishes or words… Let's go! And you!" She pointed towards Eric, Tyler and Emmett. "You better stay here. Believe me, I'll know if you want to start trouble!" She threatened.
Eric and Tyler stepped back a few feet, clearly feeling uncomfortable. I knew they wanted to help Mike – no point in helping Edward, they did not really like him – but apparently they thought it would be a bad idea to go against a group of crazy girls.
Jess and I gave our boys a shove so they would start going again. Lauren was at the front, leading the way away from the camping ground into the woods. Beside her was Alice. It seemed as if she tried to figure out whether everything went fine or if the three boys at the camp had tried to follow us. In the middle of our group, Angela and Jessica were shoving poor Mike all the time. They really enjoyed that.
In the back, it was just me and Edward. Why did everybody think I could watch after him on my own? I mean, at least Alice could come and help me, couldn't she?
We were about five minutes from the camp when I remembered Emmett's and Edward's strange behaviour. There was something fishy about that.
"Edward? What was that back at the camp?" I asked in the most innocent voice I could muster.
"What do you mean?" He asked back in a very velvety voice. No, this time I had to fight against it – and that he really tried to use his power against me just certified my thoughts. He was up to something.
"Don't play stupid, I saw Emmett nodding and your reaction. What did he tell you?" Although we weren't whispering, the others didn't seem to hear us. I thought they just had too much fun torturing Mike and scanning our surroundings.
Edward chuckled and stopped walking to turn around and look into my eyes.
"Don't you dare stop walking! There is no way I'll stay behind and be alone with you here and now." I wanted to sound threatening but it came out trembling. Great.
"Frightened? But ok, I'll do as you wish, my lady." He winked at me with a heart melting smile, then turned around and started walking again. We were now a few feet behind the group.
"You didn't answer my question, Edward." I said after a few minutes.
My hand was already a bit loosing on its grip of Edward's wrists and he took the chance to bend his hands a little and stroke my wrists with his long and cold fingers. I let him do it.
"Well, ok, I admit that Emmett and I had some kind of… conversation."
"About what?" I asked curiously.
Edward let out a low chuckle.
"As if I would tell you, Bella." He said while grinning.
"Why wouldn't you? I mean, I'm one of the girls who will decide how long you'll have to stand in the water… Trust me, I know that standing in it wouldn't be much of a punishment to you, but you'll have to listen to the thoughts of the other girls… Poor Edward, I'm happy I don't have to suffer those thoughts…" I explained with a mischievous smile on my lips. To be honest: I didn't like other girls dreaming about my vampire and I knew that after this day, they would see him in a whole new light. Maybe they wouldn't even be able to sleep for a week – I already knew that I wouldn't be able to do that after seeing Edward in all his glory only wearing his swimming shorts.
"Before I give you the answer for that question: Why are you blushing, Bella?" He asked while letting out yet another chuckle.
I blushed? Oh, I hate it!
"I'm not blushing!" Hey, I was standing behind his back, he couldn't see me!
"Bella, I'm a vampire, I can sense your nervousness and hear your heart beats picking up speed." He sniggered in a low whisper.
"Cheater! And by the way: It's none of your business." Sometimes it's just not fair to have an almost all-knowing vampire as a boyfriend.
"Ah, ok. I already have a really good idea of what you're thinking… But anyway, I'd like to offer a deal to you, my love." This time, he wasn't whispering because no one needed to know that he was a vampire, no, this time no one needed to know what he wanted to tell me.
"A deal?" I asked suspiciously.
"Yes, a deal."
As I said nothing more, he continued: "Well, just say, I would tell you, what Emmett and I were talking about."
He made a short pause to wait for my reaction, but since I was still quiet, he talked on. "That would be my part of the deal. But obviously, there are always two sides of a deal: My side and your side. So, you'll get the information from me only if you are willing to complete your side of the deal."
