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〃Are we going much farther？〃 I asked。
It wasn't like him to forget that I was human； but I wondered if he planned for us to live on this small
craft for any length of time。
〃About another half hour。〃 His eyes took in my hands； clenched on the seat； and he grinned。
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Oh well； I thought to myself。 He was a vampire； after all。 Maybe we were going to Atlantis。
Twenty minutes later； he called my name over the roar of the engine。
〃Bella； look there。〃 He pointed straight ahead。
I saw only blackness at first； and the moon's white trail across the water。 But I searched the space
where he pointed until I found a low black shape breaking into the sheen of moonlight on the waves。 As I
squinted into the darkness； the silhouette became more detailed。 The shape grew into a squat； irregular
triangle； with one side trailing longer than the other before sinking into the waves。 We drew closer； and I
could see the outline was feathery； swaying to the light breeze。
And then my eyes refocused and the pieces all made sense： a small island rose out of the water ahead of
us； waving with palm fronds； a beach glowing pale in the light of the moon。
〃Where are we？〃 I murmured in wonder while he shifted course； heading around to the north end of the
island。
He heard me； despite the noise of the engine； and smiled a wide smile that gleamed in the moonlight。
〃This is Isle Esme。〃
The boat slowed dramatically； drawing with precision into position against a short dock constructed of
wooden planks； bleached into whiteness by the moon。 The engine cut off； and the silence that followed
was profound。 There was nothing but the waves； slapping lightly against the boat； and the rustle of the
breeze in the palms。 The air was warm； moist； and fragrant—like the steam left behind after a hot
shower。
〃Isle Esme？〃 My voice was low； but it still sounded too loud as it broke into the quiet night。
〃A gift from Carlisle—Esme offered to let us borrow it。〃
A gift。 Who gives an island as a gift？ I frowned。 I hadn't realized that Edward's extreme generosity was a
learned behavior。
He placed the suitcases on the dock and then turned back； smiling his perfect smile as he reached for
me。
Instead of taking my hand； he pulled me right up into his arms。
〃Aren't you supposed to wait for the threshold？'71 asked； breathless； as he sprung lightly out of the
boat。
He grinned。 〃I'm nothing if not thorough。〃
Gripping the handles of both huge steamer trunks in one hand and cradling me in the other arm； he
carried me up the dock and onto a pale sand pathway through the dark vegetation。
For a short while it was pitch black in the junglelike growth； and then I could see a warm light ahead。 It
was about at the point when I realized the light was a house—the two bright； perfect squares were wide
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windows framing a front door—that the stage fright attacked again； more forcefully than before； worse
than when I'd thought we were headed for a hotel。
My heart thudded audibly against my ribs； and my breath seemed to get stuck in my throat。 I felt
Edward's eyes on my face； but I refused to meet his gaze。 I stared straight ahead； seeing nothing。
He didn't ask what I was thinking； which was out of character for him。 I guessed that meant that he was
just as nervous as I suddenly was。
He set the suitcases on the deep porch to open the doors—they were unlocked。
Edward looked down at me； waiting until I met his gaze before he stepped through the threshold。
He carried me through the house； both of us very quiet； flipping on lights as he went。 My vague
impression of the house was that it was quite large for a tiny island； and oddly familiar。 I'd gotten used to
the paleonpale color scheme preferred by the Cullens； it felt like home。 I couldn't focus on any
specifics； though。 The violent pulse beating behind my ears made everything a little blurry。
Then Edward stopped and turned on the last light。
The room was big and white； and the far wall was mostly glass—standard decor for my vampires。
Outside； the moon was bright on white sand and； just a few yards away from the house； glistening waves。
But I barely noted that part。 I was more focused on the absolutely huge white bed in the center of the
room； hung with billowy clouds of mosquito ting。
Edward set me on my feet。
〃I'll。。。 go get the luggage。〃
The room was too warm； stuffier than the tropical night outside。 A bead of sweat dewed up on the nape
of my neck。 I walked slowly forward until I could reach out and touch the foamy ting。 For some
reason I felt the need to make sure everything was real。
I didn't hear Edward return。 Suddenly； his wintry finger caressed the back of my neck； wiping away the
drop of perspiration。
〃It's a little hot here；〃 he said apologetically。 〃I thought。。。 that would be best。〃
〃Thorough；〃 I murmured under my breath； and he chuckled。 It was a nervous sound； rare for Edward。
〃I tried to think of everything that would make this。。。 easier；〃 he admitted。
I swallowed loudly； still facing away from him。 Had there ever been a honeymoon like this before？
I knew the answer to that。 No。 There had not。
〃I was wondering；'7Edward said slowly； 〃if。。。 first。。。 maybe you'd like to take a midnight swim with me？〃
He took a deep breath； and his voice was more at ease when he spoke again。 〃The water will be very
warm。 This is the kind of beach you approve of。〃
〃Sounds nice。〃 My voice broke。
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〃I'm sure you'd like a human minute or two。。。。 It was a long journey。〃
I nodded woodenly。 I felt barely human； maybe a few minutes alone would help。
His lips brushed against my throat； just below my ear。 He chuckled once and his cool breath tickled my
overheated skin。 〃Don't take too long； Mrs。 Cullen。〃
I jumped a little at the sound of my new name。
His lips brushed down my neck to the tip of my shoulder。 〃I'll wait for you in the water。〃
He walked past me to the French door that opened right onto the beach sand。 On the way； he shrugged
out of his shirt； dropping it on the floor； and then slipped through the door into the moonlit night。 The
sultry； salty air swirled into the room behind him。
Did my skin burst into flames？ I had to look down to check。 Nope； nothing was burning。 At least； not
visibly。
I reminded myself to breathe； and then I stumbled toward the giant suitcase that Edward had opened on
top of a low white dresser。 It must be mine； because my familiar bag of toiletries was right on top； and
there was a lot of pink in there； but I didn't recognize even one article of clothing。 As I pawed through the
neatly folded piles—looking for something familiar and fortable； a pair of old sweats maybe—it came
to my attention that there was an awful lot of sheer lace and skimpy satin in my hands。 Lingerie。 Very
lingerieish lingerie； with French tags。
I didn't know how or when； but someday； Alice was going to pay for this。
Giving up； I went to the bathroom and peeked out through the long windows that opened to the same
beach as the French doors。 I couldn't see him； I guessed he was there in the water； not bothering to
e up for air。 In the sky above； the moon was lopsided； almost full； and the sand was bright white
under its shine。 A small movement caught my eye—draped over a bend in one of the palm trees that
fringed the beach； the rest of his clothes were swaying in the light breeze。
A rush of heat flashed across my skin again。
I took a couple of deep breaths and then went to the mirrors above the long stretch of counters。 I
looked exactly like I'd been sleeping on a plane all day。 I found my brush and yanked it harshly through
the snarls on the back of my neck until they were smoothed out and the bristles were full of hair。 I
brushed my teeth meticulously； twice。 Then I washed my face and splashed water on th