1 twilight暮色-第50章

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〃Leave　the　dishes；　I　can　do　them　tonight。　You　baby　me　too　much。〃　

The　doorbell　rang；　and　Charlie　stalked　off　to　answer　it。　I　was　half　a　
step　behind　him。　

I　hadn't　realized　how　hard　it　was　pouring　outside。　Edward　stood　in　the　
halo　of　the　porch　light；　looking　like　a　male　model　in　an　advertisement　
for　raincoats。　

〃e　on　in；　Edward。〃　

I　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief　when　Charlie　got　his　name　right。　

〃Thanks；　Chief　Swan；〃　Edward　said　in　a　respectful　voice。　

〃Go　ahead　and　call　me　Charlie。　Here；　I'll　take　your　jacket。〃　

〃Thanks；　sir。〃　

〃Have　a　seat　there；　Edward。〃　

I　grimaced。　

Edward　sat　down　fluidly　in　the　only　chair；　forcing　me　to　sit　next　to　
Chief　Swan　on　the　sofa。　I　quickly　shot　him　a　dirty　look。　He　winked　behind　
Charlie's　back。　

〃So　I　hear　you're　getting　my　girl　to　watch　baseball。〃　Only　in　Washington　
would　the　fact　that　it　was　raining　buckets　have　no　bearing　at　all　on　the　
playing　of　outdoor　sports。　

〃Yes；　sir；　that's　the　plan。〃　He　didn't　look　surprised　that　I'd　told　my　
father　the　truth。　He　might　have　been　listening；　though。　

〃Well；　more　power　to　you；　I　guess。〃　

Charlie　laughed；　and　Edward　joined　in。　

〃Okay。〃　I　stood　up。　〃Enough　humor　at　my　expense。　Let's　go。〃　I　walked　back　
to　the　hall　and　pulled　on　my　jacket。　They　followed。　

〃Not　too　late；　Bell。〃　

〃Don't　worry；　Charlie；　I'll　have　her　home　early；〃　Edward　promised。　

〃You　take　care　of　my　girl；　all　right？〃　

I　groaned；　but　they　ignored　me。　

〃She'll　be　safe　with　me；　I　promise；　sir。〃　

Charlie　couldn't　doubt　Edward's　sincerity；　it　rang　in　every　word。　

I　stalked　out。　They　both　laughed；　and　Edward　followed　me。　

I　stopped　dead　on　the　porch。　There；　behind　my　truck；　was　a　monster　Jeep。　
Its　tires　were　higher　than　my　waist。　There　were　metal　guards　over　the　
headlights　and　taillights；　and　four　large　spotlights　attached　to　the　
crash　bar。　The　hardtop　was　shiny　red。　

Charlie　let　out　a　low　whistle。　

〃Wear　your　seat　belts；〃　he　choked　out。　

Edward　followed　me　around　to　my　side　and　opened　the　door。　I　gauged　the　
distance　to　the　seat　and　prepared　to　jump　for　it。　He　sighed；　and　then　
lifted　me　in　with　one　hand。　I　hoped　Charlie　didn't　notice。　

As　he　went　around　to　the　driver's　side；　at　a　normal；　human　pace；　I　tried　
to　put　on　my　seat　belt。　But　there　were　too　many　buckles。　

〃What's　all　this？〃　I　asked　when　he　opened　the　door。　

〃It's　an　offroading　harness。〃　

〃Uhoh。〃　

I　tried　to　find　the　right　places　for　all　the　buckles　to　fit；　but　it　
wasn't　going　too　quickly。　He　sighed　again　and　reached　over　to　help　me。　I　
was　glad　that　the　rain　was　too　heavy　to　see　Charlie　clearly　on　the　porch。　
That　meant　he　couldn't　see　how　Edward's　hands　lingered　at　my　neck；　
brushed　along　my　collarbones。　I　gave　up　trying　to　help　him　and　focused　on　
not　hyperventilating。　

Edward　turned　the　key　and　the　engine　roared　to　life。　We　pulled　away　from　
the　house。　

〃This　is　a…　um…　big　Jeep　you　have。〃　

〃It's　Emmett's。　I　didn't　think　you'd　want　to　run　the　whole　way。〃　

〃Where　do　you　keep　this　thing？〃　

〃We　remodeled　one　of　the　outbuildings　into　a　garage。〃　

〃Aren't　you　going　to　put　on　your　seat　belt？〃　

He　threw　me　a　disbelieving　look。　

Then　something　sunk　in。　

〃Run　the　whole　way？　As　in；　we're　still　going　to　run　part　of　the　way？〃　My　
voice　edged　up　a　few　octaves。　