"Since you make so many words without getting to the point: What would I have to do to get your piece of information?" I asked a bit impatient. Normally, he would tell me to hurry up with what I want to say, so it felt kind of weird that Edward needed so many words for something like that. Or… Or maybe, he just wanted to buy some time? But for what?
Edward stopped once again and turned around to meet my gaze. During my inner ranting, I completely forgot to have a hold on his wrists and now he was standing in front of me, freed from my grip.
Oh, oh…
He knew my thoughts and gave me a big grin.
"Your part of the deal would be… Well… To keep it simple: untie my wrists and surrender to me. This way will be the only way for you to get out of trouble – not fully but at least a bit." He whispered with a playful growl and evil glint in his eyes.
All of a sudden, Alice appeared behind Edward and one of her hands shot to the point where my hand has been laying until a few minutes ago.
"Edward! Stop playing around with poor Bella. If you want to have any more trouble, ask me!" She scolded.
Edward answered by growling but his eyes were still locked with mine.
He was right, though. I knew I was in trouble but maybe my vampire boyfriend would have mercy with me if I'd help him…
Alice sensed my pondering. "Don't even start considering it, Bella, he's only trying to trick you!"
Edward gave me a wide grin, showing his teeth. "Do you really believe that, Bella?" He asked in his velvety voice.
I hesitated one more second, then reached around Edward to get my hold on his wrists back. I didn't say anything, though. I just looked into his eyes.
"Bella, I hope, you're still with us." Alice eyed me suspiciously, I could see it out of the corner of my eye.
"Trust me Alice, I am." I said simply while almost drowning in Edward's pools of liquid gold.
Edward still grinned at me but his grin lost it's faith of victory. Now, it was my turn to grin – although I could already feel that I would possibly pay for that decision later.
After Edward turned around and I had given him a soft shove towards the others, Alice went back to take the lead together with Lauren. I was alone with Edward again.
"You may still accept my offer, my love." He whispered conspirational.
I simply said: "I know." He did not have to know that I wasn't thinking about it anymore. I made my decision, now I had to live with its consequences.
Finally, we reached a small lake with a waterfall on its side. It wasn't a high one – maybe three meters, nothing more than that. The water was clear and reflected the scenery around the small lake like a mirror. It was beautiful.
So beautiful, that I forgot to keep my hold on Edward's wrists once again and of course, right in that moment I tripped over a root.
Oh, no.
I prepared for the fall, closed my eyes and put my arms in front of me so I could maybe stop before crashing on the ground, but two steel like arms wrapped around my waist and saved me.
"What…" I started as I opened my eyes again. Edward was standing besides me, holding me in his cold and strong arms, giving me a very warm smile.
"I did not have the heart to let you fall, my love." He said with a wink.
My eyes shot to the other girls while I hoped that they did not see what was going on behind their backs.
I was lucky. There was quite a distance between us – the first time I was happy about it – and they seemed captured by the scenery. No one noticed Edward and me.
My beloved one set me on my feet again, still smiling. He took the chance and placed a kiss on my lips – it was only a few seconds long but still it felt like heaven. Our last kiss was just too long ago.
"We should join them now. Alice saw what was happening and she's not happy that I'm standing here like this now." He mentioned with a nod to his wrists. In his right hand, he held the rope which wasn't placed around his wrists anymore. "Although, she's happy for you that I was able to save you, so she didn't do anything yet."
Edward took his hands from my waist, put them behind his back and when he turned around, he had his wrist tied together again. I let out a low chuckle. To be honest: It was a rather loosely knot but it would serve the purpose. The other girls did not need to know that he was capable of freeing himself in seconds.
This time, he didn't need a shove to walk on and I didn't put my hand on his wrists but let it slide into Edward's hand. He closed his strong hand around my small one.
"Isn't it wonderful?" Lauren said with a dreamy look on her face.
"It's great. Although the water is nasty cold." Alice said with a small grin playing on her lips as she held her bare foot into the water.
