ENTRY 9
The Vampire's Bride

"I find that costume somewhat disturbing, Bella."

Bella glanced beside her at Edward's strong profile, his long fingers tensely gripping the steering wheel. She'd have to settle for the profile. For once, he seemed determined to keep his eyes fixed firmly on the road in front of them.

"Alice's idea," she admitted a little sheepishly, looking down at her vampire-bride costume, a tight, low-plunging, beaded lace affair, complete with fake blood dripping down the white bodice from a gruesome 'wound' painted on her throat. "But after what Jacob pulled last time I was there...well, I agreed it would be funny. And he deserves it."

Edward's jaw clenched. As though he needed to be reminded that Jacob had forcefully kissed his fiancé on her last trip to La Push.

He clutched the wheel a little more tightly. "Tell me again why you want to go to this thing?"

She shrugged, feeling the stickiness of the fake blood pulling at her flesh where it had dried. "He's making an effort to accept that I'm marrying you. They all are. And besides, it's just a Halloween bonfire. Charlie will be there too. I'll be fine."

Edward reached over and took her hand in his, lacing their fingers together securely — without even glancing in her direction, so far as she could tell. "I know you will."

There was something decisive in the way he said it that she couldn't quite read. She hesitated. "I won't go anywhere alone with him," she further assured him.

His grip on her hand tightened. "I know you won't."

They were fast approaching the border to La Push, where she'd arranged for Charlie to meet them and take her the rest of the way, claiming Edward had a family obligation that night.

But the car didn't seem to be slowing, and there was no sign of Charlie.

And then, to her horror, the silver Volvo kept hurdling right across the boundary line into La Push.

"Edward! What are you doing?"

Finally, he focused on her, bringing her fingers up to his cold lips and pressing a gentle kiss there. "Change of plans. I made it clear to Sam that if they wanted you there, they'd have to accept my presence as well. He's well aware of what Jacob did. I pointed out how he might feel if it was Emily. I have a temporary visitor's pass, you might say."

Bella stared, eyes wide with wordless shock. There were many possible reactions to that, ranging from irritation to gut-wrenching terror about what might happen to Edward at a gathering of hostile wolves.

She went a different route, eyeing him disapprovingly.

"But...it's a costume party."

The first flicker of humor she'd seen in his eyes since she appeared in her gruesome/sexy costume ghosted across his face as he released her hand. From the pocket of his long-sleeved flannel shirt, he retrieved an absurd pair of plastic vampire fangs and popped them into his mouth.

He looked ridiculous when he grinned at her.

She tried to keep a straight face, imagining the wolves' reactions. "You have got to be kidding me."

Edward winked at her, lips twitching as he hid his own smile. His eyes quickly ran down her low-cut dress and back up, like he couldn't help it.

"Just making it clear whose vampire-bride you are. The only one who gets to take a bite out of you tonight is me."

If Edward had been rigidly quiet most of the way to the party, he was even more so on the way back toward Forks, his fingers actually drumming on the wheel in agitation. Since when did vampires have tics?

"Are you mad at me?" Bella finally asked, and was relieved to see surprised eyes briefly swing toward her.

"Mad? Of course not, love."

"Something's bothering you."

He took a carefully measured breath. "I'm not sure it was really necessary for all of them to cut in, once I finally convinced you to dance with me."

She rolled her eyes. "It wasn't all of them."

"All the unimprinted ones," he grumbled, then gave her a look when she scoffed. "You don't believe me? I can provide a list. Listening to all of their thoughts about you in that dress made Halloween truly horrifying."

At least someone had appreciated it, she thought a little peevishly. Edward had barely looked at her or touched her all evening...including now.

Seconds later — before she could even start to pout — they crossed the border back into Forks.

And she immediately heard him breathe just one sincere word:

"Finally."

He locked down the brakes, using his right arm to help catch her as he pulled the car to a screeching halt on the side of the road. She heard the click of her seatbelt unlocking, then cold hands gripping her at the waist.

She found herself rather unexpectedly in Edward's lap in the driver's seat, not quite sure how she got there. She didn't get to ask, either.

He captured her face in his hands and hungrily devoured her mouth — at length — leaving her breathless and trembly. His breath was as shaky as hers when he finally pulled back, resting his forehead against hers.

"I've been struggling not to do that all night," he admitted hoarsely. "You're far too tempting in that costume, fake blood and all."

She narrowed her eyes. "I thought it was disturbing."

A sheepish smile played at his lips. "We're not examining this more closely, my vampire-bride. But I have a new favorite holiday."

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