21
I tell Bella that I'll have Alice call Jasper first thing in the morning, and she offers to give me a sample of her shield.
She sits on the opposite end of the couch and projects without warning, and I'm caught off guard by a tingling, comfortable sensation, as if my brain is being covered with a warm, fuzzy blanket.
My eyes close of their own accord, and Bella pulls it back with a small laugh.
"It'll take some time getting used to it. I'm the strongest shield we know of, but as I said before, I've never encountered an empath." Her smile falters. "I'm strong, but I can't promise that I'll be able to protect you entirely."
"Anything is better than nothing, Bella," I assure her.
She's asking me about day-to-day things around the house when I yawn loudly. "I'm so sorry. It's been a long day."
"It's fine. Like I told Rabbit, I'll be here in the morning, and I'm sure I'll have another list of questions for you." She points to the stairs. "Go to bed, and I'll get myself settled."
I feel like a child who has just been sent to bed, but the second my head hits the pillow, things change. Behind closed eyes, I can see her rosy lips and big eyes; I can almost feel the tingling sensation of her skin against mine. I'm going to Hell. She hasn't even been here for twenty-four hours, and I'm fantasizing about her.
Me. Having impure thoughts about a vampire. I need to get my head checked.
I tell myself that it's probably just the situation. I haven't been with anyone since long before I kicked Gianna out of our lives, and she's a beautiful woman. She's here to help me and make sure the girls are safe, and that's all it is.
That's all it will ever be.
There's a small part of me that wants to get up and check the contract for fraternization, but I'm determined to keep this relationship strictly professional. I fall asleep dreaming of the one thing I could barely stand twenty-four hours ago.