Everyone, except the two boys in our middle, snickered. I took a chance and glanced at Mike. To say he felt uncomfortable was an understatement. He'd run away and maybe even scream if he could. Edward was just… Edward. He played along and looked not happy about his situation. I stroked over his palm and a small smile flashed over his angelic face before he showed his fake frown again.
"Ok, girls and boys, that's our waterfall!" Alice announced merrily.
It was beautiful, just like the rest of the scenery. The water poured down from a maximum height of three meters and it splashed into a shallow part of the lake. The water was crystal clear and looked like a wall of flowing glass. Furthermore, at the point where the water hit the lake, it sprayed and there was even a small rainbow in it. The water was wadeable, it reached maybe up to the middle of Edward's shin.
"Wow." We all gasped in awe, even the two boys who would be standing under that waterfall in a few minutes.
Angela was the first to regain her voice: "Looks great."
"And it will look even better with those two boys in it." Lauren added with a smug grin on her face.
I felt Edward's grip on my hand tighten. I didn't think he would be scared about what awaited him, but I thought that Lauren's thoughts weren't the most pleasant to listen to. But probably, all our thoughts weren't. What I want to say is: She was right. You could cross Mike from the list, though, Edward alone would be great enough. I was sure: After this event, Mike's ego will fit underneath a carpet.
"Since we're here now, how long do you think the boys should suffer?" Jessica asked curiously.
There was a short silence as all of us mused about it.
"Hmm… Ten minutes, minimum." Alice proposed. "If they can stand it longer, fine. The first one getting out will be the chicken of the trip!"
Poor Mike.
"Nice idea, Alice." Jessica praised. "But… Do you think they should keep their clothes on? Don't get me wrong: Shorts are ok."
All of us girls sniggered about that comment but I could see Mike back away. Edward was brave enough to stay by my side.
"No way, Mike, you're staying with us." Jessica stated and with a soft kick in his knee bends, he went down to his knees. He looked pretty startled by that, as if he didn't know how he ended on the sand.
I could feel a chuckle growing in Edward's chest since I still had my hand close to it.
"Well, I think, Jess is right. I mean, we want to see something, right girls?" Alice said with a smug grin. Somehow I wondered, whether that grin would become permanent…
Edward took in a deep breath and held it. Apparently, the thoughts of my fellow roommates went all in the same direction: Edward in shorts. To be honest: My own thoughts were somewhere along those lines, too…
I got my hold on the ropes back and led Edward to stand next to Mike, who was standing again. I really had to force my face only to show a small smile and not a huge grin like Alice's. Edward would most certainly not be pleased if he could read my mind that moment.
Jessica and I loosened the ropes from the wrists of our boys but since they were with their backs to the water and we were standing in a semi-circle in front of them, there was no way for them to get out of their miserable state. After they were set free, Jess and I backed away until we were part of that circle, too. The two males in front of us rubbed their wrists – Mike's were quite red where the rope had been. Apparently, he had tried to struggle free more than only one time.
Edward looked suspiciously at Alice, then he grinned at me. Was it about something Alice had thought?
"Ok, guys, you heard us. Get off you clothes." Alice commanded.
Mike looked as if he wanted to say something, but nothing came out. He was clearly overpowered, he had to accept that.
Edward let out a low chuckle and closed his eyes for a moment as short as a heartbeat. He got out of his sandals in one swift movement and then he started to unbutton his shirt. Very slowly, he opened the first button right underneath his neck.
Mike was still hesitating. He knew he had to do what we demanded, yet he wasn't happy with Edward's reaction. Maybe he thought that Edward would chicken out? I had to smile about that. Even if he would have to listen to raving grils' thoughts, he would never chicken out in front of Mike.
So, after a few more hesitating moments, Mike too started to get off his clothes. He almost tripped as he tried to get out of his sandals – which plastered a smug grin on Edward's face – and the he started to unbutton his shirt. However, where Edward looked like a paid model while getting off his shirt, Mike was just trying to get rid of it.
To have at least one nice thought about Mike: Wouldn't Edward be standing here (and wouldn't I know Edward), one could easily think he was well build and maybe even quite hot.
