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Chapter 22
The Clearing
I couldn't believe that such a place really existed. I felt like I was in a fairy tale!
Edward pushed me a little further into the clearing with a gentle smile so that I could really see everything, and I was still overwhelmed.
The clearing was not artificial, at least it didn't look like it. It was round, but not a perfect circle. There were wildflowers in all kinds of colors everywhere.
In the twilight, the whole thing looked even more incredible than I imagined it would in the sunlight.
And then I noticed how unusually bright it was in the clearing, and I looked around more closely.
Edward had placed candles everywhere - in all colors, shapes and sizes. It looked incredible.
In the center of the clearing was a wooden platform on which lay hundreds of pillows.
It was really beautiful.
Edward looked at me happily!
"I'm glad you like it, my angel!" he said, putting a hand on my back again to lead me to the platform.
Edward sat down elegantly and pulled me onto his lap so that I was leaning with my back against his chest.
No one said anything, but our silence was anything but awkward. We were just enjoying the moment.
When I got a slight goose bump after some time, Edward lifted me up and sat me next to him on the soft cushions. He himself rose in a flowing movement and pulled a lighter out of his pocket, with which he lit the torches that - as I only now noticed - stood around the pedestal.
"Sorry, my angel, I had forgotten about them!"
I had to chuckle.
A vampire who forgets something!
Edward looked at me with his crooked smile.
"Well, I get distracted from time to time, too, my angel. And with your beauty, it happens quite often. You have to be patient with me, dearest, this was certainly not the last time that I forget everything around me, because I am dazzled by you!", he explained himself.
I was blushing.
Edward, who must have ignored this, sank back into the pillows next to me and leaned back so that he was now lying in the pillows next to me.
I looked at him for a moment.
How could I have possibly earned him?
Edward looked at me crossly.
Oh - I ducked inwardly. I shouldn't think about that anymore.
So I discarded that thought and lay down with Edward, who immediately pulled me into his arms.
We both gazed at the stars until at some point we saw a shooting star fly by.
I looked at Edward for a moment.
'Come on, let's make a wish,' I thought, and he closed his eyes.
I did the same, but didn't think about what I wished, because otherwise Edward would catch on and that wouldn't be right. I had a feeling he had a problem with seeing me as an immortal and I wanted to find out what that was all about before I asked him to turn me. That's what I swore to myself.
When the shooting star was gone, Edward slowly turned to me and began to kiss me, but seemed nervous doing so.
Why was he nervous?
"Bella ..." he began to speak after he had detached himself from me. "We've talked about this many times and I know you've never slept with anyone before, just as you know I never have. I have prepared all this so because I would like to make love to you, and I want it to be memorable for both of us. Of course, only if you want it to be!"
He did not look me in the eye while doing so.
Oh yes, Edward Cullen was nervous.
I grinned to myself.
I was about to sleep with the man I loved more than anything!
Edward, hearing the approval in my thoughts, finally looked into my eyes and began to beam happily. Then he kissed me stormy and demanding.
His hands began to explore my body and mine explored his.
At some point we lay next to each other completely naked and just looked at each other. We both never wanted to forget this moment again. Then he began to kiss me demanding and rolled me onto my back and himself on top of me, between my legs.
After a short pain began the most beautiful night of my life!
When I woke up the next morning, however, I was no longer in Edward's arms.
I opened my eyes and looked around the clearing. However, Edward was nowhere to be seen.