Disclaimer: All the characters are Stephenie Meyer's. I'm only playing off of her ideas.
A/N: A little bit inspired by Bella's little revelation near the end of Edward's proposal: He can be manipulative. And sooo all-around... there aren't even words for him.
I pulled my face away from Bella's as the first real drops of rain began falling against her window. Her eyes remained closed for a fraction of a second longer and then slowly opened. Her beautiful brown eyes were placid, content. For the moment, she was content to lay there in my arms, her head against my chest. She wouldn't be able to help noticing that my breath came faster than usual, a little ragged, as was hers.
Lightning flashed outside of her window again, but she didn't even jump, only frowned a little as she looked out the window.
"What are you thinking?" I whispered, touching my mouth gently to her ear. She shivered lightly: I smiled. There was something absolutely exhilarating about being able to affect her the way she affected me.
"You ask that question a lot."
"Can you blame me? I only want to know every single thing that passes through your beautiful mind. Bella, being with you is like nothing else in the entire world. You are like no one else in the world, past, present, or future. I love you," I said, interspersing the words with soft kisses.
"Curiosity killed the cat," she muttered. Her gaze was little unfocused: it either meant that she was growing tired or that my presence was affecting her. If it was the latter, I was sure to get my way, with a little persuasion. I trailed one hand down her face, tracing the curve of her cheekbones down to her soft, full lips.
"Good thing I'm a vampire, then," I whispered, leaning near.
"You're doing it again. I'm beginning to think you can be… very manipulative, when you want to be," she said, even as she breathed in my scent with closed eyes and a smile on the lips under my fingers.
I laughed and pulled her close to me. Dangerously close, but I was well fed tonight, and her presence wasn't as… trying as it had been before Volterra.
"I'll find out sooner or later."