But anyway, Edward was standing there and he looked like a god. Maybe even more so now than anytime else, if that would be possible.
Button after button, the shirt exposed more from Edward's godlike and perfectly chiselled chest. I didn't know how it ended up there but suddenly – sometime around the third button of his shirt – my hand was covering my mouth. I had to take deep breath because naturally, I stopped breathing some time ago.
Edward was looking straight into my eyes and grinned. Maybe that was only my imagination but he got even slower while unbuttoning his shirt. Did he want to tease me? Well, if he wanted, he succeeded.
Inch after inch, more of his chest was exposed to the hungry eyes of us girls. In that moment, I just wanted them to disappear and the moment to freeze in time. I had seen his chest once more, at our meadow, but still it felt as if I'd see it the first time.
I was awestruck and he knew it.
"Wow… Look at that…" Lauren whispered in an almost inaudible voice.
I grinned but didn't dare take my stare from Edward. "Yes, and that boy is all mine." I whispered and bit down on my lip, but still: I had to say that. Better show her right away that she would never get a hand on my Edward.
Edward heard our almost silent dialogue and gave me a wide but warm grin. His eyes seemed to sparkle and of course, I blushed furiously. But my eyes were locked with his, I couldn't look away – but did I want to? Not really.
That moment, Edward reached the last button and when he unbuttoned it, his shirt fell loosely from his shoulders. With one elegant movement, he took it off and a blink later, he sent it flying towards me. I didn't know how I did it but somehow, it landed it my arms. My cheeks were burning under the looks I got from my fellow roommates. Edward just chuckled and turned around to face the waterfall.
Oh, my… To be honest: It was the first time I saw his backside without any clothing hiding it.
He let his right shoulder move forward and backward once, as if he would have to loosen his muscles.
Show-off.
He only did that so that we girls – well, maybe even only I but I did not dare think that – would have something to ogle even more at.
His perfect body would make every angel jealous.
Mike was standingn next to him. He, too, was undressed by now – well, as undressed as they would get. Next to Edward, Mike was just… well… I wanted to think 'human' but that wasn't only the truth, it was too nice. Mike just couldn't compare to my personal god and I had to smile about that.
Mike didn't look happy. Apparently, all of us girls had watched Edward and not him – a slap in the face of his ego.
Edward let out a low chuckle. "What did you say this morning, Mike? 'They are only girls, what's the worst they could do'? Well, apparently, they can make us stand under an icy waterfall for at least ten minutes without much more than our shorts… As I already told you: You set your foot in hell by entering their cabin."
That comment made all of us laugh – all but Mike. He looked as if he had bitten into a lemon.
"Shut up, Cullen. You're nothing better than me, you're standing here now, too." He snapped.
"Well, I know. But trust me, I won't become the 'chicken of the trip'." With that, he set one of his foots into the water in front of him and started walking to the small waterfall without even the slightest expression of how cold the water actually was. He was lucky to be a vampire.
Mike followed but again, he hesitated. He did not know what he could say to my beloved one, he was literally speechless. As soon as he set one foot in the water, Goosebumps started to show up on his skin and he put his arms around his chest so he could let the warmth stay in his body a bit longer.
Edward was already waiting a few feet in front of him, right before the waterfall.
"What? Do you already chicken out now, Cullen?" Mike teased but Edward just grinned back with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"No, but I have to wait until you are standing here, too. We will have to step under that waterfall together." He almost growled the last word, I could hear it even from where I was standing.
A few moments later, Mike reached the waterfall, too. Both reached out with their hands to test how cold the water would be and how strong it was coming from above.
Mike took back is hand almost immediately but Edward's hand remained a few seconds longer where it was. Then, he stepped right into the flowing water.
Mike shot him a glare.
"Come on Mike! When Edward can do it, so do you!" Angela cheered for Mike.
He took one last deep breath, then he was under the waterfall, too. Edward was already facing in our direction, standing completely relaxed with his hands in the pocket of his trousers while Mike struggled to keep standing where he was. He didn't want to be a coward in front of Edward but he had to be really hard to himself trying that.
