"Wrong again," he murmured in my ear. "You are utterly indecent—no one should look so tempting, it's not fair."
"T-t-tempting how?" I asked. "I can change... "
He sighed, shaking his head. "You are so absurd. We don't even eat people anymore." He pressed his cool lips delicately to my forehead, and the room spun. The smell of his breath made it impossible to think.298
"Shall I explain how you are tempting me?" he said. It was clearly a rhetorical question.299 His fingers traced slowly down my spine, his breath coming more quickly all over my skin. My hands were limp on his chest, like fish, and I felt light-headed again. He tilted his head slowly and touched his cool lips to mine for the second time, very carefully, parting them slightly. It felt like...
...a kiss?
And then I collapsed.
"Bella? Bella?" His voice was alarmed as he caught me and shook me back into consciousness.
"You... made... me... faint!" I accused him dizzily.
"What am I going to do with you?" He groaned in all italics. "Yesterday I kiss you, and you attack me! Today you pass out on me!"
I laughed weakly,300 letting his arms support me while my head spun.
"So much for being good at everything," he sighed.
"That's the problem," I was still dizzy. "You're too good at everything. Far, far too good."
298. The combination of Fredward's vampiric scent, crimson diet and poor dental hygienics have left his mouth smelling like a perfumed abattoir.
299. Fredward has no desire for Bella's permission.
300. Normally Bella laughs daily, but... ha ha! Cha-ching! Just kidding folks! I'll be here all week.