He　grinned　tightly。　〃You're　not　going　to　run。〃　

〃I'm　going　to　be　sick。〃　

〃Keep　your　eyes　closed；　you'll　be　fine。〃　

I　bit　my　lip；　fighting　the　panic。　

He　leaned　over　to　kiss　the　top　of　my　head；　and　then　groaned。　I　looked　at　
him；　puzzled。　

〃You　smell　so　good　in　the　rain；〃　he　explained。　

〃In　a　good　way；　or　in　a　bad　way？〃　I　asked　cautiously。　

He　sighed。　〃Both；　always　both。〃　

I　don't　know　how　he　found　his　way　in　the　gloom　and　downpour；　but　he　
somehow　found　a　side　road　that　was　less　of　a　road　and　more　of　a　mountain　

path。　For　a　long　while　conversation　was　impossible；　because　I　was　
bouncing　up　and　down　on　the　seat　like　a　jackhammer。　He　seemed　to　enjoy　
the　ride；　though；　smiling　hugely　the　whole　way。　

And　then　we　came　to　the　end　of　the　road；　the　trees　formed　green　walls　on　
three　sides　of　the　Jeep。　The　rain　was　a　mere　drizzle；　slowing　every　
second；　the　sky　brighter　through　the　clouds。　

〃Sorry；　Bella；　we　have　to　go　on　foot　from　here。〃　

〃You　know　what？　I'll　just　wait　here。〃　

〃What　happened　to　all　your　courage？　You　were　extraordinary　this　morning。〃　

〃I　haven't　forgotten　the　last　time　yet。〃　Could　it　have　been　only　
yesterday？　

He　was　around　to　my　side　of　the　car　in　a　blur。　He　started　unbuckling　me。　

〃I'll　get　those；　you　go　on　ahead；〃　I　protested。　

〃Hmmm…〃　he　mused　as　he　quickly　finished。　〃It　seems　I'm　going　to　have　to　
tamper　with　your　memory。〃　

Before　I　could　react；　he　pulled　me　from　the　Jeep　and　set　my　feet　on　the　
ground。　It　was　barely　misting　now；　Alice　was　going　to　be　right。　

〃Tamper　with　my　memory？〃　I　asked　nervously。　

〃Something　like　that。〃　He　was　watching　me　intently；　carefully；　but　there　
was　humor　deep　in　his　eyes。　He　placed　his　hands　against　the　Jeep　on　
either　side　of　my　head　and　leaned　forward；　forcing　me　to　press　back　
against　the　door。　He　leaned　in　even　closer；　his　face　inches　from　mine。　I　
had　no　room　to　escape。　

〃Now；〃　he　breathed；　and　just　his　smell　disturbed　my　thought　processes；　
〃what　exactly　are　you　worrying　about？〃　

〃Well；　um；　hitting　a　tree　—〃　I　gulped　〃—　and　dying。　And　then　getting　
sick。〃　

He　fought　back　a　smile。　Then　he　bent　his　head　down　and　touched　his　cold　
lips　softly　to　the　hollow　at　the　base　of　my　throat。　

〃Are　you　still　worried　now？〃　he　murmured　against　my　skin。　

〃Yes。〃　I　struggled　to　concentrate。　〃About　hitting　trees　and　getting　sick。〃　

His　nose　drew　a　line　up　the　skin　of　my　throat　to　the　point　of　my　chin。　
His　cold　breath　tickled　my　skin。　

〃And　now？〃　His　lips　whispered　against　my　jaw。　

〃Trees；〃　I　gasped。　〃Motion　sickness。〃　

He　lifted　his　face　to　kiss　my　eyelids。　〃Bella；　you　don't　really　think　I　
would　hit　a　tree；　do　you？〃　

〃No；　but　I　might。〃　There　was　no　confidence　in　my　voice。　He　smelled　an　
easy　victory。　

He　kissed　slowly　down　my　cheek；　stopping　just　at　the　corner　of　my　mouth。　

〃Would　I　let　a　tree　hurt　you？〃　His　lips　barely　brushed　against　my　
trembling　lower　lip。　

〃No；〃　I　breathed。　I　knew　there　was　a　second　part　to　my　brilliant　defense；　
but　I　couldn't　quite　call　it　back。　

〃You　see；〃　he　said；　his　lips　moving　against　mine。　〃There's　nothing　to　be　
afraid　of；　is　there？〃　

〃No；〃　I　sighed；　giving　up。　

Then　he　took　my　face　in　his　hands　almost　roughly；　and　kissed　me　in　
earnest；　his　unyielding　lips　moving　against　mine。　

