A/N - Short and sweet - more coming very soon!

CHAPTER 37 - SPONSALIA

Night had brought a front of cooler air. Edward left the bed, not bothering with any clothing, and built a fire. Bella watched him as he crouched by the fireplace; the flames bathed him in light and shadow, highlighting his physical perfection.

How was it possible that this brave, loving, god-like man was hers? She shook her head, pushing aside questions, and embraced her good fortune. Edward looked up just then, and his unguarded smile brought a prickle of tears to her eyes. His heart was so good, so deserving of happiness.

He turned back to the fire and Bella swung her legs out of bed, donning the silk robe and belting it loosely around her waist. She stooped to pick up Edward's discarded clothes, and something fell out of a pocket onto the floor.

Before she could retrieve it, Edward was there, picking up the folded grey silk and enclosing it in his fist. He helped her to stand, an odd expression on his face, then flashed away from her, too quickly for her eyes to follow. The muffled thud of the wardrobe door, and then Edward was before her again, clad in a deep red robe.

"I'm sorry," he said, "It's just…" For a moment his face betrayed frustration, but then he shook his head. "Never mind," he said with a smirk. "I think Mercury is trying to tell me something."

Bella squeaked in surprise as Edward swept her into his arms and strode across the room to set her on her feet by an elegant armchair. At his invitation, Bella seated herself and looked up at him expectantly.

Edward stood back and bowed, not with the perfunctory gesture of her time, but with a graceful nobility from bygone days that made her stomach flutter. He presented her with a rose that had somehow appeared in his hand. "Milady," he murmured with a gentle smile, "I most humbly request an audience." Thoroughly charmed, Bella played along, nodding regally. Edward knelt at her feet and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.

Nervously he cleared his throat, then raised his gaze to hers, and Bella's breath caught in her throat at the depth of love in his eyes. "Bella…for centuries I have waited for you, have searched for you," he said softly. "Before I found you, I existed in endless shadow, and you led me into the light. I thought myself the monster, and you redeemed me with your love." He cupped her cheek and gently brushed away the tears there with his thumb. "You are the most remarkable woman I have ever known, and I will love you with all that I am, for as long as I exist." He turned her hand over and pressed a ring into her palm, gleaming gold with blue sapphire. "You are my life, and my soul's mate. Bella…will you do me the extraordinary honor of being my wife?"

She nodded, smiling tremulously. "Yes! Yes, Edward, I will be your wife." For an instant, it looked as if Edward couldn't believe what he had heard, but then a boyish smile broke across his face. Bella fell to her knees and threw her arms around his neck, and he wrapped her in his arms, rising to his feet to spin them round as they laughed for joy.

He set her on her feet and reached for her hand, gently opening her fingers to take up the ring. "May I?" Bella nodded and held out her hand, watching Edward's face as he reverently slid the ring into place, then caressed her fingers with his thumb. "Esme gave it to me. It belonged to her mother."

"It's beautiful," she murmured, awestruck. "I've never seen one so lovely."

"It suits you."

Bella's stomach growled as if on cue and she rolled her eyes. "Esme left a sandwich for me in the kitchen," she said.

Edward grinned. "I'll be back in a moment."

.

He returned seconds later with a full plate and a mug of water, and Bella curled up in an armchair with her meal. When she had finished, she freshened up at the wash basin, then turned to find Edward watching her from his place by the fire.

He lounged back in the chair with his face in shadow, and his amber eyes gleamed, seeming to pin her in place. The corner of his mouth curled in satisfaction. "You look good wearing my ring."

The deep timbre of his voice made the hair stand up on the back of her neck, and her stomach tingled a warning. He stood and slowly stalked toward her. "How are you feeling?" he asked quietly.

"F-fine. I'm feeling fine." Edward stopped so close to her that she had to tilt her head to look up at him.

He leaned in and brushed his nose along her temple, inhaling deeply. "No more headache?"

Bella shook her head mutely, and he bent to whisper in her ear, "I'm glad to hear it." A delicious shiver ran down her spine.

Slowly, he kissed his way down the side of her neck, brushing his lips and nose across the sensitive skin, and her head fell to the side, granting him better access. "Shall I build up the fire?" he asked. His hand skimmed down the front of her robe and cupped her breast through the silk, his thumb brushing across her nipple.

"There's…oh!…there's no need."

Edward hummed his approval against her skin. "In that case," he murmured, "while this robe is very alluring, I fear it will have to go. it's interfering with a fantasy of mine…one that's been torturing me for days."

"F-fantasy?" She looked up, then swallowed nervously at the predatory darkness of his expression. Edward gently took her chin in his hand and his eyes held hers captive.

"I want my fiancée, in my bed, wearing my ring...and not a stitch more." He lifted a dark brow. "Now."

His hand behind her tugged, and Bella gasped as her robe slid to the floor.

Sponsalia = Betrothal
Mercury is a Roman god associated with messages and trickery, among other things.

A/N: To see pics of Bella's ring, go to my ffnet profile and click "Story Blog." Once on blog, find a link to the page directly below the banner - "Chapter 37 pics - spoilers"

Thank you for reading, and especially to those who show their appreciation with a review! More soon…very soon. xo