SEVEN

Bella

"It's what I see when I'm with you," I said softly.

Edward ripped his eyes away from the painting and slowly turned towards me. He walked over and looked down at me; his eyes darkened as emotions of unfathomable intensity flashed across his face.

"Bella…" He breathed my name like a quiet prayer.

Ever so slowly he extended his hand to my face. His fingers grazed along my jaw, holding my face in his palm as his thumb whispered across my cheek. He raised his other hand to my neck, handling me like the most fragile of ornaments… as if I'd shatter if he looked at me too hard.

I looked back at him, frozen in place by the amazing sensation of his skin against mine. It was a cold fire that rippled across my flesh at each point of contact; sinking into every inch of my body as the electricity of it poured into my blood and ignited my mind.

I tried my best to formulate some coherent thought, to vocalize my silent questions. I was desperate for some reassurance of my own sanity, to be told that this obsession was healthy.

That it was right.

Whatever.

He leaned in and touched his forehead to mine. I nearly gasped when I looked into his eyes. They were pitch black and dancing with little shimmers of light, as if stars of the night's sky were ripped from the heavens and embedded therein. And so fucking beautiful.

I reached for him with a timid, unsteady hand, tracing my fingers across the perfect, stony skin of his temple. I wondered if he could see the thousands of questions that flickered behind my eyes and blinded me; if he could feel the way the uncertainty bubbled up in my lungs and choked me.

He smiled softly and turned his face lightly into my hand. "My Bella," he breathed.

The cool air of his breath fanned across my palm and I shivered involuntarily. I felt his lips stretch into a smile on my skin, against which he then laid several soft, slow kisses. It was all of the reassurance I needed in that moment. I wound my arms around him and clutched his body to mine.

A sharp rap against my door resonated throughout the room; harshly bursting our blissful little bubble.

He growled in annoyance and pulled me to his side. He buried his face in my hair and whispered softly, "It's Alice."

"Bel-la!" she trilled.

"No, go away," I mumbled like a cranky child.

Angelic laughter floated through the door, followed swiftly by a teasing "Nuh-uh!"

I heard and felt Edward's muffled chuckle, his face still buried in my hair.

"Well, come in then."

The door swung open to reveal the petite vampire, a wicked grin stretched across her face.

"Awww! Aren't you two cute?!" she giggled.

Tiny Voice hissed in displeasure and grumbled something about plans for barricading the door.

"I have a surprise for you!" She skipped over to me and entwined both of her tiny arms around my free one.

Edward planted a quick kiss on my forehead before releasing me into Alice's tiny clutches.

Leading me into the hallway, Alice took an unusual parental tone, "And don't you dare try to block off that door, Bella! I'll just make you fix it after I break it down." Edward's laughter sounded from somewhere behind us.

Alice swerved into the kitchen and released my arm. "Make yourself something to eat while I make some last-minute preparations! I'll be back in 15 minutes."

I rustled through the cabinets and fixed myself a bowl of cereal, humming to myself. As I drowned the little Chex squares in milk, I couldn't help but let my mind wander… It found its way to back to Edward, mostly. I tried in vain to elaborate my obsession with him. I tried to reason with myself – I was falling too hard and too fast, surrendering my emotions to a man about whom I knew so little. But he knew practically everything about me. Not only did I flat out tell him about my… erm, mental situation… but he could actually see it. And he didn't run away, screaming, or usher in the men in white coats. His understanding and appreciation of me was too much to overlook. No one else had ever known me that way, no one else ever could.

I was pleasantly surprised by Edward's confession – that he thought I would be the one running away – and I was totally thrilled that we each could dispel one another's fears so nonchalantly.

Oh, you're a vampire? Well I'm insane, so it's all gravy, baby.

The truth is, his explanation could have been just about anything – vampire, werewolf, alien life form, radioactive spider miss-hap… and I wouldn't have been surprised. When you're confronted with such odd behavior for months on end, you begin to suspect things - wild, outlandish things – because nothing else would ever make sense. So when you're finally told the truth- it's more like finding that last piece of a puzzle than being totally shocked.

