I flinched, feeling self-aware.
"But I want to help, if I can, to not make this harder for you." I tried to make it seem like I was concerned primarily with his comfort and not my own.
"Well... " He contemplated for a moment. "It was just how close you were. Most girl-humans instinctively shy away from us boy-vamps, repelled by our alienness... I just wasn't expecting you to come so close. And the smell of your throat!"
Immediately, I brought my finger to my throat and rubbed it vigorously, ruthlessly, bringing it then to my nose.
Fredward stifled a chuckle and nodded his head wildly, reaching out to me with his eyes. "Bella, don't you see? Your throat smells wonderful. You smell wonderful. You are so appetizing, I can hardly stand it." He chuckled freely now and so did I.
"Okay, then." I said flippantly I tucked my chin. "No throat exposure."
He laughed. "No, really, it was more the surprise than anything else. Sometimes when I'm surprised, I just sprint in the other direction and hide for a long time. It's not you, it's... it's me."
He raised his free hand and placed it gently on the side of my neck. My throat shuddered. I sat very still, the chill of his touch a natural warning—a warning telling me to be terrified. But there was no feeling of fear in me. There were, however, other, more loinal feelings...
"You see," he said. "Perfectly fine."
I sighed, relieved, and my eyes met his. He seemed to be twitching and gritting his teeth. I admit, I felt the first sharp pangs of fear, but reminded myself that I loved and trusted him; if he said he was okay, I had to believe that he was okay.
My blood was racing, and I wished I could slow it, sensing that this must make everything so much more difficult—the thudding of my pulse in my veins. Surely it must sound like chum sloshing around in a shark's thermos...
"The blush on your cheeks is lovely," he murmured, probably to get his mind off things. He gently freed his other hand. My hands fell limply into my lap. Softly he brushed my cheek, then held my face between his marble hands.
"Be still," he instructed, as if I wasn't already frozen in the moment.
Slowly, never moving his eyes from mine, he leaned toward me. Then abruptly, but very gently, he rested his

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Chapter 13

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