CPOV

"Have you ever been drunk?" Esme asks me.

"I don't think so. As a vampire it wouldn't be possible for me to get drunk and as a human I would have been appalled by the idea. My father was very strict."

"I never have either." She says "I never really saw the appeal. Have you ever ridden a horse?"

"In my human life that was the most common way of travel. Once I became a vampire, however, animals wouldn't come near me. They can sense what I am, and given my diet, I don't blame them."

"Is that why Sammy is so strange around you?"

"Yes, but I think because he is so young that he will become accustomed to my scent and hopefully he won't be afraid of me forever."

"I hope so too."

It's the morning after I told Esme that I am a vampire, and we have been lying in bed for about an hour telling each other stories from our pasts. We both want to know more about each other and we can't seem separate our bodies. Esme's head is on my shoulder, our legs are tangled together, and while I play with her hair, her arm is on my stomach drawing patterns on my t-shirt. Her warm skin feels incredible against me and I can't help but wonder how wonderful it will feel when there isn't anything separating us.

Samson got up a few times during the night and I reluctantly left Esme's side to take him out each time. Now he is laying in the corner of Esme's room chewing on a bone twice his size; I'm not quite sure how he managed to get his mouth around it.

So far, this morning has been the best time of my life. Laying here with Esme all rumpled from sleep and her hair all over the place. I can smell her scent all over me and I love it. Her face is clear and smiling, and she looks genuinely happy.

"Ever climbed a tree?" I ask her.

"Yep. I did all of the time when I was a little girl until I broke my leg because of a stupid bird."

I laugh softly at the disgruntled look on her sweet face, "Oh that sounds like there's a good story behind it."

"I was just sitting in the tree minding my own business, reading my favorite book, and a bird flew at my head. When I screamed and jerked away from it, I fell out of the tree and landed on my leg breaking it in two places." Esme's laugh tickles my neck as she reminisces, "My mother was so angry. She had always wanted a precious daughter who loved baby dolls and big dresses and instead she got a tomboy who loved climbing trees and playing with animals."

"Except birds" I add with a smirk.

"Well yeah! Birds are dangerous. They will fly right at you!" I can't help but burst into laughter at how adamant she is about disliking birds.

"Have you ever owned a pet?" she asks me once my laughter has calmed down.

"Yes…a lot of birds."

She looks up at me with a shocked face before busting out laughing. I can't help but join her, and it feels so good to just be relaxed and silly for a while.

"But really, yes I have owned pets when I was human. We had a few horses and chickens. Our family had some money, but we weren't rich so we tended to our own animals. I remember enjoying it a lot. That was a long time ago and the memories are fuzzy, but I remember brushing the horses and feeding them. They would nuzzle into my hand for more treats which would make me laugh. I believe there was also a stray cat that wandered around outside our house. I can't be sure, but I think I got scolded by my father for feeding it."

"So the longer you're alive the more your memories fade?" she asks me.

"Human memories fade, but vampires memories never do. Anything that happened before my change is difficult to recall. It's like looking through muddy water. My senses are so enhanced now that it is difficult to remember a time when they weren't. Any memories after I was changed, will be perfectly etched in my mind."

"So you won't ever forget this?" She asks with a frown on her face.

"No I won't. I don't think I could."

"Good." She smiles up at me before snuggling into my chest again.

"What about you? Have you ever had any pets?"

"We had a dog when I was a kid, but he always stayed outside. He was a beagle named Max, and he was extremely hyper. He would jump up and down on his hind legs when we took him for a walk. I loved to take him for walks through the woods behind my house and he would about pull my arm off to go after squirrels."

She laughs softly and I smile at her.

"How old were you?"

"Um probably about 10. He died when I was 16 and then my parents died when I was 18 and then I married Charles. He didn't like animals…or any living thing really."

I snort when she says that.

"Have you ever been in love?" she asks me after a minute.

"No. I loved my parents and I love my kids, but I've never been in love. I was always waiting for my mate. I don't think I could have ever loved anyone other than you." I tell her honestly. There's no point in hiding it now. "What about you? Have you ever been in love?"

"I thought I was." She whispers and looks down. "When my parents died and Charles asked me to marry him, I thought I loved him. I tried to convince myself that I did, but really I just needed someone to help me get on my feet and he took advantage of that. I thought his manipulation and punishments were his way of showing love. In the beginning, he would tell me that I needed to be punished when I would do something he considered to be wrong. He said he hated punishing me as much as I hated being punished, but he loved me and he wanted me to act right. After a few years the fake love act ended and he told me he was punishing me because I deserved it. I was too fat, too thin, too loud, or too quiet. His dinner was too late, too early, or too cold. The sex I gave him was bad, or if he thought it was good, he accused me of cheating on him. The last punishment I got was because I had accidentally gotten pregnant. He never wanted kids and I knew that, but when I found out about the baby I knew I couldn't give it up."

Her hand goes to her belly and I can't help but put mine on top of hers.

"If I ever see him, I will kill him for what he did to you."

"I just hope he never finds us. I don't think I could handle seeing him again. You shouldn't taint yourself by touching him. If he finds us, we'll call the police and let them handle it. You've spent your whole life being a pacifist and refusing to kill people, don't start because of me."

"I can't make any promises. He deserves to die for how he treated you. It's vampire instinct to protect one's mate and it takes everything in me not to hunt him down."

"If you did that, you would have to leave. Please don't leave me." She whispers, breaking my heart.

Placing my fingers under her chin, I pull it up until I can look into her eyes.

"I won't love. I will never leave you."

The electricity is thick and crackling in the air around us. Neither of us is moving, just looking into each other's eyes and enjoying the moment. I'm not sure I could move even if I wanted to. Slowly Esme leans up and brushes her lips softly against mine. It's over before it really started, but it was our first kiss and it was perfect. The smile on her face as she leans back tells me that she agrees.

"You're beautiful." I whisper and run my fingertips down her still-bruised cheek.

She blushes under my touch and the rush of blood warms my fingers.

"So are you." She whispers back and I chuckle lightly.

"I don't think anyone has ever called me beautiful before. Another first with you, my angel."

"You are beautiful. It's one of the first things I noticed about you. Your face, your heart, your body, everything about you is perfect."

"Well then we are a perfect match, because you are the most glorious creature I have ever laid eyes on."

"You probably say that to all the girls." She teases but I can see a hint of insecurity in her eyes.

"Only you." I tell her as I run my fingers down her face and trace her full lips. "It's only ever been you."