And plus- the whole vampire thing is way sexier than radioactivity.

No matter what, I doubt I could ever bring myself to stay away from Edward. Everything felt so right with him… perfectly natural, like breathing. And equally as essential to my existence. Whenever he was near, every inch of my body screamed in recognition, like my soul was trying to rip itself free of this mortal coil and reunite with its other half. The intensity of his presence was enough to leave me completely devoid of logical thought, leaving me to do what feels right instead of sounds right.

'You're sounding like a goddamn Hallmark card right about now…' Tiny Voice feigned aggravation, but deep down she was swooning.

I was bitch-slapped from my little reverie by a quick succession of sounds; breaking glass, a muffled thud, Alice's high trill of laughter, and a low rumbling growl.

I gasped in shock and ran to the stairs, before something outside caught my eye.

Edward was standing in the yard, sneering towards the sky, shaking little slivers of glass from his tousled bronze hair.

I threw the backdoor open and ran to him.

"Shit! Edward! Are you alright?!" I reached for his hand.

"He's just fine," a voice thick with laughter called. "Only his pride is bruised, I assure you."

I turned to see Alice's petite frame hanging partially out of the shattered second story window as she clutched her stomach and tried unsuccessfully to suppress her amusement.

My gaze flicked between Edward and Alice impatiently, waiting for an explanation.

"Alice just likes to pretend she's not so old sometimes by playing children's games," he growled.

Alice stuck out her tiny tongue. "Sore loser!"

She straightened herself and stepped out of the window, falling to the earth with a quiet little thump, and rising quickly to take my arm. "I've been trying for ages to trip him, you see... childish, I know… but whatever." She waved her hand dismissively. "It's harder than you'd think! What with his speed and the whole mind reading thing…"

"So you tripped him… out the window?" I looked to Edward, who was struggling with keeping his smile at bay, pressing his lips into a thin line as they tugged up at the corners.

"That part was more accidental than anything," she admitted sheepishly.

A familiar, bubbly sensation rushed through me, and before I knew it, Alice and I were curled around each other, overcome by a fit of giggles. When I could finally breathe again, I rose and moved cautiously towards him. I held my arms out for a hug, but he shook his headand took a step back.

"Sorry, love, but there seems to be a bit of glass… wouldn't want to cut you." He pulled out that damn crooked smile, and I could only nod weakly in response as he began to unbutton his shirt.

I stood, slack-jawed as he slowly shrugged out of the garment, revealing his absolutely fucking gorgeous bare torso.

He stood smiling down at me, a goddamn vision of sculpted perfection, all rippling muscle and perfect flesh. My tongue moved to lick my lips of its own volition as my eyes raked over every inch of him.

"You should take… a shower. To, you know. Get the... Glass off?" I squeaked.

'Yeah, the glass. Pretend like you're not totally drooling over the idea of him dripping wet in your shower. Smooth, Bella.'

Tiny Voice donned a tool belt and high-tailed it up the stairs, wailing, 'I'll sabotage all of the other bathrooms, then he'll have to shower in our room!'

I sighed heavily, willing the explicit images from my mind, praying that he hadn't seen them. I then looked up at Edward, only to see his lips curved up at the corners, his eyes dancing with laughter. His knowing smirk told me he had seen everything.

"I think I'll take you up on that. A shower sounds wonderful," he said with a teasing tone in his voice.

I smiled weakly in return and nodded. "I'll see you in a bit then." Cautiously, he placed a gentle kiss on the top of my hand before releasing it.

I made my way to my bedroom and swiftly shut the door.

I focused on steadying my labored breath, reciting the principals of the color wheel to keep my mind from wandering back to Edward… stark naked in the hot shower, soap bubbles cascading down his-

FOCUS!

My eyes fell on my most recent, and still incomplete, painting. The perfect distraction! And hell, I still had deadlines to meet. I doubt my teachers would excuse any late work because I was living in a house full of vampires.

