…and swung the bag in my direction.

I shrieked and fled the kitchen, but not before a mass of the white powder slammed into my head. Laughing, Edward pursued me back into the living room.

“No!” I cried between giggles as he caught me around the waist and flung us both onto the couch. All the while, his arms remained constricted tightly around me. He started tickling me and my giggles escalated.

“Stop!” I pleaded in the brief seconds that I could find my breath. I tried to grab his hands and push him away, but he would have none of that. He seized both my hands in one of his and kept them restrained as he continued to tickle me. I shrieked with laughter and resumed my pleas for him to stop.

“What was that?” he murmured in my ear breathlessly.

“Stop it!” I gasped incoherently.

“Hmm? Speak up, Bella.” His voice was low and husky.

Oh, he was going to be the death of me. My heart thumped wildly, a separate desire wringing the organ. Still, my belly screamed as he tortured me, and I continued flailing, with my hands caught in his. It was of little use. He was so much stronger than me. My struggles weakened.

Sensing victory, Edward loosened his grip and fell back onto the cushions, dragging me with him and completely ignoring our flour covered bodies. I fell onto his chest, gasping. Before I could regain my breath to scold him, he pulled my mouth to his and kissed me tenderly. His method of apology melted all my anger, and I sighed into his mouth. I could taste the pasty flour on his lips, and licked it slowly off with my tongue. He sighed longingly and released me. There was a crooked smile on his face, and he was hoping, I was sure, for forgiveness.

I rolled my eyes. As if I could ever deny him anything. “Love you.” I smiled drowsily and cuddled into his chest.

He kissed the top of my head. “Love you too.” No other words were needed. We lay in a state of peaceful bliss for several minutes that would appear silent to anyone but the two of us. For us, the air was charged with the fierce love and burning desire we had for each other. Every minute gesture meant everything; the way he stroked my hair lovingly, or how I explored his perfect face with my fingers, the way I knew he loved.