y？〃　I　asked

quickly；　hoping　it

wasn't　too　clear　that　I　was　trying　to　distract　him。

〃Yes；〃　he　agreed；　wary。

〃Well；　I　was　thinking；　since　it's　still　my　birthday；　that　I'd　like　you　to　kiss

me　again。〃

〃You're　greedy　tonight。〃

〃Yes；　I　am—but　please；　don't　do　anything　you　don't　want　to　do；〃　I　added；

piqued。

He　laughed；　and　then　sighed。　〃Heaven　forbid　that　I　should　do　anything　I　don't

want　to　do；〃　he　said　in　a

strangely　desperate　tone　as　he　put　his　hand　under　my　chin　and　pulled　my　face

up　to　his。

The　kiss　began　much　the　same　as　usual—Edward　was　as　careful　as　ever；　and　my

heart　began　to

overreact　like　it　always　did。　And　then　something　seemed　to　change。　Suddenly

his　lips　became　much　more

urgent；　his　free　hand　twisted　into　my　hair　and　held　my　face　securely　to　his。

And；　though　my　hands　tangled

in　his　hair；　too；　and　though　I　was　clearly　beginning　to　cross　his　cautious

lines；　for　once　he　didn't　stop　me。

His　body　was　cold　through　the　thin　quilt；　but　I　crushed　myself　against　him

eagerly。

When　he　stopped　it　was　abrupt；　he　pushed　me　away　with　gentle；　firm　hands。

I　collapsed　back　onto　my　pillow；　gasping；　my　head　spinning。　Something　tugged

at　my　memory；　elusive；

on　the　edges。

〃Sorry；〃　he　said；　and　he　was　breathless；　too。　〃That　was　out　of　line。〃

〃I　don't　mind；〃　I　panted。

He　frowned　at　me　in　the　darkness。　〃Try　to　sleep。　Bella。〃

〃No；　I　want　you　to　kiss　me　again。〃

〃You're　overestimating　my　self…control。〃

〃Which　is　tempting　you　more；　my　blood　or　my　body？〃　I　challenged。

〃It's　a　tie。〃　He　grinned　briefly　in　spite　of　himself；　and　then　was　serious

again。　〃Now。　why