'Sorry, no sculpting for me, Professor Newton! My bloodthirsty roommates would just find too much pleasure in me accidentally stabbing myself with an embossing stylus, you see.'

With a sigh, I began to pull out some paint and clean brushes.

I ran my fingers through my crazed tresses, securing them to the back of my head with a few firm twists and a paintbrush. I hit the play button of my iPod and closed my eyes. Harvest started and I hummed along with the music as my mind prickled in time with the beat. I swayed my hips and softly sang along with the words as I allowed the music to invade my every sense. The gentle electric notes trickled down my spine as the soft acoustic moans tugged against every muscle in my body. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes.

What I saw staring back at me wasn't my canvas - but a pair of large, expressive amber eyes.

Edward

I was so smitten. My angel had actually been concerned for my safety after that little tumble out the window.

'Oh, if she only knew how durable I really am.' I smiled to myself as I balled up my torn clothes and tossed them into the garbage.

I took a quick shower, freeing myself from any remaining shreds of glass. They fell to the tiled floor with gentle little clicks as I ran my hands through my hair. After ensuring that I was totally shard-free I dressed myself in a pair of dark jeans and a tight black shirt, and made my way to Bella's room.

After getting no response from my knocks, I decided to crassly let myself in.

She stood in the corner, wild auburn hair tied behind her head as she just barely danced and sang along with some music. Her big doe eyes were closed as I approached, and if she heard me, she gave no indication. I watched with rapt attention as she continued what I assumed was a pre-painting ritual.

I stood before her, inches from her lovely face as her mind's vision swirled. The hues seemed to trickle from her head all the way down her body, turning into magnificent little sensations that ran across her milky skin. If I focused just hard enough, I could feel each of those wonderful things right along with her.

The music was doing amazing things to her body… as she swayed gently in time with the beat, each individual note registered somewhere deep within her, tickling flesh, plucking at tendons, and caressing bone.

She then opened those big eyes to me, and I held back a chuckle as she jumped in surprise.

Bella

"Hello, love," the wet-haired god said. His breath fanned across my face, smelling like warm honey and spring lilacs.

I opened my mouth to speak, but the sudden sight of him seemed to fry my brain's speech centers.

Tiny drops of water beaded down the mess of his hair, the moisture darkening it to a delicious light chocolate and caramel color. Some rebellious strands of it hung across his face and swept over his eyes, seeming to scream "Hey! Someone sex me, already!"

Oh gladly, Edward.

I reached up to him and pushed the wayward hair from his face, then pulled him down to me and planted a soft kiss on his forehead.

And yes, he does taste just as good as he looks.

His lips pulled up into a perfect little smile before he pressed them against my own.

"So how did Alice manage to launch you out of the window, anyway?" I mumbled, desperate to distract myself from the lewd images flickering through my mind.

He smiled at the floor and ruffled the hair on the back of his head. "She's getting better at hiding her thoughts from me… She can only hold it for a few minutes at a time… but I should have known. Translating 13th century hymns usually means trouble…" He chuckled softly, looking almost… embarrassed?!

"Anyway… She was half way through the Dies Irae - auf Deutsch, simultaneously discussing her plans for this evening, when she got me. She hooked her little foot around my ankle mid-stride, and my shoulder kind of took out the window." He grinned at me, adding, "We've had this little bet going for about thirty years now… I guess this means I owe her a car…"

I bit my lip to control my laughter and asked if he had any specific car in mind.

"I caught her ogling a 911 turbo at the airport last year… I'm thinking that would be appropriate, don't you?"

"Sure?" Weird, strange, beautiful man, anything you say.

"You should get it in yellow. I think she'd like that," I added.

The ear-piercing squeal that sounded from down the hall confirmed my assumption.

We exchanged amused glances as I heard Alice's delicate little steps dancing towards my door. She threw it open without knocking, dashed into the room and swept me into a tight hug.

"Bella I love you! Now come on, we've got work to do."

I allowed her to lead me without question until she pulled me into her room, towards the open window.

"ALICE! Don't even think about it! I'm not nearly as durable as Edward!"