Hey all! Sorry for the wait; had some log-in issues, and a bit of writer's block...the next few chapters should be uploaded pretty fast. Thanks to all who put this story on alert, or left me a review...i lvoe them all!

Chapter 13

"Most dangerous is that temptation that doth goad us on to sin in loving virtue." ~William Shakespeare (Measure for Measure, Scene II)

Books. Books, books and more books.

Fred chose one from the pile, not sure how Bella knew what genres he liked, but then, he'd read the telephone book right now if he could. What was more, when he finished the paper books, he could simply go online and read any number of books there.

With his hair still damp, he flopped into 'his' chair; the one by the fireplace, that he'd dug his fingers into. He supposed he could've read up in his room, but it was nice to have people come and go around him.

He sat with a medical murder mystery in his hand, and quickly became engrossed as he found some of his human memories coming back to him. Of course, it was only because he realized certain things the writer had suggested simply weren't possible. He snorted, and pulled his legs up, his arm leaning on his leg, the book dangling over his knee.

Bella's sister, Alice, was a genius. The clothes not only fit his style, but fit him as though they were made for him. The jeans were soft and worn, didn't bulge or sag, but weren't so tight he felt like they were painted on. And the sweater...he knew he couldn't feel warm from a sweater, but it did make him feel rather cozy. He knew, intellectually, it was all in his mind; he really didn't NEED it, but it reminded him of the sort of sweaters his grandmother used to make, and it made him feel at home.

Then came the fact that Bella made a comment about Tanya.

Had he really been that transparent? Did she know how he really felt about Tanya? Even Kate commented on how similar they were, and how alone they both were. Fred sighed, his fingers running through his damp hair again. He wished he had the guts to tell her how he really felt, but hell, what could he say? Could he leave his new home if things got weird? He finally was starting to find some peace here. And really, when it came to it, what did he know about her? She was still being as illusive as ever. With a heavy sigh that would've made a human proud, he returned to his reading.

Tanya grumbled. She had gone out, ostensibly to hunt, but in reality to get way from the house. How she managed to run into Kate and Garrett, who were both laughing as they demolished a rather large granite boulder, but also into Eleazar and Carmen, on her way back to the cabin after seeing—oh, all right, ogling—Fred was beyond her comprehension.

Her hormones were shot. She had rarely gone this long without trawling the human bars, and here her whole family reeked of sex! Needless to say, she couldn't return to the house immediately. So, she wandered a bit to let herself cool down.

She strode into the house, door slamming behind her. She huffed once more only to stop dead in her tracks.

Damn, she thought to herself. Her quick eyes caught the image of Fred before he started at her sudden entrance. He had been leaning over a book, utterly absorbed. The sunshine was coming in the window, sparkling off his neck, and making his golden hair glisten.

How she wanted to run her fingers through that hair.

She took in his casual clothing, smiling slightly when she realized they couldn't have been Garrett's. They fit.

They REALLY fit. She was jealous of those clothes. She wanted to be wrapped around Fred like that, to slide across the angles and plains of his body. The creamy fisherman's knit sweater made him look like he'd just stepped off the docks. The thought made her laugh a bit internally, since she always thought he smelled a bit of the sea. That led to thoughts of taking his magnificent body on a beach, rolling in the waves, as her cold tongue licked the salt from his marble skin...

DAMN! She had to stop torturing herself. It was a good thing Edward wasn't here anymore; he'd positively blush at the thoughts going through her head at lightening speed.

It was at this moment Fred looked up at her. A bright smile crossed his face and made Tanya melt just a bit more…until she saw his darkened eyes.

Tanya was at his side in a moment.

"Fred, when was the last time you went hunting?" she asked with concern.

"Umm, I don't know, really. I hadn't really thought about it."

Tanya thought for a moment. Here was a vampire who for all intents and purposes was an anorexic. The thought of regular meals wasn't ingrained in his system, and needed to be watched carefully. She would have to talk to the rest of the family about that.

"It's been too long, I can tell. You're eyes are black. We need to get you out hunting. Oh, and while I think of it; there's a family of arctic foxes in the area. Try not to eat them? They're endangered." She placed her hand on his forearm and nearly moaned at the electric pulse that passed between them. Her fingers slid down, and she grabbed his hand. "Come on, slacker, no time like the present!"

Fred looked at her with a smile. "Give me a moment. I want to change my shirt and get my boots on."

Tanya laughed, but at the same time thought it was sweet how he wanted to take care of the gifts he'd been given. She reached out and gently tugged at the sleeve. "Alice?"

Fred smiled. "And Bella. They sent a whole box of stuff along with some papers...and books."

Tanya gulped at the look on his face. She wanted...well, that was it she supposed. She wanted. She wanted to see that look. Often. She wanted him. Everything about him.

Fred ran after Tanya in the arctic dusk. He had fallen behind, having caught the scent of something new, and had his first marten. The blood was smoother, muskier than anything else he'd had, and he enjoyed it immensely, even if it was a small snack. He was just catching up, when they found the back edge of the enormous caribou herd.

Fred pounced on the nearest animal, tasting the absinthe flavor of its blood as he drank thirstily. Quickly, he felt energy pulse through him. His mind shut down and he gave himself over as he finished his meal. His senses picked up the sound of another vampire feeding, and he crouched, senses alert.

He saw the blonde holding up the neck of a mature doe, her eyes closed with a look of completion. He felt a growl of desire erupt from his chest, and in a flash, he was at her side. Not a fleck of blood touched her soft blue shirt as she dropped the now empty carcass and her eyes met his.

Both were still black; but this time with desire.

Without a thought, Fred grabbed her arm, and spun her into his arms. His lips fell to hers with a desperation that couldn't be matched. His arms wrapped around her fiercely, even as he swallowed her deep moan. One of his hands tangled into her luscious mane of hair, as his tongue invaded her willing mouth. He growled again, only to stop dead still.

Fred looked down into Tanya's desire laden eyes, but could only see how he had taken advantage of her; how he lost control. Remorse flooded through him, and quietly he stuttered, "I am so sorry," before turning tail and running swiftly away.

Tanya softly touching her lips, unable to say a word.