A short time passed where everybody was just gaping at the scene which unfolded in front of them. Edward's eyes were closed and he was standing perfectly still – only the movement of his chest gave away that he wasn't a statue.
The other girls were ogling at him just like me. It was a good feeling to know that they would never get further than ogling from far away. Edward was mine and that would never change again – and 'never' was a long time when measured by eternity. Apart from the fact that he was mine, that was the next best thought: He was mine for all eternity. Somehow, I still had to get used to the fact that he seemed to accept that fact. Eternity… It conjured a smile on my face which replaced the grin I had before.
Edward moved again. Slowly, he got his hands out of his pockets and while his eyes were still closed, he folded his arms behind his head while still standing relaxed. That way, our eyes could easily take in every inch of his pale and breathtaking body. And it was a breathtaking body, literally.
Just when he stopped his movement again, it happened.
Jessica and Lauren fainted.
Alice, Angela and I looked a bit puzzled at the two bodies laying at our feet and started laughing – Edward joined our laugher a few heartbeats later as he realized, what he had done to those poor humans.
As if he didn't plan that.
"Well, that was unexpected." Angela stated between two gasps of air.
"You don't need to tell me!" Alice choked out.
I just fell into a laughing fit. For once, it wasn't me who fainted, no, it was somebody else – and they even did it synchronously and in front of Mike and Edward.
As we leaned them on a nearby tree, Alice called out: "One minute left! You're better than I thought!"
Jessica and Lauren started to stir a few moments later. Both held their heads in the hands and groaned.
"What happened?" Jessica asked.
"Do you really want to know, Jess?" Angela said with a huge grin on her face.
"Yes…?" Well, that wasn't a very convincing 'yes', but anyway.
"You two fainted while ogling at Bella's boyfriend." Alice said with a smug smile plastered on her face.
I had to giggle when I saw that they were now blushing, too. Did I rub off on them?
Nevertheless, a few seconds later, they were again standing by our side, trying to avoid my gaze and concentrating hard on Mike. It was quite funny to watch them like that, but since I still had that godly creature to adore, I just let them do what they wanted to and made a mental picture of Edward. I wasn't going to forget this sight ever – even if I'd be a vampire for thousand years without many human memories left, I'd still see this in my mind. I was perfectly positive about that.
In that moment, Mike decided to throw the towel. He let out a sigh and stepped out of the waterfall, leaving Edward with a smug smile where he was standing and slowly made his way towards us.
Jessica greeted him with her towel as he reached us. She draped it around his chest and snuggled herself closer to him.
"12 Minutes, you're great, Mike." She whispered with a warm smile on her lips although he was frowning. I thought by then, she had forgotten the fainting-incident. Mike and Jessica were really cute when they forgot that there were others around them.
I looked back at Edward, who was still standing in the waterfall but when he opened his eyes again, he locked his gaze with mine, got out of the cold waterfall and walked towards me. I snatched my towel from a smiling Alice, knotted Edward's shirt around my waist, took off my shoes and stepped a few feet into the water towards my beloved vampire.
"It's cold, isn't it?" Edward asked.
"Maybe even a little colder than you are." I replied and draped my huge towel around Edward's shoulders and let it flow around his chest. His hair was dripping wet and even untidier than it normally was. Once again, I was ogling at the god like creature in front of me.
Edward stretched out his hand and when I took it, he pulled me into a tight embrace.
"And I'm all yours." He whispered into my ear.
I snuggled myself closer to him so I could share my warmth with him. I was right about the coldness: Edward really felt colder than usual. But it didn't matter. I was perfectly content in his arms and when he lifted my chin with one of his long and slender fingers to pull me into a very long and quite passionate kiss, the world around us vanished and there were only both of us left.
"I love you, Edward." I said with closed eyes, standing on my tip toes as our kiss came to an end.
