I looked at his face, and knew I was being ridiculous. Edward had turned down Rosalie, whose goddess-like features put Tanya to shame. Why should I expect him to prefer her now?

“I’m sorry,” I said in apology. “I guess it’s still hard to believe you really want me.”

Edward took me in his arms, in front of the entire company of guests, and kissed me until I could not breathe. As I began to slide to the floor in response, he swung me effortlessly into his arms, and looked at me again. Our foreheads touching, he whispered

“You ridiculous, beautiful girl, tonight, I will show you just how much I truly want you, and only you!”

I worked hard to catch my breath, and I whispered

“After all this time, you can still dazzle me.”

He laughed quietly, and asked “Ready to meet Tanya and Irina now?”

I nodded smiling at him, and he put me on my feet.  

   Tanya looked somewhat annoyed after our little display of wedded bliss. Irina smiled politely.

“Tanya, Irina” Edward began, “this is Bella.”

Both the beautiful vampires rose with such elegance, if it were not for the memory of the kiss Edward had just given me, I might have felt my insecurity resurface.

“Well there’s no doubt that Edward has found his mate” Tanya said, without conviction.

Edward looked at her with daggers in his eyes, he obviously knew what she was going to say. She ignored him altogether, and continued to look at me.

“He’s always been a bit…eccentric. I suppose he told you about his time with us in Denali. We had such wonderful times, didn’t we Edward?”

She didn’t wait for him to answer before continuing. “I understand you are joining our way of life soon Bella,”

“Yes,” Edward answered, “in the next few days actually. And no” he said in a low voice answering her thoughts, “I won’t be disappointed in not tasting!”

Her thoughts seemed to disgust him. Despite the fact that Edward had indulged in human blood, to his human conscious it was abhorrent. He obviously had not felt the need to tell her that he had tasted, and would again when he changed me.

Tanya glared at Edward for a split second before she continued, but it was enough time for Irina to find her voice. “Won’t your becoming one of us prove difficult for your mongrel Quileute friends?” She asked with sarcasm.