There　really　was　no　excuse　for　my　behavior。　Obviously　I　knew　better　by　
now。　And　yet　I　couldn't　seem　to　stop　from　reacting　exactly　as　I　had　the　
first　time。　Instead　of　keeping　safely　motionless；　my　arms　reached　up　to　
twine　tightly　around　his　neck；　and　I　was　suddenly　welded　to　his　stone　
figure。　I　sighed；　and　my　lips　parted。　

He　staggered　back；　breaking　my　grip　effortlessly。　

〃Damn　it；　Bella！〃　he　broke　off；　gasping。　〃You'll　be　the　death　of　me；　I　
swear　you　will。〃　

I　leaned　over；　bracing　my　hands　against　my　knees　for　support。　

〃You're　indestructible；〃　I　mumbled；　trying　to　catch　my　breath。　

〃I　might　have　believed　that　before　I　met　you。　Now　let's　get　out　of　here　
before　I　do　something　really　stupid；〃　he　growled。　

He　threw　me　across　his　back　as　he　had　before；　and　I　could　see　the　extra　
effort　it　took　for　him　to　be　as　gentle　as　he　was。　I　locked　my　legs　around　
his　waist　and　secured　my　arms　in　a　choke　hold　around　his　neck。　

〃Don't　forget　to　close　your　eyes；〃　he　warned　severely。　

I　quickly　tucked　my　face　into　his　shoulder　blade；　under　my　own　arm；　and　
squeezed　my　eyes　shut。　

And　I　could　hardly　tell　we　were　moving。　I　could　feel　him　gliding　along　
beneath　me；　but　he　could　have　been　strolling　down　the　sidewalk；　the　
movement　was　so　smooth。　I　was　tempted　to　peek；　just　to　see　if　he　was　
really　flying　through　the　forest　like　before；　but　I　resisted。　It　wasn't　
worth　that　awful　dizziness。　I　contented　myself　with　listening　to　his　
breath　e　and　go　evenly。　

I　wasn't　quite　sure　we　had　stopped　until　he　reached　back　and　touched　my　
hair。　

〃It's　over；　Bella。〃　

I　dared　to　open　my　eyes；　and；　sure　enough；　we　were　at　a　standstill。　I　
stiffly　unlocked　my　stranglehold　on　his　body　and　slipped　to　the　ground；　
landing　on　my　backside。　

〃Oh！〃　I　huffed　as　I　hit　the　wet　ground。　

He　stared　at　me　incredulously；　evidently　not　sure　whether　he　was　still　
too　mad　to　find　me　funny。　But　my　bewildered　expression　pushed　him　over　
the　edge；　and　he　broke　into　a　roar　of　laughter。　

I　picked　myself　up；　ignoring　him　as　I　brushed　the　mud　and　bracken　off　the　
back　of　my　jacket。　That　only　made　him　laugh　harder。　Annoyed；　I　began　to　
stride　off　into　the　forest。　

I　felt　his　arm　around　my　waist。　

〃Where　are　you　going；　Bella？〃　

〃To　watch　a　baseball　game。　You　don't　seem　to　be　interested　in　playing　
anymore；　but　I'm　sure　the　others　will　have　fun　without　you。〃　

〃You're　going　the　wrong　way。〃　

I　turned　around　without　looking　at　him；　and　stalked　off　in　the　opposite　
direction。　He　caught　me　again。　

〃Don't　be　mad；　I　couldn't　help　myself。　You　should　have　seen　your　face。〃　
He　chuckled　before　he　could　stop　himself。　

〃Oh；　you're　the　only　one　who's　allowed　to　get　mad？〃　I　asked；　raising　my　
eyebrows。　

〃I　wasn't　mad　at　you。〃　

〃'Bella；　you'll　be　the　death　of　me'？〃　I　quoted　sourly。　

〃That　was　simply　a　statement　of　fact。〃　

I　tried　to　turn　away　from　him　again；　but　he　held　me　fast。　

〃You　were　mad；〃　I　insisted。　

〃Yes。〃　

〃But　you　just　said　—〃　

〃That　I　wasn't　mad　at　you。　Can't　you　see　that；　Bella？〃　He　was　suddenly　
intense；　all　trace　of　teasing　gone。　〃Don't　you　understand？〃　

〃See　what？〃　I　demanded；　confused　by　his　sudden　mood　swing　as　much　as　his　
words。　

〃I'm　never　angry　with　you　—　how　could　I　be？　Brave；　trusting…　warm　as　you　
are。〃　

〃Then　why？〃　I　whispered；　remembering　the　black　moods　that　pulled　him　away　
from　me；　that　I'd　always　interpreted　as　welljustified　frustration　—　
frustration　at　my　weakness；　my　slowness；　my　unruly　human　reactions…　

He　put　his　hands　carefully　on　both　sides　of　my　face。　〃I　infuriate　
myself；〃　he