He leaned down so his lips were only an inch away from my ear. "I love you, too, Bella. And nothing will ever change that." He whispered.
His embrace tightened a bit as he held me close to his icy body.
When he released me eventually, I took an edge of the towel and stroked the remaining water droplets from his saintly face. He took my hand and kissed the back of it. "Thank you." His voice was nothing more than a breath, nevertheless I understood him.
The next moment, he picked me up bridal style. "I don't want you to catch a cold, my love." He laughed as he made the last steps towards the bank.
When we reached it, he made no move to set me down but I didn't say anything about it. It felt good to have him close to me again.
The other girls, minus Alice, looked as if they had stopped thinking. They just stared at Edward and me – Mike didn't like it one bit. His response was simple: He pulled Jessica into a hug. I felt a little pity for Jessica: Edward's hug was far more romantic than the hug of Mike could be.
"Well, ok, fifteen minutes. Congratulation, Edward." Alice said with a smug grin on her face. But as I looked into her eyes, I could see something was bothering her – although I couldn't put my finger on it.
Edward smiled and had an evil glint in his eyes.
Ok, that was it that troubled Alice. Edward was free again and now she would have to be very careful around him.
This reminded me… I'd have to do the same, too.
Oh, no.
"Since we're finished here, what about going back to the camping ground?" Alice proposed. She seemed to try to put as much distance between her and the waterfall as possible, and preferably soon.
But was the water really so cold that even a vampire would have troubles? I looked up and glanced into Edward's eyes. They held no answer to my question, though.
"Ok, let's go!" Jessica said merrily. Did she really think that our actions wouldn't have any consequences? I shuddered a bit as I thought that and Edward noticed it. He looked smiling into my eyes. I thought, he knew what I was thinking about.
I mentioned to Edward to let me down on my feet again and surprisingly, he did as I asked.
"Is it ok if Edward and I stay here for a few more minutes?" I whispered into Alice's ear.
She looked at me with amusement in her eyes. "Sure. But be careful, we don't know what he's up to, yet." She whispered almost inaudible.
"Thanks." I said. A few moments later, the girls and Mike were out of sight, hidden in the woods and hopefully on their way back to the camp.
I turned around and almost walked into Edward. He was already standing close behind me and let his arms sneak around my waist. The towel was still draped over his shoulders but by now, his body seemed dry, although his hair was still very wet.
"Do you really want to be with me alone after all those things that happened this morning?" He asked in his velvety voice.
I snuggled myself closer to him. "Yes. And… Edward?" I asked after a short hesitation.
"Yes, my love?"
"I…Well… I have to talk to you." There was still that thought of Edward and Mike alone in the woods from yesterday walking through my mind and I felt I should tell him.
Edward's hands started stroking my back and as I looked up to meet his gaze, he was smiling a very warm smile down on me.
"Emmett already gave me a hint that you may want to talk about something, though he didn't specify why or what."
I sighed and hid my face in his chest. He already knew?
"Don't worry, Bella. Although I didn't look in his mind, I have a feeling I already know what you want to talk with me about." He tilted my head up once more and gently kissed me.
"Come with me. Some things are better told while sitting." He said, his smile never leaving his face.
It gave me a bit self-confidence. As it seemed, he wasn't angry and hopefully, he wouldn't be after I'd tell him about my fears.
Edward put one hand around my waist and led me to a fallen tree, only a few feet away from the edge of the forest. He took the towel from his shoulders and laid it on the dead trunk, sat down on the tree with his back leaning on another tree. Then, he pulled me into his lap, cradling me close to his body, securely holding me in his strong arms.
"What troubles you, Bella?" He asked in his velvety voice and I had to take in a deep breath.
Ok, now… Where to start?
AN: My computer crashed 36 times as I wrote this chapter, great, isn't it? Ah, and by the way: Trust me, this will be the longest chapter, from now on, they'll be shorter again ;) Just to think that I had wanted to be the last chapter, this one and the next chapter ONE chapter... Was I crazy?
Anyway, please tell me what you think about it :)